Ahead of the Herd: The Profectus Podcasts

Starting Beef x Dairy Calves on Feed the Right Way

What happens in the first few weeks after beef on dairy calves arrive can have a lasting impact on performance, health, and profitability. In this episode of Ahead of the Herd: The Profectus Podcast, Nutritionist Brandon Rodriguez and Veterinarian Dr. Reed Leiting discuss the critical steps involved in receiving and starting beef on dairy calves. From managing dietary transitions and bunk management to maintaining rumen health and reducing stress, they share practical strategies producers can implement immediately. The conversation covers:  • Transitioning calves from high-energy calf ranch and hog barn diets  • Managing feed intake during receiving  • Bunk reading fundamentals  • Preventing digestive and respiratory challenges  • Weather impacts on intake and performance  • Differences between beef on dairy and traditional western cattle  • How amino acid balancing supports rumen health and smoother diet transitions Whether you're backgrounding calves, operating a feedlot, or looking to improve receiving performance, this episode offers practical insights to help cattle get off to a stronger start. Subscribe to Ahead of the Herd for more conversations on cattle health, nutrition, and management from the team at Profectus Livestock Solutions. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today's content, check us out on Facebook & YouTube for more!  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623] Profectus Livestock Solutions - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfectusLivestockSolutions]

Maximize Forage Quality and ROI with Silo Guard (ft. Peter Vinelli)

Forage quality is one of the most overlooked drivers of cattle performance, and one of the biggest hidden sources of loss. In this episode of the Profectus Livestock Solutions Podcast, Dr. Brian Dorcey sits down with Peter Vinelli of International Stock Food Corporation, the maker of SiloGuard, to break down how mold and yeast silently impact intake, health, and production across forage systems. They discuss the difference between biological inoculants and chemical preservatives, how oxygen drives spoilage, and why preventing forage degradation at harvest is critical to protecting your return. From silage piles to baled hay, this conversation focuses on practical strategies to reduce dry matter loss, widen harvest windows, and maintain consistent feed quality across varying conditions. If you are putting up forage, this episode will change how you think about preservation, management, and performance. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today's content, check us out on Facebook & YouTube for more!  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623] Profectus Livestock Solutions - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfectusLivestockSolutions]

Mycotoxins Are Costing You Performance (ft. Dr. Andrew Bents)

Mycotoxins are one of the most overlooked threats in livestock performance and profitability, and they are showing up stronger than ever in today’s feed supply. In this episode, Dr. Steve Dudley sits down with Dr. Andrew Bents of Alltech to break down what producers are actually facing in the crop and why testing, monitoring, and mitigation matter more than ever. From real harvest data across the U.S. to practical on farm strategies, this conversation connects the science to what you are seeing in your hogs (and cattle) right now.  • What current mycotoxin levels look like across regions  • Why storage conditions can make problems worse after harvest  • The three mycotoxins that are quietly hurting performance and immunity  • How distillers grains can amplify risk in your ration  • What to test, when to test, and how often  • Practical mitigation strategies that actually work in the field If you are seeing unexplained health issues, poor vaccine response, off feed events, or reproductive challenges, this episode will help you connect the dots. Health. Nutrition. Performance. Profectus. Subscribe and follow Profectus Livestock Solutions for more conversations that help you make better decisions at your operation and in the ration. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today's content, check us out on Facebook & YouTube for more!  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623] Profectus Livestock Solutions - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfectusLivestockSolutions]

Transforming Calf Performance: Kyle Verhoek's Success Story

From 2.5lbs to 3.23lbs average daily gain, under 2% death loss, and a 60-day health turnaround, Profectus is measurably making a difference for producers. In this episode, Kyle Verhoek shares how his calf program went from battling health issues to driving measurable performance gains with Profectus Livestock Solutions. By implementing an integrated vaccine protocol, amino acid balanced diets, and individualized calf tracking through EID and Cattler, his team transformed both calf health and rate of gain. Even after moving calves three different times between weaning and closeout, performance held strong. This is a real world look at precision nutrition, proactive herd health, and data driven calf management for dairy beef and backgrounding operations. If you want better gains, stronger calves, and systems that actually work under pressure, this episode is for you. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today's content, check us out on Facebook & YouTube for more!  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623] Profectus Livestock Solutions - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfectusLivestockSolutions]

Leaning into Nutrition: Feeding Trials, Amino Acids, and Next-Gen Strategies (ft. Steve & Riley Van Heerde)

Steve and Riley Van Heerde share how their South Dakota feedlot evolved from cow/calf to a performance driven feedlot operation through side-by-side feed trials. They walk through what they feed, how amino acid nutrition fits their existing feedstuffs, and what changed in cattle efficiency and consistency. The conversation covers tracking performance with real data, managing cattle through extreme winter weather, and improving health without adding complexity. Steve explains how nutrition and technology work together to support a profitable family feedlot and long-term growth. This episode is a real-world discussion for producers focused on better cattle performance, smarter decisions, and passing the operation to the next generation.   Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed today's content, check us out on Facebook & YouTube for more!  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559700420623] Profectus Livestock Solutions - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ProfectusLivestockSolutions]