What do you do when farming no longer pencils out? Today, South Dakota rancher Troy Hadrick (Hadrick Ranch) joins us to talk about transitioning from dryland crop farming to a cattle-focused operation. We discuss what drove that shift, how direct-to-consumer beef sales created new opportunity, and what it really takes—from water and infrastructure to working with the right partners—to make a transition like this work on the ground.

Plus, we look at the new pheromone-based product called, CattleZen, designed to help reduce stress in calves during key management periods.

#workingranchmagazine #ranchlife #ranching #cattle #beef #livestock #WorkingRanchRadio #AgPodcast #CowCalf #BeefProduction #RanchProfitability #CattleManagement #DirectToConsumer #DirectBeef #RegenerativeAg #GrassToCattle #RanchTransition #CattleHealth #CattleZen #LowStressHandling

Why do calves often crash about three weeks after weaning or shipping? Today Dr. Blaine Ellison of Applied Bio Technologies, Inc joins us to explain the 21-day cortisol surge in cattle — a stress response that can suppress immune function, shut down weight gain, and increase sickness risk.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why cattle often stall out during the first 21–28 days after stress • The evolutionary biology behind the cortisol surge • How the immune system shifts metabolism during stress • Management decisions that may unintentionally make the problem worse • What producers might consider doing differently to reduce stress and improve performance

Understanding what happens during this critical window could help producers improve health outcomes, performance, and profitability across the industry.

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Embryo transfer has long promised accelerated genetic progress, but with pregnancy rates sitting around 42%, producers are forced to ask hard questions about cost, risk, and return on investment. In this episode Cara Wells, founder and CEO of Emgenisys, shares how artificial intelligence is being used to analyze embryo viability before transfer. By capturing a brief video through a microscope and applying machine learning, embryologists can now receive a pregnancy probability score — helping improve decision-making, increase pregnancy rates, and better utilize valuable recipient females. Ag Tech Strategist Jarred Wareham explains why this may be one of the first truly practical applications of AI in the cattle industry — and how it could reshape embryo transfer programs for both registered and commercial producers.

Later in the show, Terrell Miller of CattleMax joins us to discuss herd management software, record keeping, and why organizing your cattle data may be just as important as improving the genetics behind your herd.

Emgenisys Contact Info: info@emgenisys.com

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