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Feedstuffs in Focus

Feedstuffs in Focus

Feedstuffs

Feedstuffs in Focus is a weekly look at the hot issues in the livestock, poultry, grain and feed industries. Join us as we talk with industry influencers, experts and leaders about trends and more. Feedstuffs in Focus is produced by the team at Feedstuffs.

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Top 10 Feedstuffs in Focus Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Feedstuffs in Focus episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Feedstuffs in Focus for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Feedstuffs in Focus episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Cattle producers often turn to average daily gain, feed conversion or reproduction when targeting improved efficiency but while they all have a place, a focus on feed efficiency traits is critical as it zeroes in on both the cost of feed and the value of gain.
Jason Osterstock, Chief Science Officer at Vytelle, joins Sarah Muirhead to explore how data-driven approaches are transforming herd management decisions. Rather than relying solely on conventional measures like average daily gain or feed conversion, forward-thinking producers are harnessing sophisticated analytics to identify animals with superior efficiency traits. These insights enable more strategic breeding decisions that compound benefits across generations.
What makes this evolution particularly exciting is its accessibility. Technologies that were once reserved for only the largest operations are now available to producers of all sizes through user-friendly platforms and mobile devices. This democratization of data science allows the entire industry to advance toward more sustainable production methods. Vytelle exemplifies this approach with its integrated technology platform designed to help cattle producers deliver more protein with fewer inputs, ensuring that meat and milk remain competitive food choices for future generations amid growing sustainability concerns.
Want to learn more about optimizing your herd's efficiency? Visit vytelle.com to discover how their technology solutions can transform your operation.
Subscribe to Feedstuffs in Focus wherever you get your podcasts to hear more conversations about the big issues affecting the livestock, poultry, grain and animal feed industries.

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The razor-thin margins in today's pork industry demand a laser focus on herd health to maintain profitability. Dr. Nic Lauterbach, Technical Services Veterinarian with Pharmgate Animal Health, draws on his years of industry experience to deliver practical insights on keeping pigs healthy during challenging times.
What makes sick pigs so costly? As Dr. Lauterbach explains, illness diminishes the efficiency of every production input – feed conversion suffers, space utilization decreases, and labor requirements increase. This cascade effect can quickly erode already slim profit margins. The key is developing systems that both prevent disease entry and respond rapidly when health challenges emerge.
Producers should watch for specific warning signs that might indicate brewing health issues. Reduced water consumption often serves as the earliest indicator, followed by lethargy, decreased feed intake, and increased need for individual treatments. Dr. Lauterbach emphasizes the critical importance of establishing a strong health team before problems arise, creating clear communication channels that enable quick diagnostic testing and appropriate intervention strategies. This proactive approach can mean the difference between a manageable health event and a devastating outbreak.

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Feedstuffs in Focus - Young consumers perceive pork a bit differently
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05/15/25 • 18 min

Taste is taking center stage as the National Pork Board unveils a bold new strategy to transform how consumers—especially younger generations—think about pork. Sarah Showalter and Neal Hull reveal how deep consumer insights are reshaping the future of pork marketing in America.
At the heart of this transformation is a surprising disconnect: millennials and Gen Z consumers who claim they "don't eat pork" while enthusiastically consuming bacon, ribs, pepperoni, and sausage. This revelation has sparked a strategic pivot from positioning pork as merely a center-of-plate protein to showcasing it as a versatile ingredient in culturally-inspired recipes that younger consumers already love—like potstickers, tonkatsu, stir-fries, and carnitas.
The new "Taste What Pork Can Do" campaign leverages fascinating consumer trends, including the explosion of air fryers (now more common in American homes than coffee makers) and growing interest in smokers and grilling. By targeting specific consumer segments—from "confident meat eaters" who love grilling to "culinary adventurers" seeking new flavors—the Pork Board is meeting consumers where they are while highlighting pork's unmatched versatility. The campaign represents a long-term commitment to making pork relevant for future generations, embracing a "whole hog" approach that celebrates both fresh cuts and processed products while honoring pork's cultural significance across diverse communities.
Subscribe to Feedstuffs in Focus for more conversations about the innovations and strategies shaping the future of food and agriculture.

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While the world has been focused on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, a small but diverse group of members of the food supply chain gathered to evaluate if there are enough shared goals and beliefs on climate policy to speak on the issue with a unified voice for agriculture.

In the past, climate legislation has failed in the U.S. in no small measure because the agriculture and forestry industries weren’t unified on the issue, and didn’t have a seat at the table. In an effort to correct that, the Food & Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) was formed in February 2020 by four groups that now co-chair the alliance: American Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and National Farmers Union. The alliance has since expanded to include FMI – The Food Industry Assn., National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and The Nature Conservancy.

In this episode of Feedstuffs in Focus, Feedstuffs policy editor Jacqui Fatka talks with Chuck Connor, CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, about the work of the Alliance, including the more than 40 recommendations the group developed on climate policy this year.

RELATED STORY: Unlikely bedfellows unite on ag climate policy

This episode is sponsored by Balchem Animal Nutrition and Health. Balchem has launched a new podcast called the Real Science Exchange. Get to know top researchers like you’ve never known them before: Search for “Real Science Exchange” on your favorite podcast platform.

For more information on this and other stories, visit Feedstuffs online.
Follow Feedstuffs on Twitter @Feedstuffs, or join the conversation via Facebook.

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Feedstuffs in Focus - Lessons learned from wean-to-harvest biosecurity program
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06/14/24 • 8 min

Fifteen research projects have now been funded as part of the Swine Health Information Center’s Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program. It is a program that is being conducted in collaboration with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the Pork Checkoff. What does the program mean for the US pork industry? What are the lessons learned to date? And what’s ahead?
Joining our Ann Hess from World Pork Expo with an update is Megan Niederwerder, executive director, Swine Health Information Center.

This episode is brought to you by Topigs Norsvin, the second-largest swine genetics company in the world. Topigs Norsvin is not just a genetics supplier but a production partner. By working together you can unlock your operation’s productivity and profitability. Visit topigsnorsvin.us to learn more about how partnering with Topigs Norsvin can help your business.

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The US Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) is a platform created to safeguard, certify and better animal health for the 21st Century US pork industry. It’s a program modelled after the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
Where is US SHIP currently at when it comes to feed biosecurity? What’s ahead in the development of this industry critical strategy?

Feedstuffs Pork Nation is brought to you by Alltech. Alltech delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture through a diverse portfolio of products and services. Contact the Alltech Pork Team or visit go.alltech.com/swine-research to learn more.

Joining hosts Sarah Muirhead and Alltech's Mark Hulsebus on this episode is Dr. Jamil Faccin, Swine Technical & Nutrition Specialist, with Alltech. Dr. Faccin gives an update on US SHIP and the value it brings to the US pork industry. Dr. Faccin joined Alltech’s US Pork team following the recent completion of his Ph.D. and postdoctoral programs at Kansas State University.

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Feedstuffs in Focus - IPPE 2025: What you need to know before you go
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01/10/25 • 16 min

It’s the world’s largest annual poultry, feed and meat technology exposition and it’s coming up January 28-30 in Atlanta, Ga.
Known as the International Production and Processing Expo, it offers a vast show floor highlighting the latest in technology, products and services, along with extensive networking and education opportunities for all.

Joining us to talk about IPPE 2025 is Sarah Novak, Chief Operating Officer of the American Feed Industry Association.

For more information, visit https://www.ippexpo.org

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A prop 12 fix of the farm bill, additional funding for foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness and year-round H2a visas to combat ongoing labor challenges. What does the pork industry have on its radar screen in this legislative session?
During this week’s Global Hog Industry Virtual Conference, our Ann Hess caught up with National Pork Producers Council CEO Bryan Humphreys to get more details on policy, progress and the challenges ahead.
This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus has been sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting the website at UnitedANH.com

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Similarities and differences exist in poultry production around the world. In Germany, production and labeling standards are driving change and creating opportunities. Likewise, technology aimed at reducing labor in all stages of production and processing are under evaluation and implementation.
We catch up with Brian Earnest, lead economist for animal protein in CoBank's Knowledge Exchange research division, to get his observations from a recent trip to Germany where he visited poultry production operations, a grocery store, a feed mill and spoke during a preconference to EuroTier.

This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting the website at UnitedANH.com

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The transmission of disease-causing pathogens via feed ingredients has garnered a tremendous amount of study in recent years. With the specter of African Swine Fever in the minds of every U.S. pork producer, understanding the survivability of viral pathogens in a variety of vectors is critically important to adequate biosecurity on hog farms.

Dr. Scott Dee is a veterinarian and research at Pipestone Applied Research. He and his colleagues have done as much or more study into the role feed ingredients play in virus transmission as anyone in the business. His most recent paper looked at a case study in which Senecavirus A was introduced into a historically-negative country via soybean meal imported from a positive country.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Dee about the findings from this case study, how they apply to U.S. swine biosecurity efforts, and what veterinarians and producers need to do more generally to achieve what he describes as “next-generation biosecurity”.

This episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is sponsored by Topigs Norsvin. Swine genetics company Topigs Norsvin is renowned for its innovative approach to implementing new technologies and its continuous focus on cost-efficient and sustainable pig production. Research, innovation, and dissemination of genetic improvements are the cornerstones of the company.

Topigs Norsvin’s approach of breeding pigs for enhanced, natural robustness to disease challenge is a viable solution for disease control. You can learn more about Topigs Norsvin and their natural breeding approach by visiting their website TopigsNorsvin.us.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Feedstuffs in Focus have?

Feedstuffs in Focus currently has 292 episodes available.

What topics does Feedstuffs in Focus cover?

The podcast is about News, Marketing, Dairy, Business News, Podcasts, Agriculture, Farming, Business and Food.

What is the most popular episode on Feedstuffs in Focus?

The episode title 'Lessons learned from wean-to-harvest biosecurity program' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Feedstuffs in Focus?

The average episode length on Feedstuffs in Focus is 17 minutes.

How often are episodes of Feedstuffs in Focus released?

Episodes of Feedstuffs in Focus are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.

When was the first episode of Feedstuffs in Focus?

The first episode of Feedstuffs in Focus was released on Nov 1, 2019.

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