The Future of Beef Show

Breed associations have long played a foundational role in the beef industry—but their purpose, value, and responsibilities are rapidly evolving. Few people understand that transformation better than Brett Spader, President of the American-International Charolais Association.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Brett joins hosts Jim Johnson, Dr Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal to discuss how data, governance, and producer-focused service are reshaping the future of breed organizations. Drawing on a diverse career across the Kansas Livestock Association, DV Auction, Angus Media, and his own digital startup, Brett shares a unique perspective on how te...

Genetic progress is only as valuable as the profitability it creates, and few people understand that connection better than Marty Ropp, founder and executive officer of Allied Genetic Resources.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Marty joins hosts Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal to discuss how data, genomics, and collaboration are reshaping the business of beef genetics. From lessons learned in the pork and dairy industries to the future of service-driven breeding programs, Marty shares what it takes to help producers capture more value across the entire supply chain.

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13. Beef on Dairy with Lorna Marshall

Beef-on-dairy is transforming how we think about efficiency, genetics, and profitability in cattle production—and few people have influenced that evolution more than Lorna Marshall, Vice President of Beef Genetics at Select Sires.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Lorna shares how she’s bridging the worlds of dairy precision and beef performance to drive genetic progress across the industry. From genomic testing to smarter sire selection, she lays out how technology and collaboration can help producers raise more consistent, high-value cattle—whether they’re working with com...

12. Ranching Advocacy with Tucker Brown

Ranching isn’t just about raising cattle—it’s about telling the story of where beef comes from and why it matters. Few do that better than Tucker Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch in Texas.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, Tucker shares how he’s using humor, transparency, and digital storytelling to connect consumers with the people behind their food. As a sixth-generation rancher, he’s bringing fresh energy to ranching advocacy while still grounded in the values that built his family’s operation.

What You’l...

Markets don’t have to be a mystery. Dave Weaber breaks down the numbers—and how producers can use them to stay ahead of the game.

In this episode of The Future of Beef Show, we sit down with beef industry analyst Dave Weaber, who brings decades of experience helping producers, packers, and retailers understand the economics that drive our business.

Dave breaks down the market forces shaping cattle prices, consumer demand, and packer margins—and explains what those numbers really mean for cow-calf producers, feeders, and everyone along the chain.

From the value...

Welcome to the 10th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Feedyard Health with Dr. Dan Thomson.

From the feedlot pen to the packer line, every decision made around cattle health ripples through performance, profitability, and public trust. In this foundational episode, Dr. Dan Thomson—a PhD nutritionist, DVM, and managing partner at PAC—joins Jim Johnson, Dr. Jessica Sperber, and Ian Wheal to map the entire lifecycle of animal health and welfare in modern beef systems.

With decades of feedlot consultation experience and influence on industry standards from McDonald’s to Cactus Feeders, Dr. Dan sh...

Welcome to the 9th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Academic Innovation with Dr. Jessica Sperber.

In a special turn of the mic, this episode spotlights one of our own—Dr. Jessica Sperber, PhD in feedlot nutrition and co-host of The Future of Beef Show. From Alberta cattle roots to packing plant data and feedlot research at the University of Nebraska, Jessica shares a refreshingly honest journey through academia, mentorship, and what it really means to stay rooted in production while pushing the boundaries of science.

The conversation spans her care...

Welcome to the 8th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Connected Calf Health with Dr. Taylor Engle.

What if the best way to raise healthier, better-performing calves didn’t start with treatments, but with trust—trust in your environment, your protocols, and your team? In this forward-looking conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Taylor Engle of Four Star Veterinary Services to explore how producers can improve calf health outcomes by rethinking everything from birth to bunk.

Dr. Engle draws on her unique background across swine, poultry, and beef production systems to break down calf health...

Welcome to the 7th episode of The Future of Beef Show: Ag Tech Innovation with Ian Wheal.

In this deeply personal and practical episode, we flip the mic to interview our own Ian Wheal—co-founder of Breedr and the tech visionary behind much of what makes this show tick. From his family’s sheep and beef operation in Australia to consulting on global ag supply chains, Ian shares a candid, plainspoken look at what’s broken in agriculture—and how technology, done right, can fix it.

We dive into the origin story of B...

Welcome to the sixth episode of The Future of Beef Show: Data-Driven Carcass Insights with Dr. Dale Woerner.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, alongside co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, welcomes Dr. Dale Woerner—a leading meat science researcher at Texas Tech University—for a candid discussion on one of the most overlooked yet pivotal issues in the beef industry: carcass yield accuracy.

Dr. Woerner breaks down how outdated grading systems and the industry’s reluctance to adopt new technologies like X-ray vision are costing producers dearly. From heavier cattle n...

Welcome to the fifth episode of The Future of Beef Show: Succession with Alan Hojer.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, alongside co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sits down with Alan Hojer—succession expert and advocate for legacy ranching families—to explore one of the most emotional and vital topics in the beef industry: succession planning.

Alan brings over a decade of hands-on experience helping agricultural families navigate the complexities of generational transition. From guiding honest conversations over coffee to building long-term, values-based succession plans, Alan emphasizes that true legacy...

Welcome to a special 3oz portion episode of The Future of Beef Show: Calving with Dr. Taylor Engle.

In this special "3oz Portion" episode, host Jim Johnson is joined by co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal for a focused conversation with Dr. Taylor Engle, diving deep into best practices for calving season—from nutrition and data collection to health preparedness and genetic planning.

Dr. Engle shares insights from the frontlines of calving management, offering practical strategies to ensure healthier calves, more productive cows, and better long-term herd performance. Whether you're a se...

Welcome to the fourth episode of The Future of Beef Show: Genomics with Nick Jorgensen.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, alongside co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sits down with Nick Jorgensen, CEO and CFO of Jorgensen Land & Cattle, to explore how genomics and cutting-edge data tools are shaping the future of sustainable beef production.

Nick shares how his family operation has evolved into one of the most innovative beef and seedstock producers in the U.S., leveraging soil health, genetic selection, and business diversification to stay resilient and pr...

Welcome to the third episode of The Future of Beef Show: Genetics with Troy Marshall.

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, along with co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sit down with Troy Marshall, Director of Commercial Industry Relations at the American Angus Association to discuss how genetics can shape smarter breeding decisions and maximize profitability in the beef industry.

As always, you’ll find additional resources and tools at TheFutureofBeef.com, including a 6-month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in th...

Welcome to the second episode of The Future of Beef Show: Beating the Bell Curve with John Schroeder. 

In this episode, host Jim Johnson, along with co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sit down with John Schroeder, General Manager of Darr Feedlot to discuss managing cattle individually to maximize performance and profitability. 

As always you’ll find additional resources and tools at the futureofbeef.com, including a 6 month free trial of the award-winning Breedr app.

What you will learn in this episode: 

1️⃣ How individual animal track...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Future of Beef podcast! In this episode, host Jim Johnson, along with co-hosts Dr. Jessica Sperber and Ian Wheal, sits down with Lamar Steiger, owner of 808 Ranch and founder of Ranch to Retail, to explore how the beef industry is evolving through supply chain collaboration, data-driven management, and stronger producer partnerships.

Lamar shares his experience working with Walmart’s Prime Pursuits program to create a more transparent and connected beef supply chain. From tales of growing up on his family's ranch to leading large-scale supply chain innovations, Lamar discusses how pr...