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The podcast for cow/calf producers interested in cutting-edge information about cow/calf production from experts and producers in nutrition, reproduction, health and economics. Hosted by SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialists Madison Kovarna, Robin Salverson and Addie Womack, Cattle HQ will release new episodes every other week.
The podcast for cow/calf producers interested in cutting-edge information about cow/calf production from experts and producers in nutrition, reproduction, health and economics. Hosted by SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialists Madison Kovarna, Robin Salverson and Addie Womack, Cattle HQ will release new episodes every other week.
Episodes

Friday Nov 07, 2025
Johne’s Disease in the Beef Industry
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Johne’s is a bacterial disease that is a slow progressive disease that affects both the beef and dairy industries. During this episode Dr. Daly shares why cattle producers should be concerned about this disease.
Listen to this episode to learn more about:
- The clinical signs of Johne’s disease.
- How the disease is transmitted and how to manage transmission.
- Strategies to manage Johne’s through testing.
Dr. Russ Daly is the Extension Veterinarian and Professor in the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department at SDSU.
Visit the SDSU Extension website to learn more about Johne’s.

Friday Oct 17, 2025
When the Pens are Empty, the Data Talks
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
On this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Dr. Justin Waggoner from Kansas State University. Justin is a professor and an Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. Justin recently presented at the Siouxland Feedlot Forum, a joint-venture with SDSU Extension and UNL Extension, regarding a feedlot close out dataset that they have been working on for almost 30 years. Madison was able to convince him to get behind the mic again to share trends and his thoughts on not only the dataset that he manages, but also how important it is for producers to capture their own close out data.

Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Make Grazing Simple Again – Winter corn residue grazing
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist visits with Dr. Rick Funston Professor and Extension Reproductive Specialist with the University of Nebraska Extension and based out of the West Central Research and Extension center in North Platte, NE.
Listen to learn more about how simple grazing corn residue can make cattle feeding during the winter. Topics addressed include:
- The ins and outs of grazing corn residue – what to look for before turning out cattle
- How to match supplement strategies with grazing resources
- Economics of grazing corn residue for both livestock owners and cropland operators
Visit SDSU Extension to learn more about grazing corn residue.

Friday Oct 03, 2025
Learn More About the Whole Farm Planning Program
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Friday Oct 03, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce a farm planning program designed to provide a more complete look at what farm and ranch families need.
During this episode of Cattle HQ, Robin Salverson visits with Dr. Lora Saboe Wounded Head the Whole Farm Planning program offered by SDSU Extension.
Listen to learn:
- Why is this program important to farm and ranch families.
- Where and when this program will be held in South Dakota
- Who should attend this program?
- Learn how Dr. Lorna Saboe Wounded Head can help farm and ranch families with financial resource management.
Visit SDSU Extension (www.extension.sdstate.edu) to learn more and register for the Whole Farm Program.
Contact Dr. Lorna Saboe Wounded Head at lorna.woundedhead@sdstate.edu or 605-782-3290.

Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Congestive heart failure in cattle is a concern amongst cow calf producers and feedyards throughout the Midwest. Often considered a high-altitude issue, however, Dr. Brian Vander Ley discusses during this episode of Cattle HQ, why producers in the lower elevations of northern great plains should be aware of congestive heart failure. Listen to learn more about:
- What is congestive heart failure and clinical signs.
- What causes congestive heart failure.
- At what age does congestive heart failure affect the animal.
- The financial impact on industry.
- What can cow calf producers do to reduce the incidences of congestive heart failure.
Dr. Brian Vander Ley is an Associate Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and the Director of the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center (GPVEC) within the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Vander Ley has been working in the area of congestive heart failure over 8 years

Monday Sep 22, 2025
Receiving New Calves into the Feedlot
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
During this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, Cow/Calf Field Specialist based out of Mitchell along with co-host Addie Stamps, SDSU Extension Livestock Production and Stewardship Field Specialist visit with, Dr. Warren Rusche and Dr. Zach Smith, South Dakota State University Assistant Professors based out of Brookings, SD, to discuss tips on sourcing and receiving new calves into the feedlot.

Monday Sep 15, 2025
Rancher’s Perspective on The Importance of Livestock Water Quality
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
The Johnson Ranch has a long history of producing seedstock and the tradition continues with Bailey Johnson. The ranch located northwest of Mobridge, South Dakota is unique because they rely solely on dams to water their cattle throughout the year. During this episode of Cattle HQ, listeners will hear from Bailey to learn more on how they use livestock water testing to better manage their pastures and cattle.
- Why did they begin testing their water?
- What impacts have Johnson Ranch seen due to poor quality water.
- What management strategies have they incorporated due to water quality.
- How do they test their water?
- Learn more about the service of Livestock Water Testing by SDSU Extension.
To learn more about the Livestock Water Testing service that SDSU Extension provides, visit SDSU Extension.

Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Going Once, Going Twice…Here Come the Fall Calves
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Michael Drotzmann to take a peek behind the auction block. Michael is an Auctioneer and Field Representative with Stockmen’s Livestock Inc in Yankton, SD. The duo talks about how Michael found himself behind the auction block, tips for producers when getting ready to send calves, the importance of a strong relationship with your auctioneer, and so much more.

Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Waddle We Do? Rethinking Cattle & Conservation
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
In this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Adam Grimm and his daughter Madison Grimm to chat about how cattle and ducks may not be so distantly connected after all.
South Dakota is a literal honey hole when it comes to duck populations, breeding/nesting ground, and migratory routes. Often times ducks will use pasture, hay land, and crop fields as nesting sites depending on the species of duck. We as cattle producers and people involved with agriculture in South Dakota actually have a unique opportunity to influence ducks that end up all over the country. Madison Grimm founded a nonprofit organization called Second Chance Flight with a mission to rescue and raise ducklings from nests that are accidentally destroyed during routine farming operations like tilling and haying. Madison Grimm works directly with producers from collecting eggs to finding wetlands to release ducklings once they are ready. You can find more information regarding Second Chance Flight at secondchanceflight.com.

Friday Jul 25, 2025
Ruminating on Microbiomes
Friday Jul 25, 2025
Friday Jul 25, 2025
In this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Dr. Ben St. Pierre from South Dakota State University to discuss all thing microbiome and cattle digestive system.
Microbiomes surround us in our daily life from the bacteria, fungi, and other little ‘bugs’ that live on the front porch door handle, to those that exist in the rumen of a mature cow. When developing rations for cattle, we are not just feeding the cow herself but also the billions of microorganisms that live in the rumen that are responsible for digesting feed. Madison and Dr. St Pierre chat about what in the world a microbiome is, the microorganisms that call the rumen home, and cannulated cow’s importance in the research world.
