The Beef Podcast Show

Dr. Megan Van Emon: Winter Nutrition for Cattle | Ep. 161

The Beef Podcast Show

Show Notes

In this special Christmas episode of The Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Megan Van Emon from Montana State University shares timely winter nutrition strategies for beef herds as producers enter the coldest months of the year. She discusses forage quality, smart supplementation planning, body condition scoring, snow use in grazing systems, and how cold stress shifts nutrient needs during late gestation. Get practical guidance to keep your herd productive and well-prepared through the holiday season and the winter ahead. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Cold exposure during northern winters sharply increases energy needs, making strategic planning essential for maintaining adequate nutrition."

Meet the guest: Dr. Megan Van Emon https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-van-emon-4a633266/ serves as the Extension Beef Cattle Specialist and Associate Professor at Montana State University. With expertise in ruminant nutrition, mineral management, and applied beef cattle production, her work supports producers across Montana through research and outreach. She focuses on practical winter nutrition, supplementation decisions, and herd management challenges in harsh climates.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+beef+podcast+show

What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (01:06) Introduction (03:51) Winter nutrition (05:34) Supplementation options (13:41) Body condition (18:34) Grazing management (21:56) Drinking patterns (27:45) Final three questions

The Beef Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Pro Earth Animal Health (https://proearthanimalhealth.com/) * Applied Biotechnologies (https://applied-biotechnologies.com/) * Lallemand (https://chooselevucellsc.com/)

- Virbac (https://vet-us.virbac.com/cattle) - dsm-firmenich (https://dsm-firmenich.com/VictusTransition)

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 Website: https://www.wisenetix.com/beefpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beefpodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/86453620/

#podcast #cattle #cattlefarm #beeffarmersandranchers #ranchlife #ranching #cattleindustry #cattleraising #agriculture #farm #livestock #farminglife

More from The Beef Podcast Show

Oct 21, 2026

In this episode of The Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Travis White, Chief Veterinary Officer at Endovac Animal Health, explains how immune readiness can prepare calves for weaning, transportation, and other predictable stressors. He discusses preconditioning, vaccination timing, nutrition, bacterial challenges, and practical health planning to support immune responses and reduce treatment needs. Listen now on all major platforms!

Oct 14, 2026

World Food Day highlights how food moves from producers to consumers, including the processing capacity needed to keep local food systems functioning. In this episode of The Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Argenis Rodas González, Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba, explains how remote meat inspection could help small plants address inspector shortages, reduce processing bottlenecks, and increase operational flexibility through digital technology. Listen now on all major platforms!

Oct 7, 2026

In this episode of The Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Bob Larson from Kansas State University discusses heifer development and reproductive momentum in beef herds. He explains why body condition before calving matters, how first-calf heifers can fall behind reproductively, and why early calving, strong forage quality, and careful selection decisions can shape lifetime herd performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

Sep 30, 2026

In this episode of The Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Kendall Samuelson, associate professor at West Texas A&M University, discusses health and nutrition for high-risk receiving calves. She explains how transportation, weaning, commingling, and other stressors affect nutrient requirements, feed intake, and immune function. She also covers receiving diet priorities and nutritional strategies that support recovery, respiratory health, and long-term performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

Sep 23, 2026

In this special 200th episode of The Beef Podcast Show, Dr. Temple Grandin, professor at Colorado State University, explains how grazing management and low-stress cattle handling can support land stewardship, animal welfare, and productivity. She discusses rotational grazing, cattle behavior, and practical handling strategies while highlighting opportunities for continuous industry improvement. Celebrate this milestone with us and listen now on all major platforms!

See all episodes →