Today on the Cattle USA Daily Podcast, Dr. Kimberly Wellman, a researcher and professor at Tarleton State University, explains how micronutrients, cattle nutrition and muscle development influence reproductive performance, growth and carcass value. She shares why producers should look beyond visible signs of deficiencies, how nutrition affects cattle throughout their lives, and why testing water, forage and soil is key to making smarter supplementation decisions.
Links:
Dr. Kimberly Wellman at Tarleton State: https://www.tarleton.edu/animal-science/kimberly-wellmann/
Connect with Dr. Wellman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-wellmann-37aa50178/
Dr. Wellman's Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kimberly-Wellmann
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Key Takeaways:
Micronutrient deficiencies can reduce cattle performance before visible symptoms appear
Vitamin A deficiencies can contribute to reproductive losses, including early embryonic loss and late-term abortion
Proper nutrition from fetal development through finishing influences muscle growth, carcass weight and beef quality
Mineral balance matters, since both deficiencies and excessive supplementation can create problems
Water, forage and soil testing help producers identify nutrient needs and avoid unnecessary supplementation costs
Selenium requires careful management because the range between deficiency and toxicity is narrow
Targeted nutrition can improve production efficiency and help producers get more value from their cattle
Research into yeast products and direct-fed microbials may offer new ways to support rumen health and cattle performance
Chapters:
04:05 — How Nutrition Influences Muscle Development
10:20 — Why Micronutrients Matter Beyond Deficiencies
13:30 — Vitamin A, Reproduction and the Cost of Losing a Calf
16:00 — Selenium, Vitamin E and Mineral Balance
18:37 — Connecting Nutrition to Carcass Value and Profitability
24:19 — Why Producers Should Test Water, Forage and Soil
27:30 — The Future of Cattle Nutrition Research at Tarleton
Cattle nutrition, beef cattle nutrition, Dr. Kimberly Wellman, Tarleton State University, cattle micronutrients, cattle mineral deficiencies, vitamin A in cattle, cattle reproductive performance, beef cattle fertility, cattle pregnancy loss, cattle muscle development, beef carcass quality, carcass value, cattle supplementation, cattle mineral supplements, cattle water testing, forage testing, soil mineral testing, selenium in cattle, copper deficiency in cattle, magnesium in cattle, vitamin E in cattle, rumen health, direct-fed microbials, yeast feed additives, beef cattle research, cow-calf production, feedlot nutrition, cattle production efficiency, beef industry research
