Sustainable Stock: Reviving Legacy Genetics
Sustainable Stock: Reviving Legacy Genetics
Podcast Description
Sustainable Stock: Reviving Legacy Genetics is a podcast dedicated to exploring the power and potential of traditional cattle genetics while celebrating the ranchers who are bringing these practices back to life. Hosted by Patrick Powers, this podcast connects the past with the present, showcasing the resilience, efficiency, and fertility of the cattle breeds that helped build strong herds in the 1960s and '70s.Each episode features in-depth conversations with ranchers and breeders who are rediscovering and preserving the cattlemen practices that have stood the test of time. These ranchers are committed to using common-sense methods that focus on what truly works, blending the wisdom of the past with modern solutions for sustainable ranching in today’s world.At its core, Sustainable Stock is about returning to the fundamentals—embracing practical, time-tested approaches that prioritize what’s best for the land, livestock, and the rancher. We honor the heritage of ranching and are passionate about creating a future that’s rooted in both tradition and sustainability. Whether you’re passionate about heritage genetics, the future of ranching, or simply interested in the story behind the herd, this podcast is for you.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on legacy cattle genetics, sustainable ranching practices, and the challenges facing modern ranchers. Episodes include topics like the formation of Bos Sires with Grant Vassberg and the historical significance of the Droughtmaster breed shared by John Atkinson, emphasizing the integration of time-tested methods with contemporary solutions for better land and livestock management.
Sustainable Stock: Reviving Legacy Genetics is a podcast dedicated to exploring the power and potential of traditional cattle genetics while celebrating the ranchers who are bringing these practices back to life. Hosted by Patrick Powers, this podcast connects the past with the present, showcasing the resilience, efficiency, and fertility of the cattle breeds that helped build strong herds in the 1960s and ’70s.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with ranchers and breeders who are rediscovering and preserving the cattlemen practices that have stood the test of time. These ranchers are committed to using common-sense methods that focus on what truly works, blending the wisdom of the past with modern solutions for sustainable ranching in today’s world.
At its core, Sustainable Stock is about returning to the fundamentals—embracing practical, time-tested approaches that prioritize what’s best for the land, livestock, and the rancher. We honor the heritage of ranching and are passionate about creating a future that’s rooted in both tradition and sustainability. Whether you’re passionate about heritage genetics, the future of ranching, or simply interested in the story behind the herd, this podcast is for you.
Shooting The Bull: Episode 4 Preview
What happens when cattle breeding principles stay focused on function instead of fashion for three generations? The Meitler brothers reveal the extraordinary power of consistency at their family's Hereford operation, where their bulls routinely work for 10 to 12 years while mainstream operations sell replacements every 2 to 3 seasons.
From their hunting cabin in rural Kansas, brothers Darris and Clint Meitler share candid insights about carrying forward their father's legacy, a breeding philosophy deeply influenced by legendary animal scientist Jan Bonsma. ”The older we get,” one brother reflects, ”the more we figured out dad had it right.” Their story parallels many other sustainable operations they've encountered, where cattlemen have independently reached similar conclusions about what makes truly valuable genetics.
The conversation touches on a visit to Casey Jr's beef master operation, where a closed herd since 1962 and strict 28 day breeding windows have created remarkably consistent cattle. This dedication to simplicity, letting bulls do their work without AI, embryo transfer, or complex EPD systems, demonstrates the power of time tested methods when applied with discipline.
Perhaps most telling is their challenge with customer relationships. When your bulls perform so well that customers don't need replacements for a decade, maintaining consistent contact becomes difficult. Yet this longevity represents enormous value in an industry where frequent replacement has become normalized.
Despite managing cattle across dozens of properties, the brothers handle nearly everything themselves, feeding, breeding decisions, sales, giving them intimate knowledge of their herd that visiting ”experts” can never match. As one brother noted, if a cattleman can't quickly identify his best animals when touring the pasture, he likely doesn't truly know his operation.
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Question the noise. Trust the land. Don’t breed nonsense.
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