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Building a Herd That Works: EPDs, Genomics and Smart Genetic Investments

Julia and Robert operate a commercial cow-calf operation with a strong focus on making informed, strategic management and breeding decisions. They market all calves at weaning and have a goal to increase weaning weights by 20 pounds without sacrificing calving ease, which remains a key priority for both cow health and labour requirements.

This year, they are looking to purchase one or two new herd sires.

One afternoon at the kitchen table, coffee in hand, they were flipping through the latest bull sale catalogues full of glossy photos when they heard footsteps on the front porch. It was their trusted neighbour and fellow commercial cow-calf producer, Andy.

“Bull shopping?” Andy commented when he saw the catalogues.

“Trying to,” Julia replied with a puzzled glance, tapping a page covered in circled bull images.

“Mind if I take a look?” asked Andy.

Julia slid the catalogue over. “Sure. See what you think of our selections so far.”

Andy was silent for a moment as he flipped through the catalogue. When he finally spoke, he asked, “How much time do you spend looking at EPDs?”

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What If Everything You Knew About Feed Inventory Was Wrong?

Video: What If Everything You Knew About Feed Inventory Was Wrong?

AI, Agriculture & the Future of Smart Farming with BinSentry CEO Ben Allen. Every day, livestock producers make thousands of dollars' worth of decisions based on one simple question: How much feed is actually left in the bin? For decades, the answer has often been an estimate.

In this episode of AgTech with Andrew, I sit down with Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry, to explore how artificial intelligence, machine vision and real-time data are transforming one of agriculture's most overlooked challenges—feed and grain inventory management.
We discuss why some of the biggest inefficiencies in livestock production aren't happening in the barn, but throughout the feed supply chain. Ben shares insights from his career leading agricultural technology companies, explains why AI must solve real business problems to earn producer trust, and offers his vision for the connected farm of the future.

In this interview, you'll discover:
Why feed inventory has remained one of agriculture's biggest blind spots
How AI is reducing costly feed outages, waste and unnecessary deliveries
The hidden safety risks of traditional bin inspections
What separates successful ag technologies from those that never gain adoption
How connected farms are changing decision-making for producers, feed mills and integrators
Why real-time inventory may become as important as precision planting and autonomous equipment

Whether you're a livestock producer, grain farmer, feed manufacturer, ag retailer, nutritionist or simply passionate about the future of agriculture, this conversation offers valuable insights into where the industry is headed.