2025 Feeding Quality Forum
The 20th annual Feeding Quality Forum in Rochester, Minnesota, brought leading beef experts to the stage to look at the current demands in the beef marketplace.
Below you’ll find links to speaker slides and news coverage following the event.
Industry Achievement Award
Dr. Gary Smith
Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University
2025 Session Coverage
Global Market Overview
Dan Basse, AgResource Company
From low cattle supplies to record beef prices, the global marketplace is experiencing record highs and lows. Learn about the current state of commodity and financial markets around the world to help prepare for swings in the market and guide your risk management strategies.
Consumer Demand and the Power of Quality
David O’Diam, Certified Angus Beef
Will this be the year that consumer demand for beef flatlines? As the quality of fed cattle continues to rise, Certified Angus Beef partners have more opportunities to stock their shelves with upper-Choice and Prime quality beef. David shares premium beef sales successes and what that means for demand.
A Prime Opportunity
Paul Dykstra, Certified Angus Beef; Travis Thomas, Upper Iowa Beef; and Dallas Knobloch, 4K Cattle
Growth in the Prime category means more ways to cash in. Paul Dykstra will review the data where Prime production continues to grow, where it falls short, and where the most profitable opportunities are for producers. He’ll be joined by Minnesota feeder Dallas Knobloch and Upper Iowa Beef’s Travis Thomas to talk about the power of relationships across the beef supply chain and how they impact quality.
Meat Science Unwrapped: Insights from Dr. Smith’s Decades of Research
Dr. John Stika, Certified Angus Beef, and Dr. Gary Smith, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University
Listen in as John and Gary discuss his tenure in meat science research. Known both nationally and internationally, his research spans carcass quality, palatability, meat safety, and packaging and retailing of red meat. Beyond this, Gary’s legacy includes his time in the classroom as an educator, mentor, and meats judging coach.
Managing the Cow & the Carcass
Brian McCulloh, Woodhill Angus
Genetics continue to lead the conversation across beef cattle production segments as today’s cattle are capable of more than any previous generation. Brian McCulloh will offer insight on modern beef cattle performance, as feeders take a closer interest in genetic potential and cow-calf producers pursue balanced trait selection. Gain insight on selection tools and ways to make progress across the board.
The Heart of the Matter
Kelli Retallick-Riley, Angus Genetics Inc.
Bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) easily falls into the “it’s complicated” category. If there’s a chance of a genetic component, the American Angus Association® is driven to identify it. Still, there are environmental and management factors that influence a calf’s chance of experiencing BCHF. Listen in as Kelli shares the work being done through AGI’s Heart Health Initiative to find answers.
Practical Conservation for Cattlemen
Kirsten Nickles, Certified Angus Beef; Ryan Taylor, Ducks Unlimited; Troy Hadrick, Hadrick Ranch; Jason Rowntree, Michigan State University
Conservation looks unique depending on your environment. Continued emphasis on protecting natural resources has led to more financial resources for cattlemen. Hear from a South Dakota ranchers about how they’re working with Ducks Unlimited and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to incorporate land stewardship practices that increase productivity on their diversified crop and livestock operation.
Chopping Block: What’s New for Grading and Red Meat Yield
John Stika, Certified Angus Beef
Issues come and go in any industry. Over six decades, cattle composition, feeding technologies and methods have changed. Rising to the top for the beef industry is accuracy in yield grade assessment and the ever-present need for increased red meat yield. John will talk about the work being done by two working groups to update both.
Marketing & Cattle Management in the Current Carcass Pricing Environment
Tim Schiefelbein, Schiefelbein Angus
What you get for your cattle depends how you market them. Some marketing strategies require specific management practices. To know what’s best for your operation, Tim will start with the end in mind and work back to the ranch while sharing strategies for greater profit along the way.