logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
1h 30m

160. Embracing Change in Cattle Breeding...

Grazing Grass
About this episode

In this episode, we are joined by Trevor and Cheryl Brannvold, the passionate owners of GBT Angus in Southeast Saskatchewan. Their journey into cattle farming began in Trevor's high school years and has since blossomed into a successful family business that also includes a budding sheep enterprise managed by their son. With a focus on regenerative agriculture, Trevor and Cheryl share their experiences and insights on modern livestock practices, sustainability, and resilience, providing listeners with a comprehensive look at their innovative approach to farming.

Topics covered include:

  • The Brannvold family's journey with Angus cattle
  • The benefits of calving at two years of age versus three years of age
  • Insights into regenerative grazing practices
  • The impact of the BSE crisis on their operations
  • The transformative role of continuous education and conferences in enhancing their farming practices
  • The logistics of hosting an online bull sale
  • The genetic selection criteria for fertility and practicality
  • The use of stockpiled grazing to support cattle during harsh winters


Listeners should tune in to this episode to discover practical insights into sustainable livestock production and the evolving landscape of cattle farming. Trevor and Cheryl's firsthand experiences and strategic decisions offer valuable lessons for both seasoned farmers and those new to the field. With a focus on profitability and sustainability, this episode provides inspiration and guidance for anyone interested in embracing change and innovation in agriculture.

Links Mentioned in the Episode
GBT Angus
Online Bull Auction

Visit our Sponsors:
Noble Research Institute


Grazing Grass Links
New Listener Resource Guide

Provide feedback for the podcast
Website
Insiders
Resources (Coming Soon)
Community (on Facebook)
Check out the Apiary Chronicles Podcast

Original Music by Louis Palfrey

Chapters

  • (00:00) - Introduction to Trevor and Cheryl Branvold
  • (00:26) - Fast Five Questions
  • (02:33) - Welcome to the Grazing Grass Podcast
  • (03:07) - Noble Grazing Essentials Course
  • (04:01) - Current Farm Season Update
  • (05:21) - New Podcast Segments
  • (06:56) - Early Life and Farming Background
  • (16:37) - Introduction to Regenerative Practices
  • (23:41) - Holistic Management and Grass Fed Exchange
  • (30:21) - Transition to Spring Calving
  • (41:26) - Breeding and Genetics Focus
  • (48:44) - Management Practices for First Calvers
  • (50:13) - Challenges in Breeding and Production
  • (51:09) - Debating Breeding Ages for Livestock
  • (52:55) - Financial Implications of Breeding Practices
  • (55:09) - Stockpile Grazing: A Game Changer
  • (01:02:52) - Upcoming Bull Sale Details
  • (01:10:31) - Famous Four Questions
  • (01:23:51) - Host's Journey and Final Thoughts
Up next
Nov 19
197. Silvopasture in the Real World with Austin Unruh
<p>Austin Unruh returns for another deep, practical conversation on silvopasture — this time focusing on “the dip,” livestock pressure, pruning, shade strategy, pigs and poultry in tree systems, and what to do in <em>Year Zero</em> before you ever put a seedling in the ground. If ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 12
196. Regenerative Grazing and Direct Marketing Success with Leslie Svacina
Leslie returns to share what’s changed since her first appearance in Episode 28. She runs Cylon Rolling Acres in northwestern Wisconsin, where she grazes both goats and Texel sheep on pasture and markets meat directly to consumers through a thriving online business. This episode ... Show More
1h 24m
Nov 5
195. South Poll Field Day Special: Real Ranchers, Real Results
In this special in-person episode recorded at the South Poll Field Day, Cal sits down with some of the biggest names connected to the South Poll breed and regenerative grazing movement — Teddy Gentry, Greg Judy, Ralph & Jerry Voss, Steve Freeman, and Nathan Hahn.You’ll hear the s ... Show More
2h 1m
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
225: Alex McKiernan - Car Wrecks Can't Stop This Family!
Alex and his wife have built a diverse farm and ranch business that started with direct to consumer vegetable production through a CSA and has grown to a large ranch that does custom grazing, goat production for weed management as well as building a brand that serves food from th ... Show More
1h 19m
Mar 2025
Ep. 68: How to Put a Cow in Neutral, Grand Nite Champion Coon Dogs, and Going Viral with Gavin Adcock
This week Reid and Dan host the music row's rowdiest artist, Gavin Adcock, out in God's Country. The episode dives in with all things cattle farming and Dan shares his first and last experience at attempting the trade. Gavin walks through what a day looked like for him growing up ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 2025
Bird Flu’s Jump to Cattle Took Dairy Farmers by Surprise (Part 2)
Dairy cattle have become an intermediary between avian influenza found in wild birds and the handful of recorded H5N1 bird flu cases in humans. Senior news reporter Meghan Bartels took a trip upstate to Cornell University’s Teaching Dairy Barn. Early last year Texas dairy farmers ... Show More
22m 58s
Sep 2024
Level up your calf care with actionable data – Wayne Worden, VAS and Dr. Mike Nagorske, SCCL (Sponsored Podcast)
<p>What bottlenecks prevent calves from reaching their genetic potential? How can data help you identify trends and make informed calf health and management decisions? What tools can make it easier? Join Wayne Worden, farm performance consultant with VAS and Dr. Mike Nagorske, di ... Show More
31m 19s
Dec 2023
Holistic grazing, holistic thinking - (Nikki Yoxall)
A recent wave of sustainability claims confidently dictate how, for what, and where we ought to use land for climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Nikki Yoxall, a self proclaimed regenerative landscape manager walks through her thinking on land use decision making and ... Show More
1h 13m
Nov 3
D'où viennent les moutons de poussière ? 🐑
La poussière est un mélange de particules diverses qui s'accumulent dans nos intérieurs. Elle forme, bien souvent dans les recoins les moins accessibles, des petits agglomérats que l'on appelle des "moutons" ! Comment ? Pourquoi ? C'est le sujet de cet épisode, bonne écoute 🐑Un ... Show More
3m 46s
Sep 2023
Tree Soil, Rodent Biologist, Soundscape Artist. Sept 8, 2023, Part 2
<h2>Where Soil Grows Above The Trees</h2><p>You might be used to the feeling of Earth under your feet, but did you know that there’s soil high above your head? Way up in the treetops, where ferns, mosses, flowers, and even trees grow on top of the forest. A new <a href="https://w ... Show More
46m 56s
Jul 2024
Saving the Last Truly Wild Horse
Przewalski’s horses are truly wild horses, even the ones held in captivity. They traditionally roamed the Central Asian steppes, so you can imagine everyone’s surprise when two separate accounts on TikTok claimed to have found a Przewalski’s horse here in the U.S. But as guest an ... Show More
15m 52s
Aug 23
Why You SHOULD Work on a Farm First
<p>In this episode, farmer Alec Smith of Crop Culture Farm drills down the importance of working on a farm first before starting your own. </p> <p><span class="c-emoji c-emoji__medium c-emoji--inline" data-qa= "emoji" data-sk="tooltip_parent"><img src= "https://a.slack-edge.com/p ... Show More
5m 45s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami