RISE Newsletter - Spring 2026

A Letter from Agrarian Solutions

Chief Executive Officer

“We appreciate the opportunities to grow with you, because when we grow together, we win together.”

As a preferred distributor partner, we want to reinforce how much we value the work you do in delivering Agrarian Solutions to your customers. When sales are supported by an industry professional like you who provides significant added value, the success your customers achieve is greatly compounded.

Agrarian Solutions provides the right solutions to help your clients reduce challenges that limit livestock profitability. While animal agriculture has advanced productivity and health at an amazing pace, genetics alone are often not enough to overcome environmental stressors. As the industry has adopted more technology at an accelerated rate, data alone is not a solution. Your customers’ livestock need that extra support to thrive, and Agrarian offers proven solutions to make their data actionable.

We have seen interest in our portfolio of solutions grow tremendously as more producers and consultants incorporate our products into both preventative and responsive protocols. We continue to learn, listen, and engage with professionals like you to ensure we are bringing the specific solutions your territory requires.

We appreciate the opportunity to grow with you and your team. When we grow together, we win together.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Sincerely, Mark

Carpenter

STAY CONNECTED

Stay up-to-date with the latest videos, promotions, product insights, and field results from Agrarian Solutions.

Agrarian Solutions Team

Upcoming Promotions

Dan Hoying, National Farm Program Manager

Product Champions

CONVERT™ Momentum Continues

The use of CONVERT Gel and Bolus products continues its drive, with growth ranging from 9.3% to 21.7% from Q1 2025 to Q2 2026. This momentum is being spurred by strong beef values and a growing focus on protecting every calf’s genetic and monetary potential.

This sales growth for protecting calves “Day One. Week One. Month One.” showed up in a big way during the January - February promotion.

Congratulations to Select Sires Member Cooperative Beef Specialist Morgan Johnsrud for being the top seller of CONVERT Calf Gel and Bolus, earning a $500 Cabela’s gift card. In total, 80 cooperative team members earned more than $4,400 in rewards, along with co-branded CONVERT hats.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO QUALIFIED.

The top three sellers by cooperative were:

SELECT SIRES MEMBER COOPERATIVE

Morgan Johnsrud

Winner: $500 Cabela’s Gift Card

Steve Deam

Justin Williams

CENTRALSTAR COOPERATIVE

Dave Lindberg

Rea Dorzik

Jason Goke

CONVERT continues to be a simple, proven tool to support calf health when it matters most. Take advantage of the momentum this summer, when CONVERT Gel is 10% Off August 1-31, 2026.

DEFEND AND PROTECT FOR A LIFETIME

PREMIER SELECT SIRES

Tim Adams

Jaran Lehman

Shawn Roy

Select Sires Member Cooperative

Morgan Johnsrud

Morgan’s success followed a clear pattern: introducing CONVERT when challenges created opportunity and letting results drive the next conversation.

“Last year, my customers went through a really tough calving season with the weather, which created some challenges, but also opened the door to introduce CONVERT. The producers who used CONVERT saw strong results.

This year, that turned into repeat sales from those same producers, and I picked up new business as word of their success spread.

10% OFF

August 1 - 31, 2026

Just two years ago I hadn’t sold any CONVERT, but all of that changed with the strong results and confidence of the producers.”

Rob Hamaker, Vice President, General Manager

Point-of-Sale Products

Continue to Increase

We’ve seen an outstanding response from the field again in 2026. Coming off record sales in 2025, almost every one of our point-of-sale products have experienced exceptional growth.

COW START™ COMPLETE

77% GROWTH

Cow Start Complete had zero sales one year ago. Based on sheer numbers compared to Ca3, you have increased that business by 77%. Currently Ca3 is only 12% of that total. The transition from Ca3 has been successful, producers like what they are seeing. I feel the days of relying just on blood calcium levels for a successful transition are limited. Cow Start Complete has a multi-faceted approach for a successful transition. DONE ONCE, DONE RIGHT!

CONVERT™ GEL & BOLUS

9.3% TO 21.7% INCREASE

Convert Gel and Bolus products have shown impressive increases, ranging from 9.3% to 21.7%. I feel this is driven by the incredible value of beef; therefore, more producers recognize the importance of protecting their genetic and monetary investment.

BIOFRESH ® MICROBIAL BOLUS

123% INCREASE (400-COUNT PAIL)

BioFresh Microbial Bolus has delivered remarkable results. In 2025, the 50-count jar sales were up 44%, while the 400-count pail saw an extraordinary increase of over 123%. In 2026, 50-count jars are even, and the 400-count pail is up 56.50%. Much of this growth is tied to the success of the CowManager® system, which helps identify cows showing early signs of health issues. By catching cows on the way down — rather than waiting until they hit bottom — BioFresh has proven to make a meaningful difference. The records are the proof!

CONVERT™ BIG CALF POWDER

BIG Calf Powder has had impressive increases in 2025 but has leveled out in 2026 for a decrease of around 4%. The combination of beneficial bacteria and avian antibodies in BIG Calf continues to support calf health and accelerated growth — exactly what your producers need.

Keep up the fantastic work! We believe 2026 is on track to become THE LARGEST SALES YEAR IN OUR 29-YEAR HISTORY.

We sincerely appreciate your partnership, your dedication, and your continued trust in Agrarian.

We’re commited to supporting your efforts with SPIFFS, PRODUCT SPECIALS, AND PRODUCER DISCOUNTS.

Be sure to take advantage of these offers — Agrarian products deliver proven, powerful results for your customers.

Thank You

FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

PAS, Vice President of Nutrition

Mycotoxin Summary Results

The DON and Zearalenone Challenges Continue

The mycotoxin assay summaries presented in Table 1 and 2 and Figures 1 and 2 for the 517 corn silage and 558 TMR samples collected between October 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026 indicate a high number of samples contaminated by two to four mycotoxins. The frequency of multiple mycotoxin-contaminated samples and the compounding effects supports the regular sampling of feed ingredients and diets, as well as the adaption of time-proven and researchverified mycotoxin mitigation protection.

Corn silage samples continue exhibiting the familiar pattern of high-risk DON contamination and medium-risk zearalenone (ZEA) levels observed in recent years. However, elevated fumonisin (FUM) levels are being detected. Samples from Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia exhibited high-risk levels of FUM, while an additional five Midwestern states reported medium-risk FUM contamination.

The TMR contamination levels of DON were in the high-risk category for eight states and 11 states were at a high- or medium-risk level of ZEA. As expected from the corn silage FUM results, 14 states assayed low- and medium-risk levels of FUM in the TMR. More importantly than evaluating individual mycotoxin levels is to note that 11 states submitted TMR samples testing at medium- or high-risk levels for two or three mycotoxins, and Pennsylvania and Virginia assayed medium- or high-risk contamination levels for four mycotoxins.

The presence of multiple mycotoxins exacerbates the digestive, immune, and reproductive insults of the individual mycotoxins and necessitates a proven mycotoxin mitigation program. For example, DON disrupts digestive function, ZEA reduces reproductive success by imitating estrogen, FUM accelerates leaky gut and reduces liver function, and finally T-2 earns the “assassin” nickname by killing high-turnover gut and immune cells.

The production response observed in high-producing dairy cows supplemented with DTX™ in Roth et al. (2024a,b) occurred when diets tested at high-risk DON levels and medium-risk ZEA levels. Dairy nutritionists and producers are observing very good milk production and reproductive success outcomes when feeding DTX consuming diets with multiple mycotoxins at medium- and high-risk levels. Contact your Agrarian Solutions representative for advice on developing a mycotoxin testing program and utilizing DTX in your clients’ herds.

DON

T-2 Toxin

ppb (parts per billion)

Zearalenone

Fumonisins

T-2 Toxin

ppb (parts per billion)

Zearalenone

Fumonisins

ppm (parts per million)

RISE

Growing Together Across Global Markets

How Agrarian Solutions is expanding partnerships, product registrations, and producer support around the world.

The momentum in Agrarian’s international business is real, and it hasn’t happened by accident. Over the past year, we’ve made significant strides across our global partnerships by expanding product registrations, elevating how we train and equip our partners, and deepening our commitment to showing up for them in every way that counts.

Here’s a look at what’s been happening around the world.

New Products & Registrations

Two of our most exciting milestones this year are the successful registrations of Nutri Plus 2 in Egypt and ALL of our Defend & Protect™ products in the UAE. These aren’t just new product launches. They represent a meaningful upgrade in what our Middle East partners can offer their customers.

Nutri Plus 2 Registered in Egypt

Nutri Plus 2, formerly known as Nutri Too Plus in Egypt, has been re-registered to now incorporate the same game-changing LivOx technology found in our domestic DTX product. This is a clear example of our philosophy at work: we’re always pushing the envelope with our partners, ensuring they have access to the latest innovations to support their customers’ livestock and stay ahead of everevolving competitive and environmental challenges.

Expanding Our Partners’ Catalogues

One of the most impactful ways we can support our international partners is by giving them a more complete suite of Agrarian products to offer their customers. This year, we’ve made major strides on that front:

• Four new products registered in the UAE. Our UAE partners now offer the complete Defend & Protect Dairy Program

• CONVERT Day-One Gel registered and available in Egypt

• CONVERT Day-One Gel registered and available in Canada

• Multiple additional countries currently in the process of registration and product trials, expanding Agrarian’s global footprint

The vision here is wholistic: we want our partners to be able to Defend and Protect their customers’ livestock at every stage and circumstance. A complete synergistic program is a stronger competitive position than just offering various oneoff solutions.

Introducing the International Agrarian University

One of the most exciting new international initiatives we’ve launched is Agrarian University, a dedicated training platform designed to consistently raise the bar for our international partners’ teams. Whether someone is brand new to the Agrarian product line or a seasoned sales professional looking to sharpen their edge, Agrarian University is built for our international partners.

The goal is simple: provide high-level technical and sales training that helps our partners’ employees strengthen product positioning, build genuine technical confidence, and drive meaningful ROI conversations with their customers. When our partners’ teams are equipped and confident, everyone wins, from the distributor to the livestock producer in the field.

Ongoing Partnership Support

At the end of the day, our commitment to our international partners goes well beyond the sale. Whether it’s joining a virtual sales call to help close a deal, providing technical trainings for their teams, or collaborating on documentation and tools they’ve specifically requested, we are here to show up in whatever way it takes to help our partners succeed.

“We’re here to help our partners succeed virtually, in person, and every step in between.”

The foundation has been laid. The systems are in place. The partnerships are strong. And the best part of Agrarian’s international story is being written, together.

3 4

Q&A with Agrarian Solutions

How do you build trust with an international partner when you can’t always be there in person?

Trust is earned over time through consistent action and genuine investment in your partners’ success. For me, that starts with transparent, reliable communication so our partners know they can count on Agrarian Solutions no matter the circumstance. My goal with every check-in is to bring value to their business, ask what challenges they’re navigating, and figure out how we as a company can help them succeed in their market. Beyond that, our standard for excellence in every aspect of our business lends us to a have a reputation for consistently delivering on what we promise and that solidifies our partner’s trust in us. When partners feel you’re genuinely in their corner, trust takes care of itself.

What’s a moment from your international work that has stuck with you: a farm visit, a conversation, a result you weren’t expecting?

My first in-person visits to our longtime partners IFT in Egypt and IFT Animal Health in the UAE are moments I carry with me. After working together virtually for so long, finally being in the same room with those teams was genuinely meaningful. You build a real working relationship through emails and video calls, but there’s something irreplaceable about collaborating face-to-face. What stuck with me most, though, was their hospitality. The generosity and warmth shown to us spoke volumes about the kind of organization IFT has intentionally built, one rooted in good people and shared values. It’s a reminder of how fortunate we are to have partners like that in the Middle East, and why this work matters well beyond the business results.

How do the RISE values: Relational, Integrity, Strategic, Excellence show up in your everyday work?

RISE isn’t just a framework we reference on our website. It’s the foundation our international business is built on, and if any one element is missing, the whole thing starts to degrade. Relational comes first: the partnerships where both sides genuinely invest in the relationship are consistently our strongest ones. Integrity keeps us grounded when things get complicated, and in international markets, things always get complicated. Regulations shift, geopolitics evolve, markets change overnight, and a commitment to always “doing things right” means we’re ready no matter what comes our way. Being Strategic is what keeps us ahead of those changes rather than reacting to them. The strategic lens never comes off, whether we’re talking internally or with our partners. And Excellence is what sets us apart globally. I’ve come to believe that doing great in the little things, like regulatory documents, marketing materials, and product labels, is what enables you to have lasting, grounded, and systematic success. Our own meticulous attention to detail is what ultimately enables our international partners to succeed.

What are you most excited about for Agrarian’s international growth over the next few years?

The consistent theme over the last three years has been “laying the foundation,” and while that work is never truly finished, the foundation is genuinely there now: the research, the systems and processes, the consistent customer service infrastructure our partners can rely on. A lot of what we’re doing today simply wasn’t in place three years ago. Now we have the tools and the track record to support our existing partners at a higher level while also attracting new ones who can clearly see how Agrarian products can make a meaningful difference for livestock producers around the world. With the foundation set, we look forward to building our international business in collaboration with our partners.

“Trust is earned over time through consistent action and genuine investment in your partners’ success.”

Cody Cline International Account Manager

WORKING ACROSS GLOBAL MARKETS

Egypt • UAE • Canada and more to come

Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS, Vice President of Nutrition

Caroline Knoblock, MSc, Director of Nutrition

A Program Approach to Winning the Transition Process

The day the cow calves is the biggest day of her year. Not just because it is the start of the production cycle, but also because the cow experiences extreme physiological and psychological changes during this time. She is going from a pregnant, non-lactating state to a not-pregnant lactating state while also dealing with inflammation. Although inflammation is a normal part of the calving and healing process, it can be exacerbated by many different environmental factors. The mammary gland starts producing milk, opening the teat ends to potential pathogen exposure several times a day. The diet changes from a high-forage diet to a low-forage ration altering gut bacteria and pH. Heat stress or feed hygiene issues like mycotoxins can add additional stress to the gut. And importantly, but often overlooked, the uterus must heal itself from calving and defend against pathogen infiltration to prevent infection.

The immune system oversees all these events. The good news is the immune system is effective at protecting itself and resolving inflammation quickly, but it also has a high nutrient requirement. Research indicates that a cow’s dry matter intake can decrease 30% in the week before calving, consequently, the immune system may not have the needed nutrient resources to resolve inflammation quickly and prevent infection. There are a few things we can do to support cows during this time: 1) support feed intake and 2) provide key micronutrients that she may not be eating. A combination of management and key product usage will help dairy cows calve successfully, resolve inflammation quickly, and become productive cows that increase intake quickly, make milk, and get and stay pregnant.

There is no such thing as a silver bullet product to provide the different types of support needed by transition cows, making a program approach necessary. This allows farms to adapt products to their situations and support their cows’ specific needs. Agrarian Solutions has two key transition cow products that support the cow during this period. BioFresh® Microbial Bolus and Cow Start™ Complete can work in tandem to support dairy cows to defend themselves from inflammation and help protect the farm’s profitability.

BIOFRESH® Microbial Bolus

can be utilized any time the dairy cow is experiencing low feed intake, which can be detected by cow activity and health monitoring systems. Customers have also had excellent results when using the Microbial Bolus at calving when cows need support to increase feed intake quickly. The bolus utilizes Agrarian’s proprietary bacteria technology to support the rumen and gut microbiome, as well as other important bacteria. This microbial combination encourages feed intake and improves rumen function.

Cow Start™ Complete

is a transition cow supplement used at calving to support the newly calved cow’s essential micronutrients and antioxidants needs, including selenium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin E to support the immune system during this critical period when the cow is not eating enough of these nutrients. An important feature of Cow Start Complete is the slow release of nutrients during the first 48 hours after receiving the bolus at calving, enabling farms to only give the boluses once, hence the slogan: Done once, done right.

Utilizing a program approach can help farms improve cow health with a direct impact to improve milk production and fertility. Cows that calve in well and do not experience a health event are much more likely to become and stay pregnant on the first service. Contact Agrarian Solutions for more information on putting the Agrarian Transition Cow Program to work for you.

Where Will Agrarian Be During the Next Few Months?

June 3 – 4 2026

Four-State Nutrition & Management Conference

For dairy nutritionists and advisors focused on transition cow success. Join Agrarian’s sponsored Thursday breakfast to hear Simon Guillaume of Phytosynthese share ideas to improve intake, health, and performance in early lactation.

World Dairy Expo

Sept. 29 – Oct. 2 2026

For anyone in the dairy industry who is looking to connect and learn what’s working on dairies. Agrarian team members will be on-site. Connect with us to talk through solutions that support herd performance and profitability.

Oct. 20 – 22 2026 Cornell Nutrition Conference

For nutritionists and industry leaders focused on advancing dairy nutrition. Meet with Agrarian on-site to explore practical approaches to today’s feeding and management challenges.

Ph.D., PAS, Vice President of Nutrition

La Crosse, WI

Madison, WI

Chad Christensen

Dan Hoying

DONE ONCE. DONE RIGHT.

The next-generation transition-cow bolus delivering stronger starts, more milk, and better reproduction.

REPS ARE SEEING IN THE FIELD

“It’s one of the easiest products to sell. Started four new herds that became repeat customers because of the improvements they saw.”

Brian Martin Premier Select Sires Area Sales Manager - KS

“I’m having a lot of good discussions about the ROI, especially during heat stress conditions.”

George Heinlein Select Sires Member Cooperative Area Sales Manager - PA

“Producers are interested in Cow Start Complete. Once they try it, they see improvements in transition-cow success compared to what they were previously using.”

Henry Mitchell, Premier Select Sires Area Sales Manager - NC and SC

“Producers switching from traditional calcium products are seeing better transitions and ordering more. In many cases, the cost difference is minimal, but when you add in the labor savings and ROI, it’s a no brainer!”

Dan Hoying Agrarian Solutions National Farm Program Manager

Cows given Cow Start Complete return to breeding sooner and have higher first-service conception

Cow Start™ Complete delivers a 5.2:1 ROI by reducing inflammation to improve production, fertility, and herd health.

ROI is calculated from milk production alone. Additional value comes from improved compliance and reduced labor, no missed second bolus, no extra handling.

Stop treating fresh-cows like it’s 2000. Bring your dairies a transition-cow solution that actually improves outcomes. Cow Start Complete is the only transition bolus backed by research showing gains in production and reproduction.

Cow Start Complete addresses what other products miss: inflammation at calving.

Goes beyond calcium with:

• Controlled-release nutrients

• Antioxidants

• 70+ trace minerals from seaweed

48 hours of support vs. ~12 hours from standard calcium boluses

Single administration at calving reduces labor and stress

DONE ONCE. DONE RIGHT. Administering two Cow Start Complete boluses at calving changes the trajectory of milk production, reproductive performance, and overall herd health.

Cow Start™ Complete is a trademark and manufactured product of Anchor Life Sciences, Ltd. All claims made above are based on studies conducted by Anchor, summaries of which are available at agrariansolutions. com/product/cow-start-complete-bolus/.

Watch how Cow Start Complete changes transition outcomes

YOU FOUND THE PROBLEM, NOW WHAT?

On-farm results show what happens when dairies act earlier.

Tools like CowManager® or any electronic health systems are changing the game on dairies. Cows are being identified for declining health earlier than ever. But that raises a more important question: How do we fix her before she gets worse? Because identifying a problem is only half the battle.

The response is what determines whether that cow stays in the herd and performs up to her genetic potential, or costs the producer more through additional treatments, sometimes including antibiotics. This often leads to lost production, poorer first-service conception, and ultimately higher cull rates.

Identifying a problem is only half the battle. The response determines the outcome.

From detection to action

More and more dairies continue to add BIOFRESH®

Microbial Bolus to their treatment protocol for health alerts. Instead of waiting until a cow gets worse, dairies are using it at the first sign of trouble…when a cow goes off feed, shows digestive upset, or triggers a health alert.

How it works on farm

CentralStar Cooperative Area Sales Manager Rex Reinholt has seen the results firsthand on several of the Indiana dairies he works with. Recently, Rex introduced BIOFRESH into a large herd protocol, and the changes were noticeable:

Fewer repeat health incidents

Lower somatic cell counts

Improved reproduction

Improved milk production

Cost savings over more labor-intensive therapies

“Once farms saw the response, BIOFRESH became part of the routine.”

- Rex Reinholt

Watch the Farm Results Video

Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS • Agrarian Solutions

Dan Hoying • Agrarian Solutions

Rex Reinholt • CentralStar Co-op

The BIOFRESH protocol proved beneficial to animals, and the data backed it up. That gave the farm confidence to use it more proactively including treating earlier, using additional boluses when needed, and expanding use across more groups such as springing heifers.

Because of these results, using BIOFRESH didn’t stay a onetime trial. It became part of the farm’s routine. That’s been a pattern Rex has seen across other farms: results first, repeat use, then word-of-mouth grows.

Why it works

According to Vice President of Nutrition Dr. Larry Roth, the positive impact of BIOFRESH Microbial Bolus comes from addressing both sides of the challenge at the same time: digestive upset and immune suppression.

Seasonal feed changes, particularly in spring and early summer, can introduce more wild yeast, molds, and mycotoxins, all of which disrupt rumen function. BIOFRESH helps stabilize the rumen through a combination of live yeast, yeast culture, beneficial bacteria, and B vitamins, supporting cows in getting back to the bunk and back on feed more quickly.

At the same time, stress from transition, weather, transport, or overcrowding can weaken the immune system.

BIOFRESH Microbial Bolus supports recovery on that front as well, with IgY proteins that target pathogens and chelated trace minerals like zinc, manganese, copper, and cobalt, helping cows defend themselves and stay productive.

A simple, repeatable approach

BIOFRESH fits easily into transition cow programs, health and low rumination alert protocols, and follow-up treatment alongside veterinary care. Administering 2–3 BIOFRESH boluses at the first signs of trouble, whether visually or through a monitoring system, helps get cows back on track quickly. In more severe situations, treatment can be repeated the following day.

BIOFRESH fits into multiple situations where cows are most at risk of falling behind. It’s being used in transition cows during the first 30–60 days in milk, as well as with incoming heifers that face added stress. Seasonal feed changes, especially in spring and summer, create more digestive challenges, making this another key opportunity for use.

Increasingly, BIOFRESH Microbial Bolus is not viewed as a one-time treatment, but as part of a consistent, repeatable protocol that is valuable for supporting cows that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

The flyers in the Agrarian Hub have been instrumental in helping me sell. I’m loving the Agrarian Hub, it has all the information in one place and it’s easy to find what I need.

Mathew Jansen

CentralStar

Sales Manager Rex Reinholt explains how using BIOFRESH Bolus at freshening supported smoother transitions. The herd saw fewer health events, improved SCC, and better repro and production, with a more cost-effective product.

Gel

Member Cooperative A.I. Technician Justin Williams shares a real side-by-side trial where sticking with CONVERT and adding BIG Calf outperformed antibiotics.

Cow Start™ Complete

Director of Nutrition Caroline Knoblock and Vice President of Nutrition Dr. Larry Roth explain what sets Cow Start Complete Transition Bolus apart and how it supports cows at freshening. They also review on-farm research results showing improvements in production, reproduction, and overall return on investment.

Ask

Vice

Microbial Gel

Beef Producer Mark Wilburn shares how CowManager® flagged changes during a coccidiosis challenge with yearling bulls and how adding BIOFRESH post-treatment helped restore rumination within 24 hours and exceeded baseline by 48 hours.

Ruminate This: What’s Really Holding Dairy Performance Back?

Over the past several months on Ruminate This, a pattern has continued to show, one that’s worth paying attention to: most performance issues in dairies don’t come from the big, obvious problems. They’re coming from the things that are easy to overlook… or easy to tolerate. That might sound simple, but it challenges a generally common instinct in our industry, to look for the one major lever, the silver bullet, the big fix that moves everything at once. In reality, that’s rarely where the opportunity is.

Take forage quality.

Everyone knows it matters. But knowing it matters and managing it with precision are two vastly different things. Small swings in dry matter, digestibility, or feed out consistency don’t always feel urgent in the moment. Cows don’t crash. The tank doesn’t suddenly drop off a cliff. But those small inconsistencies show up somewhere, usually in intakes, efficiency, and cost per hundredweight. And over time, that’s where real money is made or lost.

Dive deeper in episodes 70 & 71.

Mycotoxins follow a similar pattern, just harder to see.

In many herds, there’s no obvious red flag. Cows look fine. Nothing jumps out as “broken.” But performance starts to soften, maybe intakes aren’t quite where they should be, maybe reproduction isn’t as tight, maybe health issues creep in just enough to be frustrating but not enough to trigger a full investigation. And when multiple mycotoxins are present, those effects don’t just stack; they interact. Which makes the situation even harder to diagnose if you’re only reacting to what’s visible.

Listen to episodes 64 - 68 to learn more.

Then there’s reproduction.

We’ve seen real progress in cow fertility across the industry. But when heifers aren’t keeping pace, it raises a different kind of question. Not “what’s wrong?” but “what are we missing?” Because gaps like that usually aren’t random. They’re a signal that something in development, nutrition, or management consistency isn’t lining up the way it needs to. And that word, “consistency”, might be the thread that ties all this together. Most dairies don’t fail because they don’t know what to do. They struggle because what should

be happening isn’t happening the same way every day –protocols drift, details are missed, and communication breaks down just enough to create variation. That variation, over time, becomes performance drag. None of this is dramatic. That’s the point. It’s subtle. It’s steady. And it’s expensive.

Hear more on episode 69.

Performance drag is rarely dramatic. It’s subtle, steady, expensive.

The Bottom Line

If there’s one takeaway from these recent conversations, it’s this:

The biggest opportunities in dairy right now aren’t always about doing something new. They’re about tightening up what’s already in place. Because in most cases, the difference between average and highperforming herds isn’t one big decision. It’s how well the small ones are managed every single day.

Listen & Connect

Catch all episodes of Ruminate This on your favorite podcast platform.

Have a question, comment, or topic you’d like us to cover?

Reach out anytime at podcast@agrsol.com