It’s The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they deep dive into pre-weaning cow nutrition and how to supplement those cows when it’s too dry or too wet. Plus beef export news market recaps and lots more on this all new episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.

Why Pre-Weaning Cow Nutrition is important. Dr. Kelly Sanders Westway Feed Products. Ranch It Up Radio Show. Jeff Tigger Erhardt Rebecca Wanner

Season 5, EPISODE 250

Cow/Calf Nutrition During Pre-Weaning

Beef Cattle Nutrition From Westway Feed Products

Westway Feed Products offers high-quality cattle supplements in both liquid feed and tub form, designed to deliver essential protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals your herd needs for peak performance. These nutritional supplements bridge the gap between what your forage provides and what your cattle require—ensuring consistent, balanced nutrition year-round.

Backed by research and proven by producers, Westway’s free-choice liquid feed and tub supplements help support herd health, improve efficiency, and boost productivity.

Benefits of Westway Liquid Feed Supplements

Improved forage digestibility and utilization
Convenient, low-labor feeding solution
Highly palatable—encouraging consistent intake of nutrients
Minimal waste to maximize feed investment
Access for less dominant cattle without competition at the feed site
Better breed-up rates and enhanced reproductive performance
Potential immunity boost for calves, supporting long-term herd health

Cow/Calf Nutrition Program

At Westway Feed Products, we know that proper cattle nutrition is more than just grass, hay, or seasonal feed—it’s about delivering balanced nutrients all year long. With 28 production plants nationwide, we can create regionalized formulations tailored to your specific forage base and climate conditions, ensuring your cow/calf herd thrives in every season.

Feedlot Nutrition Program

For feedlots, Westway liquid feed products help control dust, reduce sorting at the bunk, and serve as a nutrient carrier to evenly distribute vitamins, minerals, and other feed components. From starter rations to finishing rations, our liquid feed supplements support consistent weight gain, feed efficiency, and overall herd health—while saving you time and money.

Westway Feed Product Options

Custom Blends for specific herd needs
Suspensions for nutrient stability
Commodities for cost-effective nutrition
Stress Mix to support cattle during challenging conditions
Fly Control to help manage pests and protect performance

Boost your cattle’s performance with Westway Feed Products’ liquid feed and tub supplements—the proven choice for ranchers and feedlot managers who want consistent nutrition, healthier cattle, and stronger bottom-line results.

Cattle Industry News

U.S. and China Extend Tariff Truce — Beef, Pork, and Poultry Exports Still Struggling

The United States and China have agreed to extend their current tariff truce for another 90 days, avoiding a fresh round of steep retaliatory trade measures. A joint statement issued late Monday confirmed that existing high—but not crippling—tariff rates will remain in place during this extension.

This decision comes after months of trade tension that have severely impacted U.S. agricultural exports to mainland China. In 2024, U.S. beef exports to China were valued at nearly $1.6 billion, but trade disruptions this year have sharply reduced shipments. Pork exports, worth $1.1 billion last year, and poultry exports totaling $481 million have also suffered.

The dispute escalated rapidly in early April, with tariffs climbing to 145% or more on Chinese goods and at least 125% on U.S. products. The tit-for-tat increases prompted a trade war ceasefire in May, reducing base rates to 30% on Chinese imports and 10% on U.S. exports. These lower rates were renewed in June and have now been extended again, just before the latest deadline.

April’s 172% import tax on U.S. pork dropped to 57% in May, allowing pork export volumes to rebound close to 2024 levels. However, for the first half of 2025, U.S. pork exports to China remain down 19% by volume and 17% by value.

While tariffs remain a challenge, U.S. beef exports have been hurt even more by China’s continued refusal to renew registrations for most American processing facilities. In June, U.S. beef exports to mainland China plunged 77% by volume and nearly 81% by value compared to last year.

According to the joint statement, the 90-day extension follows late-July negotiations in Stockholm, with more talks expected in the coming months. Agricultural industry leaders remain hopeful that further progress could lead to reduced tariffs and the removal of non-tariff trade barriers.

REFERENCE: https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/120214

Japan Maintains 21.6% Tariff on U.S. Beef — Pork Exports Remain Duty-Free

Japan’s tariff on U.S. beef will remain at 21.6% under the new framework trade arrangement announced last month, while most U.S. pork continues to enter the Japanese market tariff-free.

According to U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President Dan Halstrom, these rates keep American beef and pork on “a level playing field” with global competitors, thanks to the 2020 U.S.-Japan trade agreement negotiated during the first Trump administration.

Japan’s chief trade negotiator visited Washington, D.C., last week to finalize details of the U.S.-Japan Trade and Investment Agreement, which was announced in July but released with few specifics. The latest framework ensures that existing tariff rates remain competitive while both sides work toward a more comprehensive agreement.

This is how critical the Japanese market is for U.S. meat exports:

Top Destination for Beef (by volume) in 2024, narrowly ahead of South Korea and Mexico.
Second-Largest Buyer by Value of U.S. pork at nearly $1.4 billion.
Second-Largest Buyer by Value of U.S. beef at almost $1.9 billion.

The 21.6% beef tariff—currently the highest of any major market for U.S. beef—is set to gradually decline to 9% by 2033. This phased reduction will improve U.S. competitiveness in the premium Japanese market over the next decade.

Japan remains one of the most important and profitable markets for U.S. beef and pork exports. The continuation of favorable trade terms ensures American producers can compete head-to-head with suppliers from Australia, Canada, and other key exporters.

REFERENCE: https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/120211

Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry

Dr. Kelly Sanders – Westway Feed Products
https://westwayfeed.com/
Follow on Facebook: @WestwayFeed

Mark Vanzee – Livestock, Equine, & Auction Time Expert
https://www.auctiontime.com/
https://www.livestockmarket.com/
https://www.equinemarket.com/
Follow on Facebook: @LivestockMkt | @EquineMkt | @AuctionTime

Kirk Donsbach – Financial Analyst at StoneX
https://www.stonex.com/
Follow on Facebook: @StoneXGroupInc

Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation
https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/
Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos

Contact Us with Questions or Concerns

Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via:

Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420
Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com
Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow
YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp

Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms.

Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC

Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production.

Learn more about Jeff ‘Tigger’ Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC.

https://tiggerandbec.com/