8 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN October 2026 NC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Craig Uden*, Johnson Lake, (308) 325-0285 PRESIDENT-ELECT: Eric Hansen*, North Platte, (308) 530-3899 VICE PRESIDENT: Jaclyn Wilson*, Lakeside, (308) 762-3196 PAST PRESIDENT: Richard (Dick) Pierce, Miller, (308) 440-2489 SECRETARY/TREASURER: Laura Field, Lincoln, (402) 326-7743 MEMBER SERVICES VICE CHAIR BY REGION 1 – Bill Baldwin, Mitchell, (308) 641-5011 2 – Lydia O’Brien, Whitman, (308) 546-7349 3 – Alfredo DiCostanza, Norfolk, (612) 590-7395 4 – John Kennedy, Primrose, (308) 396-1505 5 – Weston Svoboda, Sargent, (308) 215-0244 6 – Bob Wiseman, Hershey, (308) 530-3137 7 – Todd Schlueter, Blair, (402) 533-3741 8 – Becky Funk, DVM, Lawrence, (308) 360-3179 9 – Vacant PRODUCER COUNCIL CHAIR: Dwight Dam, Hooper, (402) 720-4250 VICE CHAIR: Reiss Bruning, Bruning, (402) 768-3332 FEEDLOT COUNCIL CHAIR: Daron Huyser, Lexington, (308) 233-4368 VICE CHAIR: Joel Weber, Dorchester, (402) 946-4551 ALLIED INDUSTRIES COUNCIL CHAIR: Austin Woltemath, Lincoln, (402) 310-2294 VICE CHAIR: Kenny Stau er, Grand Island, (402) 435-0665 ~ COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ~ AG POLICY AND RESEARCH CHAIR: Steve Wellman, Syracuse, (402) 269-7024 VICE CHAIR: Lewis Coulter, Bridgeport, (308) 631-8240 ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION CHAIR: Je Heldt, Scottsblu , (308) 641-5781 VICE CHAIR: Scott Reynolds, DVM, Broken Bow, (308) 870-0970 BRAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS CHAIR: Matt Blackford, Thedford, (402) 322-1377 VICE CHAIR: Robert Star, Hershey, (308) 520-3488 MARKETING AND COMMERCE CHAIR: Chance McLean, Stromsburg, (402) 366-2254 VICE CHAIR: Marshall Hansen, Omaha, (402) 616-4541 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT CHAIR: Sam Drinnin, Grand Island, (402) 910-0233 VICE CHAIR: Logan Pribbeno, Imperial, (308) 883-7770 TAXATION AND EDUCATION CHAIR: Stephen Sunderman, Norfolk, (402) 750-0149 VICE CHAIR: Kelly Terrell, Gothenburg, (308) 930-2162 MEMBER SERVICES CHAIR: Quentin Dailey, Lexington, (308) 293-1144 NEBRASKA LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION REP. Bryce Dibbern, Interior, S.D., (308) 293-7766 UNL EXTENSION REPRESENATIVE Erin Laborie, Beaver City, (419) 494-3872 UNL REPRESENTATIVE Deb VanOverbeke, Lincoln, (402) 714-5879 * member of the Executive & Finance Committee INSIGHTS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON ANIMAL HEALTH JEFF HELDT | SCOTTSBLUFF NC ANIMAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION CHAIR From New World screwworm, sterile y availability and sterile y facilities, to the border opening for live cattle imports from Mexico, there is no shortage of animal health topics in the 2026 news cycle. Additionally, there is more headwind around the tick-borne disease theileriosis and how we are going to manage through this. And of course, we cannot forget our more traditional concerns – one that is never ending – late-feeding-period mortality. As the cost of doing business gets costlier, these are becoming increasingly detrimental on the pocketbook. When we consider these current issues and how to tackle them, the rst things that come to mind are pharmaceuticals. Have cattle been vaccinated properly? What is the antibiotic of choice to prevent or treat? Then we think about possible nutritional interventions to bolster immune status. Is macro nutrition correct as it pertains to protein and energy? Can I or should I tweak trace mineral nutrition? These are all good things to consider and worthy of thoughtful discussions with both nutritional and veterinary professionals. Of course, alterations in management practices/decisions are needed to help improve animal health. One main component to animal health that is often overlooked is colostrum. Some refer to it as liquid gold! This is the rst and probably most important intervention that will set a calf up for a lifetime of success – from the ranch to the stocker to the feedyard. This is the rst opportunity to have a signi cant failure through the whole value chain. This liquid gold contains protein and energy, vitamins, cytokines, other growth factors and immunoglobulins. All are essential for getting the newborn a quick boost of energy and a huge boost to the immune system. Research conducted at our very own U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center clearly demonstrated that failure of passive transfer of immunity leads to signi cant increases in pre-weaning morbidity and mortality as well as signi cant increases in feedlot morbidity. As we think about the U.S. and Nebraska cow herd for the last two to three years, most areas have seen prolonged drought and extreme weather events that have put a signi cant amount of stress on the animals. Have we done enough for the cow to ensure she can make adequate high-quality colostrum? Don’t forget the nal outcomes of our beef product are determined at birth. As the summer starts to wind down and we start thinking about our winter feed programs, remember these cows have been through a lot, and we need to make sure we are priming the colostrum factory and considering all nutritional interventions to allow for lifetime success. ~NC~ These are all good things to consider and worthy of thoughtful discussions with both nutritional and veterinary professionals.
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