The Gut Health Secret Behind Healthier Calves with Dr. Chris Cassady

Nutrition might be the one variable in a cattle operation a producer can actually control — and according to Dr. Chris Cassady, it's also one of the most overlooked drivers of value on sale day. In this episode of We Live It, Ty deCordova and Casey Mabry sit down with Dr. Chris Cassady, Director of Technical Services at BioZyme, to break down exactly how the company's nutrition programs translate into healthier, more marketable cattle. Chris shares his path from growing up on a diversified Illinois grain and cattle farm through Texas A&M, a master's and PhD at the University of Illinois, and a faculty position at Iowa State before joining BioZyme's technical team. From there, the guys dig into the VitaFerm Raised badge — a value-added program for calves fed VitaFerm in utero or for at least 45 days leading up to sale — and why buyers increasingly view a documented nutrition program as a signal of overall management quality. Chris explains the science behind the gut-immunity connection (roughly 70% of the immune system lives in the gut) and how that ties directly into vaccine response and long-term health. They also walk step-by-step through the Gain Smart program: the drench that jump-starts appetite in freshly received, stressed calves; the stress tubs that keep gut health in check through the first two to three weeks; and the fortified mineral and vitamin line that carries cattle the rest of the way to delivery. Ty shares a real-world example of nearly a pound-a-day gain difference between two adjacent wheat pastures where mineral was the only variable — plus their own experience running Liquid Boost through the water tank. Chris closes out with a look at Sure Start, BioZyme's day-old calving drench built to support passive immunity right at tagging. Whether you're a commercial cow-calf producer, a stocker or backgrounder, or a cattle rep helping clients tell their nutrition story on sale day, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways on turning a feeding program into real value. **Topics Covered:**  • Dr. Chris Cassady's background — Illinois farm roots, Texas A&M, Iowa State faculty, BioZyme technical services  • What the VitaFerm Raise badge program is and how calves qualify  • The 45-day feeding window that applies to both VitaFerm and Gain Smart badges  • Why 70% of the immune system lives in the gut — and what that means for vaccine response  • The three-step Gain Smart program: drench, stress tubs, and mineral/vitamin supplementation  • Real-world gain data: nearly a pound-a-day difference on matched wheat pastures  • What's actually in the mineral — Amaferm, organic trace minerals, and why the combination matters  • How buyers and feedyards read a nutrition badge on sale day  • Sure Start: BioZyme's new day-old calf drench for tagging season  • How producers can connect with their local BioZyme rep and get the badge on their listing 🧬 **Powered by BioZyme®** The We Live It podcast is proudly powered by BioZyme, the makers of VitaFerm® and Gain Smart®. Proper cattle nutrition is the foundation of livestock health. Through LiveAg's nationwide video auction platform, cattle fed BioZyme minerals gain exposure to a national buyer base, often resulting in premium returns. 🔗 Learn more: https://biozymeinc.com/blog/biozyme-partners-with-liveag/ - (00:00) - Introduction: Meet Dr. Chris Cassady: Illinois Farm Roots to BioZyme - (02:23) - What Is the VitaFerm Raise Badge Program? - (03:15) - How Calves Qualify: In-Utero Nutrition Through Sale Day - (04:42) - Why Nutrition Awareness Has Grown Across the Industry - (05:40) - The Gut-Immunity Connection: 70% of Immunity Starts in the Gut - (07:06) - Breaking Down Gain Smart: A Three-Step Program - (07:45) - Step 1 — The Drench: Jump-Starting a Stressed Calf's Appetite - (09:24) - Step 2 — Stress Tubs: The "Trickle Charger" for Weaning - (10:15) - Step 3 — Gain Smart Minerals: Stocker, Wheat & Balancer Options - (11:47) - Real-World Results: Nearly a Pound-a-Day Gain Difference - (12:40) - Ty's Experience: Running Gain Smart Through the Water Tank - (14:04) - The "Secret Sauce" — Amaferm and Why the Combination Matters - (16:23) - How Buyers and Feedyards Read a Nutrition Badge - (18:38) - Getting Started: Talking to Your Local BioZyme Rep - (20:58) - Tell Your Rep — How to Actually Get the Badge on Sale Day - (21:45) - Introducing Sure Start: A New Tool for Tagging Season - (23:21) - Closing Thoughts & Where to Learn More