Episode 29: Profit Per Acre and Practical Fertility with Johann Zietsman

Episode 29: Profit Per Acre and Practical Fertility with Johann Zietsman -Full video episode available on YouTube-Bigger cattle. More inputs. Lower fertility. Slower progress.If that sounds familiar, this conversation challenges what “better” cattle and “good” management have come to mean.In this episode, Patrick Powers is joined by Johann Zietsman, a world-renowned cattleman, grazing consultant, and author of Man, Cattle and Veld. With decades of experience across Africa, the United States, and South America, his work bridges academic theory and real-world application.At the center of this conversation is a shift most of the industry has avoided.Stop selecting for maximum production per animal. Start selecting for maximum sustainable profit per hectare.From there, we dig into how the industry got here.Feedlot-driven selection pushed larger framed, later maturing cattle, and over time that shift has worked against grass efficiency, body condition, and practical fertility in real-world conditions.Zietsman breaks down efficiency through relative intake, hormonal balance, and early maturity, and explains why fertility, when understood correctly, is far more heritable than most have been led to believe.The conversation also touches on what that loss of fertility actually costs.Longer generation intervals. Increased reliance on inputs. Slower progress that compounds over time.From there, the focus shifts to the land.We walk through ultra high density grazing, the impact of portable electric fencing, and why non selective grazing, when managed correctly, can improve both land and livestock faster than most expect.We also discuss composites, selecting the right individuals within breeds, and why chasing EPDs can increase the accuracy of the wrong criteria.Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bnwszEXy-LcPurchase Man, Cattle and Veld by Johann Zietsman:English Edition: Available on AmazonSpanish Edition:  Available on AmazonCheck out Bos Sires:https://www.bossires.com/If this episode made you think differently about efficiency, fertility, or what it really takes to build cattle that last, share it with someone who is willing to question the direction we have been headed.Follow or subscribe so you do not miss the next episode.