Today on the Cattle USA Daily Podcast, Dr. Kimberly Wellman, a researcher and professor at Tarleton State University, explains how micronutrients, cattle nutrition and muscle development influence reproductive performance, growth and carcass value. She shares why producers should look beyond visible signs of deficiencies, how nutrition affects cattle throughout their lives, and why testing water, forage and soil is key to making smarter supplementation decisions. Links: Dr. Kimberly Wellman at Tarleton State: https://www.tarleton.edu/animal-science/kimberly-wellmann/ Connect with Dr. Wellman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-wellmann-37aa50178/ Dr. Wellman's Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kimberly-Wellmann CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5mCattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/CattleUSA App IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cattleusa/id1673147759CattleUSA App Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edgarmcbee.cusamobile&pcampaignid=web_shareFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamediaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusa.shop/products/cattleusa-drive-premium-daily-newsletter?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&brid=YWdncwFNXt0EmdzFy5cJJBp84J9gCattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShowboatmediacoThe Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/ Key Takeaways: Micronutrient deficiencies can reduce cattle performance before visible symptoms appear Vitamin A deficiencies can contribute to reproductive losses, including early embryonic loss and late-term abortion Proper nutrition from fetal development through finishing influences muscle growth, carcass weight and beef quality Mineral balance matters, since both deficiencies and excessive supplementation can create problems Water, forage and soil testing help producers identify nutrient needs and avoid unnecessary supplementation costs Selenium requires careful management because the range between deficiency and toxicity is narrow Targeted nutrition can improve production efficiency and help producers get more value from their cattle Research into yeast products and direct-fed microbials may offer new ways to support rumen health and cattle performance Chapters: 04:05 — How Nutrition Influences Muscle Development10:20 — Why Micronutrients Matter Beyond Deficiencies13:30 — Vitamin A, Reproduction and the Cost of Losing a Calf16:00 — Selenium, Vitamin E and Mineral Balance18:37 — Connecting Nutrition to Carcass Value and Profitability24:19 — Why Producers Should Test Water, Forage and Soil27:30 — The Future of Cattle Nutrition Research at Tarleton Cattle nutrition, beef cattle nutrition, Dr. Kimberly Wellman, Tarleton State University, cattle micronutrients, cattle mineral deficiencies, vitamin A in cattle, cattle reproductive performance, beef cattle fertility, cattle pregnancy loss, cattle muscle development, beef carcass quality, carcass value, cattle supplementation, cattle mineral supplements, cattle water testing, forage testing, soil mineral testing, selenium in cattle, copper deficiency in cattle, magnesium in cattle, vitamin E in cattle, rumen health, direct-fed microbials, yeast feed additives, beef cattle research, cow-calf production, feedlot nutrition, cattle production efficiency, beef industry research