406: Fetal Programming: The Nutrition Decisions That Shape Your Calf’s Future with Justin Ramirez

<p>Nutrition plays a much bigger role in cattle production than simply keeping cows in good condition. In this episode of Cattle USA Daily, Lauren sits down with Justin Ramirez to discuss fetal development, fetal programming, and how nutrition during pregnancy can influence a calf’s future. From the first trimester through calving, the cow’s nutritional status can affect muscle development, organ development, fat deposition, immunity and the calf’s ability to reach its genetic potential. Justin also breaks down how genetics and nutrition work together, why different stages of pregnancy require different nutritional strategies, and how producers can use tools like hay analysis, body condition scoring and close observation to make better decisions. The conversation highlights the importance of consistency, paying attention to the small details and building a trusted team around your operation.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Connect with Justin:</p><p>Email: howdy@primestocknutrition.com</p><p>Website: primestocknutrition.com</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-a-ramirez-msc-78aa1972/ </p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustinARamirezNutritionist</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Links: </p><p>CattleUSA Insurance - <a href="https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m</a><br />⁠CattleUSA Website - <a href="https://www.cattleusa.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cattleusa.com/</a><br />CattleUSA App IOS: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cattleusa/id1673147759" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cattleusa/id1673147759</a><br />CattleUSA App Android: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edgarmcbee.cusamobile&amp;pcampaignid=web_share" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edgarmcbee.cusamobile&amp;pcampaignid=web_share</a><br />Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia</a><br />Instagram - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/</a><br />Subscribe to our newsletter - <a href="https://www.cattleusa.shop/products/cattleusa-drive-premium-daily-newsletter?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;brid=YWdncwFNXt0EmdzFy5cJJBp84J9g" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cattleusa.shop/products/cattleusa-drive-premium-daily-newsletter?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;brid=YWdncwFNXt0EmdzFy5cJJBp84J9g</a><br />CattleUSA Media - <a href="https://www.cattleusamedia.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cattleusamedia.com/</a><br />Lauren’s Instagram - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/</a><br />Lauren’s Youtube - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco</a><br />The Next Generation Podcast Website - <a href="https://www.thenextgenag.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thenextgenag.com/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Key Takeaways:</p><ul><li>Feed and nutrition can account for 65–70% of expenses in a beef cattle operation</li><li>Fetal development begins long before a calf ever hits the ground</li><li>Nutrition during pregnancy can influence how much of a calf’s genetic potential is expressed</li><li>The first and last trimesters play particularly important roles in fetal development</li><li>The last trimester is critical for calf growth, development and colostrum quality</li><li>