We Live It | LiveAg's Livestock Marketing Podcast

For more than 40 years, Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch has helped shape the modern beef industry through genetics, data, and disciplined cattle selection.

In this episode of We Live It, Mark joins Ty deCordova and Casey Mabry to discuss how Angus genetics have transformed beef production, why EPDs matter, the history behind Certified Angus Beef®, the rise of beef-on-dairy, and how producers can build more profitable cow herds.

They also dive into artificial insemination (their version of AI), carcass quality, marbling, US Premium Beef, National Beef, herd rebuilding, drought, cattle markets, and why today's beef demand is stronger than ever.

Whether you're a commercial cattle producer, seedstock breeder, feeder, or simply interested in where the beef industry is headed, this conversation is packed with practical insight and decades of experience.

Topics Covered:
• Angus genetics
• Artificial insemination (AI)
• EPDs and genetic selection
• Beef-on-dairy
• Certified Angus Beef
• US Premium Beef
• National Beef
• Carcass quality & marbling
• Herd rebuilding
• Beef demand
• Cattle markets
• Commercial cow-calf operations
• Seedstock production
• Future of the beef industry

00:00 Meet Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch
01:15 A family legacy in the cattle business since 1885
04:40 The AI breeding revolution and using EPDs
08:30 Building better cattle through genetics
11:15 The beef industry's quality crisis in the 1990s
13:15 Creating US Premium Beef and changing cattle marketing
18:15 How Certified Angus Beef transformed beef demand
21:20 Genetics, consumer demand, and today's cattle market
24:10 Why beef-on-dairy is changing the industry
31:45 Using the best Angus genetics in dairy herds
34:40 Why carcass data and marbling matter
39:00 Multi-trait selection vs. chasing one trait
43:50 The future of Angus genetics and beef production
45:00 Gardiner Angus Ranch sales and final thoughts

Creators and Guests

Host
Ty deCordova
Ty DeCordova is a seasoned professional with more than 25 years of experience in cattle marketing. He spent 20 years at Superior Livestock Auction, including his final years managing the Country Page as well as the block during video auctions. This allowed Ty to develop a deep understanding of the cattle industry's operations and build relationships with cattle buyers on a national level. Ty now oversees all operational aspects of the business, ensuring efficiency and excellence across all areas. Ty comes from a family with a long-standing history in the cattle industry. Growing up in Groesbeck, Texas, he and his brother started their own cattle business during their teenage years, purchasing and selling loads of steers. By the age of 17, Ty was actively involved in buying cattle at sale barns for his father, gaining hands-on experience. This early exposure to the sale-barn environment shaped his lifelong passion and expertise in cattle marketing. Ty continues to run cattle today and is committed to serving the agriculture industry.
Guest
Casey Mabry
Casey comes to Blue Reef following over a decade-long career with Cargill. Casey’s career in the industry started as a cattle buyer in Western Nebraska and Wyoming for six years. Casey then moved to Wichita, KS where he worked in boxed beef pricing with a focus on understanding out front prices and position optimization. Casey then took to cattle procurement as a Strategic Supply Manager where he focused on cattle formula and grid marketing arrangements working with Cargill’s largest suppliers. Casey’s experience in cash and value based marketing of cattle can be a valuable asset to your operation. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Tech University where he served on the Meats Judging team, and a Masters from Tarleton State University where he coached the Meats Judging team. Casey resides in Brock, TX with his wife Deidrea and daughters Reyse, Avery, and Brooklyn.
Producer
Katy Holdener
Katy Holdener's journey in agricultural communications began on her family's row crop farm in California's Central Valley, where she developed a deep appreciation for the industry. After earning a degree in Agricultural Communications and Economics from Oklahoma State University, Katy has been fortunate to work with respected organizations such as the American Hereford Association, American Angus Association, Superior Livestock Auction and BioZyme, Inc. These experiences have provided her with valuable insights into seedstock and commercial livestock marketing. Katy strives to create effective marketing strategies that support the company and its consignors.

What is We Live It | LiveAg's Livestock Marketing Podcast?

Welcome to the "We Live It" ranch and livestock marketing podcast, where cattle market intelligence meets ranch-ready wisdom. Join hosts Ty deCordova with LiveAg and Casey Mabry with Blue Reef Agri-marketing as they bring you straight-talk market analysis, proven strategies, and insights from industry leaders who understand ranching isn't just a business - it's a way of life.
From livestock market trends to cattle management practices, each episode delivers actionable knowledge to help take your ranching operation to the next level. Whether you're in the saddle or in the truck, tune in for conversations that matter to modern cattlemen. Because we don't just talk about the cattle business...we live it.