Championdrive Podcast: Episode 3.7

Nutrition, Innovation & Entrepreneurship with Jed Asmus + A Deep Dive on the Biozyme Product Line with Sam Silvers

Release Date: October 27, 2025
Host: Championdrive.com

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the connections between nutrition, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the livestock industry. Jed Asmus (Asmus Club Lambs, January Innovation, Grub Pet) shares his journey through dairy and beef nutrition, entrepreneurship, and evolving sheep breeding practices. In the second half, Sam Silvers of Biozyme provides an in-depth look at Biozyme's extensive product line, discussing practical uses, feeding strategies, and the science behind gut health and nutrition for show animals and breeding stock. Listeners from all backgrounds—show families, breeders, and industry professionals—will find actionable insights into nutrition, business development, and product recommendations.

Key Topics & Segment Timestamps

1. Industry Updates & Announcements (00:10 – 07:46)

• Recap of recent and upcoming sales and events: Kansas City, bred ewe sales, and fallborn open houses.
• The evolution and benefits of online apparel stores for livestock brands.
  • Notable tip: Organize holiday orders before Thanksgiving for timely delivery.

2. Interview with Jed Asmus: Dairy Nutrition, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (07:46–37:06)

Background & Journey into Agriculture

• Growing up in Gustein, CA, in a small town with 100,000 dairy cows nearby sparked Jed's agricultural aspirations.
  • Quote:

    "I grew up in a small town with lots of cows." – Jed Asmus (07:46)

• Educational Path:
  • Started in California, participated in livestock judging, attended MJC and UC Davis, earned a master’s in animal science, and began a dual path in research and consulting (08:46–09:56).

January Innovation – The Nutrition Business

• January Innovation’s role: Feeds approx. 250,000 cows daily; oversees diets, facility management, business planning, and finance for clients (10:00–12:34).
  • Quote:

    "We feed, between us and the extended group in California, about a quarter million lactating dairy cows every day." – Jed (10:00)

• Relationship-driven business: Many clients for 15+ years, with long-standing mutual fit and loyalty (14:08–15:59).

Entrepreneurial Mindset

• Importance of continual learning in the rapidly evolving animal nutrition field:
  • Quote:

    "If you're not learning those things first, you're losing." – Jed (18:10)

Parallels Between Dairy Nutrition and Show Sheep

• Transfer of expertise: Science and management skills from the dairy industry are applicable to sheep and show animal production.
  • Quote:

    "If you're stuck doing what you did two years ago, you're probably going to be third or fourth in class every time you go out." – Jed (19:32)

Business Expansion: Grub Pet

• Launched to apply humane and livestock research into dog products; rapidly growing, now on Amazon and Chewy (21:21–23:22).

Sheep Operation Evolution

• Flock composition: Transitioning to a Dorper-based recipient system with IVF and embryo transfer for faster genetic progress.
  • In-depth IVF results:

    "We averaged nine transferable embryos over the last three years." – Jed (24:53)

• Shift to out-of-season lambing to accommodate kids' show schedules and maximize genetic turnover.

Breeding and Marketing Strategies

• Biggest challenge: Selecting consistent, high-quality rams.
  • Advice borrowed from peers: sometimes go back to proven sires rather than chasing new trends (28:14–29:41).
• Adjusted marketing: Now keeps the best lambs for his children, selling directly to curated customer families instead of sales (29:41–31:15).

Memorable Family Moments and Favorite Shows

• Favorite memories: Daughters (competitive with brother) and son winning at “the Revival.”
• Favorite show: The Revival—praised for atmosphere and inclusiveness (31:33–33:28).
• Fun memory: Riding in a driverless Waymo car during a show trip (33:51–35:03).

Advice for Entrepreneurs

• Quote:

  "Do it. Because if you don't do it, you've already failed. If you try it and you fail, you're going to learn a lot. And if you succeed, you're going to learn a lot." – Jed (35:28)

3. Biozyme Product Deep Dive with Sam Silvers (37:11–55:35)

Sam Silvers’ Background

• Raised in Texas; lifelong involvement in the sheep industry, livestock judging, and breeding. Director of National Specialty Livestock at Biozyme (38:26).

Show Animal Products Breakdown

• Appetite Plus (40:07)

  • Use anytime appetite is off, especially at shows or post-antibiotic.
  • Dosage: 15–20 cc’s, morning and evening.

• Clinch (41:19)

  • Designed for natural, drug-free scour control at shows where prohibited substances can't be used.
  • Dosage: Start with half a tube, wait 3–4 hours, give the other half if needed. Offer dry grass hay for best results.

• Liquid Boost (43:11)

  • Versatile product for any stress event: weaning, hauling, illness.
  • Contains Amaferm (prebiotic), B12, biotin, zinc.
  • Dosage: Use medicators at 1:128 ratio or manually mix per bottle instructions for water jugs.

• Climate Control (45:30)

  • Helps regulate internal body temperature in summer shows.
  • Dosage: 10–15 cc’s up to three times per day.

Breeder-Oriented Biozyme Products

• Concept Aid Sheep Product Line (47:10)

  • Includes: Concept Aid Loose Mineral, Concept Aid Sheep Tubs (16% protein), and DuraFirm One.

  • Loose mineral: Recommended for year-round free choice; strong in minerals and prebiotics.

  • Tubs: Combine mineral, protein, and prebiotic; used especially pre-lambing or on declining pasture quality.

  • When to use tubs vs minerals:

    "If you're feeding a really good mixed ration, you have a really good hay out, free choice and a really good mineral that's probably sufficient." – Sam (49:39)

  • Tubs-to-ewe ratio: 1 tub per 12 ewes (50:37).

• Free Choice Mineral for Show Lambs

  • Crucial for optimal skin, wool, and "thriftiness."
  • Smaller 12 lb. bags available for families with only a few sheep.
    • Quote:

      "I equivalate a lot of that to, you know, just an all around good mineral in their diet." – Sam (53:47)

Obtaining Biozyme Products

• Biozyme website: www.biozymeincorporated.com
• Order regionally or direct online; 12 lb. bags can be shipped nationwide for small flocks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Dairy nutritionist is a unique title because it's not accurate... we are heavily involved in the management of those businesses." – Jed Asmus (11:20)
• “Your clients are the ones that are most like you.” – Jed (14:20)
• “There's so many more opportunities coming that the old ways aren't wrong, but they're going to get better.” – Jed (18:10)
• “Sheep have a goal in life and that's to die in the most obscure and random way possible.” – Jed (28:14)
• “If you're not learning those things first, you're losing.” – Jed (18:10)
• “If a little is good, a lot’s better.” – Sam (42:23)
• "Typically, that initial dose will take care of your problem." – Sam (42:59)

Recommended Listening Order

• Entrepreneurship and Nutrition with Jed Asmus [07:46–37:06]
• Practical Biozyme Product Advice with Sam Silvers [37:11–55:35]

Episode Takeaways

• Continual learning and adapting are key to both business and livestock success.
• Leverage science-driven, innovative products in herd/flock management.
• Personalized nutrition and breeding approaches can lead to better results.

For more information on specific products or to connect with guests, visit ChampionDrive.com or Biozyme’s website.

Next episode preview: Nomination process for the Show Lamb of the Year awards, coming mid-November.