Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the crew is joined by BCI student Rebecca Bigelow who talks about her research on liver abscesses. Next, the team discuss preventing calves from losing weight when they go to the sale. Finally, Brad brings an article which looks at the cattle industry in South America and how is compares to the U.S.. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!
2:36 Rebecca Bigelow: Research Update
10:08 Reducing Shrinkage
15:18 South American Cattle Industry
For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubci, Facebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!
On this episode of Bovine Science Phillip Lancaster and Brad White discuss a recent research paper from UC Davis which looks at a bromoform based feed additive. They discuss the paper’s findings as well as it’s possible implications.
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the full crew is in the studio to discuss reinvesting in your operation. They also talk about feeding calves and manure scoring. Finally they go over risk management strategies of all kinds. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!
5:10 Reinvesting in the Herd
10:57 Calves on Feed
16:00 Risk Management
For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubci, Facebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!
In this episode of Bovine Science, Dr. Bob Larson and Dr. Brad White discuss keeping records. They go through surveys which analyzed which records are more important to producers. They also discuss tips on finding the right record system for you.
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team debates phenotype versus genotype when selecting replacement heifers. Next, Dustin leads the discussion on marketing with rising cattle prices. Finally the crew discuss water quality management.
2:25 Replacement Heifers
11:56 Marketing
1:13 Water Quality
For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubci, Facebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!
Weaning and preconditioning calves is a stressful time for the calves, but a time when a lot of value can be gained with the right management. Preconditioning can allow calves to get over the stress of weaning, become bunk broke, and gain some weight all of which adds value to the calves at the time of sale. Calves that are weaned often spend a considerable amount of time walking the fenceline bawling, and more importantly not eating. During this time calves can lose weight, which means that for preconditioning to be cost effective, the calves must regain the lost weight and gain additional weight.
A recent study evaluated 3 different weaning methods and 3 different forage sources on preconditioning weight gain. Calves were weaned abruptly, fence-line weaned, or nose-flap weaned. Within each weaning method, calves were fed cool-season grass-clover baleage, bermudagrass hay, or grazed a pasture with a mixture of crabgrass, pearl millet and forage soybean for 60 days. The crude protein of the baleage, hay, and pasture were 14.9, 12.8, and 10.6%, and the estimated total digestible nutrients of all forage sources was approximately 55%. All calves were fed dried distillers grains at 1% of body weight.
There was no interaction between weaning method and preconditioning diet. Calves weaned using the fence-line method gained 1.85 lb/day compared with 1.76 lb/day for the nose-flap and abrupt weaning methods during the first 30 days. There was no difference in weight gain among weaning methods for the second 30 days or overall.
Calves fed hay gained faster in the first 30 days of the preconditioning period, but much slower in the second 30 days than calves fed baleage or pasture (Figure 1). There was no difference in gain between baleage and pasture groups in the first or second 30 days. Over the entire 60 days, calves fed hay gained less than calves fed baleage or pasture.
Weaning method and forage source can affect weight gain in the first 30 days, but more important economically is the weight gain of the overall preconditioning period. In this case, weaning treatment did not affect overall weight gain, but forage source did.
For this unique episode of Tox Talk Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz walk through how to collect samples to send into toxicology. They will discuss the important samples to collect depending on the situation. Toxicology Sample Collection Guide
The toxicology website and Bovine Sciences with BCI podcasts have been sponsored in part through a veterinary services grant that Dr. Scott Fritz, Dr. Steve Ensley and Dr. Bob Larson have received to share more toxicology information and examples for people to understand what to submit and how to submit. Another part of that grant has been working with people and producer in the field.
ESSENTIAL Samples These are your non-negotiables — collect them in nearly every case of suspected toxicosis.
Rumen Contents
Amount: Gallon bag mixed from different compartments
Container: Clean, leak-proof plastic container (NO additives)
Storage: Refrigerate or freeze ASAP
Why it matters: Primary exposure site for many toxins—contaminated feed, plants, heavy metals, etc. Snapshot of recent intake.
Liver
Amount: 1 pound
Container: Plastic bag
Storage: Freeze
Why it matters: Metabolizes and can bioaccumulate toxins, first-pass metabolism means liver often has highest concentrations following oral exposure. Include formalin-fixed sample for histopathology.
Kidney
Amount: One whole kidney (or sections from both)
Container: Plastic bag
Storage: Freeze
Why it matters: Often contains the highest concentrations following IV exposure, also main route of excretion. Many toxicants can cause microscopic lesions here so include sections fixed in formalin.
Ocular Fluid
Amount: 1–2 mL
Container: Red-top or plain tube (no additives)
Storage: Refrigerate
Why it matters: Blood degrades quickly, ocular fluid is more stable postmortem. Ideal for nitrate, ammonia, electrolytes. Subject to postmortem change especially if left in the globe.
Feed and Water Samples
Amount: Gallon bag, 16 oz water
When mixed rations are suspected, include samples of mix as delivered and individual components
Container: Clean plastic bags or bottles
Storage: Refrigerate or freeze
Why it matters: Needed to confirm exposure source. Test hay, silage, grain, minerals, water, etc.
Formalin-Fixed Tissues
What to collect: Liver, kidney, brain, heart, lung, abomasum, rumen, muscle
Container: 10:1 formalin to tissue ratio
Why it matters: Some toxins cause identifiable lesions—centrilobular necrosis, renal tubular injury, myocardial necrosis.
OPTIONAL / CASE-BASED Samples
Collect when relevant to history, clinical signs, or herd investigation scope.
Heart
Amount: Whole
Container: Seal proof bag
Storage: Refrigerate or freeze fresh, also fix in formalin
Why it matters: Essential to demonstrate lesions for ionophores, selenium, some cardiotoxic plants
Urine
Amount: Whatever you can get
Container: Sterile container
Storage: Refrigerate or freeze
Why it matters: Good for water-soluble toxins and early/sublethal exposures, hypomagnesemia – need to correct for creatinine
Brain
Amount: Whole or large portion
Container: Bag for frozen, formalin for histo
Storage: Freeze for chemistry, fix other half for histology
Why it matters: Needed for sodium testing or neurotoxins, acetylcholinesterase activity, and demonstrating lesions
Fat
Amount: Handful
Container: Plastic bag
Storage: Freeze
Why it matters: Stores fat-soluble compounds, sometimes for years.
Skeletal Muscle
Amount: 100–200 g
Container: Plastic bag
Storage: Formalin, need fresh for drug residues
Why it matters: Essential for ionophores, selenium, etc.
Abomasal Contents
Amount: 100–500 mL
Container: Plastic container
Storage: Refrigerate or freeze
Why it matters: May provide more concentrated contents than the rumen, especially in calves.
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team talks about weaning calves and how to best prepare them for the stressful event. Next the experts discuss taking care of bulls after the breeding season. Finally, Dr. Brad White asks the crew their thoughts on preparing crew to work cattle.
3:49 Preweaning Calves
12:49 Post-Season Bull Management
18:11 Crew Preparation
For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubci, Facebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!
On this episode of After the Abstract, Dr. Todd Gunderson brings a research article which looks at income and job satisfaction among bovine practitioners. Dr. Brad White and Dr. Gunderson go through the article and discuss the issues this study addressed as well as the potential affects of this research.
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team discusses the Veterinary Research Scholars Program and the research those students have done with the BCI. Next, the crew explain listeriosis and how to identify it in your herd. Finally they have a debate over co-grazing, it’s benefits and potential risks.
For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubci, Facebook, and Instagram at @ksubci. Check out our website, ksubci.org. If you have any comments/questions/topic ideas, please send them to bci@ksu.edu. You can also email us to sign up for our weekly news blast! Don’t forget if you enjoy the show, please go give us a rating!
