Month: December 2025

Diving into Diets: Grazing Behavior

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On this week’s episode of Diving into Diets Dr. Brad White and Dr. Philip Lancaster discuss a 2025 study on grazing behavior in cattle, focusing on factors like age, size, hide color, and forage quality. The study tracked 40 cows using GPS collars over three years, finding that older cows traveled further distances, possibly due to learning topography. Red cows traveled more in cold temperatures due to better heat retention from black hides. The study also noted that cows traveled further to high-quality forage areas, as measured by NDVI and IRG, and up slopes and to water sources. The study’s individual hypothesis testing approach limited the interpretation of confounding variables like production stage and weather.

Article Discussed: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871141325001258?via%3Dihub 

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Herd Health: Passive Transfer

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Dr. Brad White and Dr. Bob Larson discuss the failure of passive transfer in beef herds, highlighting differences from dairy cattle. Risk factors included calves born to heifers, twins, and assisted births. Higher body condition scores in cows also correlated with lower IgG levels. The study emphasized the importance of colostrum intake, especially in high-risk situations. The discussion emphasizes the need for targeted management strategies in beef cattle.

Article Discussed: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2643452/

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Guest: Dr. Stephan Hughes, KSU Resources, Bull Fertility

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In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, Bob Weaber interviews Dr. Stephan Hughes, a veterinarian from South Africa, while on a trip. Hughes shares how he started listening to Cattle Chat and how beef production differs in South Africa. They also talk about the different tools Kansas State University has that can enhance your operation, not only in the United States but also abroad. The team then transitions to a listener question about bull fertility. The experts emphasize the importance of testing your bull’s fertility, especially as he ages. 

2:20 Dr. Stephan Hughes interview  

8:25 KSU Resources 

17:30 Listener Question: Bull Fertility  

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!

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About the Abstract: Antimicrobial Metaphylaxis Study

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In About the Abstract, the experts discuss a study by Cordial and Carrie (2024) in the Journal of Animal Science, which compared the impact of metaphylaxis with Tulathromycin versus saline on high-risk beef stocker calves over 42 days. The study found that calves treated with Tulathromycin had higher average daily gain, especially in the first 14 days, and fewer treatments for respiratory disease. Culture results showed more bacteria in saline-treated calves at follow-up. Antimicrobial use was higher in the Tulathromycin group, but the number of regimens was similar. The study suggests that metaphylaxis may improve health and performance while managing antimicrobial resistance.

Featured Article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38126883

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Guest Dr. Cassandra Olds: What is Theileria, How is Theileria Transmitted, Heifer Development

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In this episode of BCI Cattle Chat, guest Dr. Cassandra Olds continues the discussion of Theileria, a tick- and fly-borne parasite affecting U.S. cattle herds. The team explains how it spreads from the East Coast westward, causes anemia-like symptoms, and persists for life in infected animals. They stress prevention through stress reduction, parasite control, and good nutrition, noting that no approved treatment exists. The conversation shifts to preparing heifers for breeding season, emphasizing pre-breeding exams, tracking weight and reproductive readiness, and managing nutrition to ensure early conception and lifelong productivity.

Dr Cassandra Olds Contact Information:

34A Waters Hall
Manhattan KS 66506
Phone: (785) 706-8599
Fax: (785) 532-6232

colds@ksu.edu

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Tox Talk: Sudden Death in Fall-Calving Herd

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In this Tox Talk episode, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz review a case involving six dead calves out of 38 fall-calving cow–calf pairs on pasture. The producer had not been checking the herd frequently, making the exact timeline of deaths unclear. With at least one calf estimated to have been dead for 4–5 days. They emphasize how decomposition, weather, and time since death affect necropsy value. Initial differential diagnoses focus on infectious causes and potential toxicities, given that only calves were affected.

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Guest: Dr. Cassandra Olds, Theileria, Theileria Transmission, Winter Feeding Strategies

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This episode of Cattle Chat features guest Dr. Cassandra Olds, an entomologist, who shares with the group about her research on Theileria, an emerging protozoan parasite in cattle. Dr. Olds explains that Theileria is tick‑borne but can also be spread by sucking lice, possibly stable flies, limited placental transmission, and contaminated needles or equipment, emphasizing single‑needle use and the difficulty of vector control. The conversation then shifts to winter hay feeding strategy: estimating cow weights and forage intake, testing hay quality, minimizing waste, cleaning up old hay to reduce stable fly breeding sites, and tracking bale disappearance over time to adjust feeding and prevent cows from losing condition.

4:11 Theileria

5:25 Theileria Transmission

17:01 Winter Feeding Strategies

Hay Inventory Calculator | AgManager.info

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!

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