January 2026

Diving into Diets: Volatile Fatty Acids

January 26, 2026January 23, 2026by ksubci

On Dividing into Diets, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Philip Lancaster explore how a ruminant’s diet influences the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate, created through the fermentation of carbohydrates and proteins in the rumen. They explain that different types of feed support different bacterial populations, shifting the balance of VFAs. For example, grain-heavy diets boost propionate levels, while high-forage diets favor acetate. Despite these shifts, overall animal efficiency depends more on the total amount of volatile fatty acids produced than on the specific proportions. The experts note that attempts to manipulate VFA ratios can be expensive and often yield only minor improvements in productivity.

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When to Start Treatment, Treatment Protocols, Antimicrobial Resistance

January 23, 2026January 22, 2026by ksubci

On this week’s BCI Cattle Chat episode, the experts debate whether you should start treatment as soon as signs of the disease appear or if you should wait for the signs to develop to have a clear diagnosis. The ability to modify the therapeutic plan can be valuable, but it needs to be balanced with consistency that allows better evaluation of treatment outcomes. The team also debated treatment protocols. Being flexible in planning is important, but deviations from the protocol should be kept to a minimum. Lastly, they discussed antimicrobial resistance and its role in the cause of death with respiratory diseases.

2:37 When to Start Treatment

10:03 Treatment Protocol

19:31 Antimicrobial Resistance

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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Epigenetics and Udder Quality

January 20, 2026January 21, 2026by ksubci

On this week’s BCI Cattle Chat episode, the experts answer a listener’s question comparing two genetically identical bulls raised in different environments. The group discusses whether early development and nutrition can influence fertility, longevity, or even the genetics passed on to offspring, diving into the emerging science of epigenetics. Lastly, the team tackles a listener question on udder quality, exploring how heritable udder traits are and when producers should use them as culling criteria in the herd.

3:13 Epigenetics

17:31 Udder 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!

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Herd Health: Estrus Synchronization Protocols in Heifers vs. Cows

January 19, 2026January 20, 2026by ksubci

On today’s episode of Herd Health, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Bob Larson discuss how to choose the best synchronization protocol for artificial insemination in cattle. They explain the differences between protocols for heifers and cows, including timing, hormone use, and management considerations. The discussion highlights the importance of resources like the Beef Reproduction Task Force website and factors such as chute time, cost, and herd size.

Episode Resource: https://beefrepro.org/

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Herd Health: Heifer Selection Strategies

January 12, 2026January 10, 2026by ksubci

On Herd Health, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Bob Larson discuss a 2025 study in the Canadian Journal of Animal Science on factors influencing heifer replacement and cow-calf profitability. The study focused on cow feed efficiency, longevity, heterosis, and lifetime productivity. Key findings include the importance of longevity, with heifers staying longer in the herd being more profitable. Crossbreeding, particularly those with more heterosis, reduced costs. Residual feed intake (RFI) was crucial, with lower RFI cows being more efficient and cost-effective. The study used data from 2011 to 2018, accounting for economic fluctuations, and found no significant differences between breeds.

Article Discussed: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385812533_Effects_of_cow_feed_efficiency_longevity_heterosis_and_lifetime_productivity_on_profitability_of_heifer_selection_and_cow-calf_operations

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Dr. Dustin Pendell’s Trip to Taiwan, Fog Fever in Wyoming Cattle, Welfare Practices in Australia

January 9, 2026January 15, 2026by ksubci

On this week’s Cattle Chat episode, the experts answer a listener’s question that Dr. Todd Gunderson brought to the group from his recent trip to Wyoming. Listener Dr. Glenn Gamble asked the group’s opinion on how to combat Fog Fever. Dr. Dustin Pendell also shared with us about his trip to Taiwan. Lastly, Cameron Best from Australia answers some of Dr. Eduarda Bortoluzzi’s questions about how the welfare practices in Australia differ from those in the United States and Brazil.

2:49 Fog Fever in Wyoming Cattle

10:37 Dr. Dustin Pendell’s trip to Taiwan

16:38 Australian Welfare Practices

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: Bovine Coronavirus

January 5, 2026January 2, 2026by ksubci

Dr. Brad White and Dr. Todd Gunderson discuss a study on bovine coronavirus and its role in respiratory disease in cattle. The study, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, used a challenge model with 15 challenge calves and six control calves. Results showed higher viral shedding in challenge calves. PCR detected bovine coronavirus in multiple tissues but not in the lungs or tracheobronchial lymph nodes. Histopathology scores indicated more pathology in challenge calves, but clinical signs were mild. The study suggests bovine coronavirus may play a role in mild respiratory disease but not in severe pneumonia, possibly acting as a co-factor for secondary infections.

Article Discussed: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.878240/full

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Research Update: Katherine Shirley, When to Preg Check, Guest: Cameron Best, Australia vs U.S. Beef Production

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026by ksubci

In this episode of Cattle Chat, Dr. Brad White and the team welcome graduate student Katherine Shirley, who discusses her summer research on heat stress and cardiopulmonary issues in feedyard cattle. She explains how environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and hide color can influence cattle health and mortality. The crew then answers a listener’s question about pregnancy checking, covering ideal timing, methods, and the causes of early pregnancy loss. Finally, Cameron Best from Australia joins to compare U.S. and Australian cattle production, highlighting differences in climate, forage systems, and market structures.