Category: BCI Cattle Chat

Listen to professionals of the Beef Cattle Institute talk about hot topics in today’s beef cattle industry!

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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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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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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Guest Fred Gingrich, AVC, AABP, and Anaplasmosis

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On Cattle Chat this week, Dr. Bob Larson, representing the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), and guest Dr. Fred Gingrich, with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), discuss the work their organizations are doing. Anaplasmosis is also discussed, highlighting its transmission by ticks, the limitations of current control methods, and the importance of early veterinary intervention to manage the disease.

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Evolution in the Feedlot Industry, Questioning Cow Calf Practices, Big Cows vs Small Cows on Pasture

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In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the experts discuss the evolution in the feedlot industry. They debate how producers used to calculate cost based on feed efficiency. The team also questions different cow-calf practices. Lastly, they debate whether or not you should have bigger cows with heavier weaned weight for your calves or if you should have smaller cows so there are more cows per acre, resulting in more calves being sold.  

3:10 Evaluation in the Feedlot Industry 

11:00 Questioning Cow Calf Practices 

15:50 Bigger Cows vs Smaller Cows on Pasture  

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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Caroline Wingert Research Update, Co-Mingling Bulls, Bull-to-Cow Ratio

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This week on Cattle Chat, our guest Caroline Wingert shares her research on jobs in rural communities and the challenges that come with living in rural areas. The experts also dive into a listener’s question of co-mingling bulls, how to prevent fighting, and different housing strategies. Lastly, they discuss how to tackle your bull-to-cow ratio. 

2:47 Caroline Winger Research Update 

9:30 Listener Question: Co-mingling bulls 

16:23 Bull-to-Cow Ratio 

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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Records or Plans, How to Implement a Plan, Saving Replacement Heifers

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On Cattle Chat this week, the experts discuss whether or not you could be taking records, making a plan, or both when it comes to your breeding season. After the discussion, the team talks about implementing your plan. When making your plan, what should you be looking for when saving back replacement heifers? They talk about how much age should play a factor when saving back your replacement heifers 

4:31 Records or Plans 

11:30 How to Implement a Plan

14:14 Saving Replacment Heifers 

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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Hearing from Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association

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This week on Cattle Chat, our guest, Dave Maples, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, joins us to discuss how the beef industry is integrated. Maples also shares how Kentucky is working with dietitians and how they are benefiting the beef industry. Lastly, they talk about food as medicine.  

4:21 Integration of the Industry

8:18 Dietitian’s Role in the Industry

15:42 Food as Medicine 

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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Research Update, New Grad Opportunities, New Products: How to Evaluate

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This week on Cattle Chat, one of our graduate students, Makenna Jensen, joined the team to update us on her research project. With Makenna graduating and starting a new job this spring, they also discussed new grad opportunities and the transition from college to joining a new community. Lastly, the group discussed how to evaluate new products that enter the market. 

3:07 Research Update: Makenna Jensen 

10:53 New Grad Opportunities 

16:07 New Products: How to Evaluate 

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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Sponsored by ESTROTECT: Sync Program, Repro Tech, Calf Weaning Age

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In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, sponsored by ESTROTECT Breeding Indicators, the team discussed how to use various reproduction technologies to achieve your herd’s genetic goals. Our guest, Dr. Jordan Thomas from the University of Missouri, shared their research on the 7&7 Sync Program and its benefits. Finally, the group talked about the best age to wean calves. 

3:20 Using Repro Tech to Reach Your Herd Goals 

11:40 7&7 Sync Program 
https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g2023

17:55 Best Age to Wean Calves 

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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Expansion, Milo, Keeping Bulls

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Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team along with Dr. Jason Warner talks about cow herd expansion and when to add in those new cows to your herd. Next the experts discuss a listener question of how to combat moldy milo when feeding your cattle. Finally, the team answers another listener’s question of whether or not you should keep your bull with the cows all year long. 

3:10 Cow Herd Expansion 

10:45 Moldy Milo in Your Feed 

17:45 Keeping Bulls with Cows Year Round

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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Parasite Control, Bull BSE, Cover Crops

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Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the crew discuss the changing methods of parasite control. They continue the show by reviewing a paper discussed in a recent Bovine Science episode regarding back fat in bulls. Finally, the team discusses grazing cover crops and the effects on the soil. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!

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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Breed Diversity, Heart Disease, Import Export

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Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the crew breaks down breed diversity and heterosis. They continue the show by looking at a paper which covers heart disease. Dustin Pendell wraps up the episode with an update on cattle imports and exports. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!

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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Bull Creep Feeding, Anemia, New Diseases

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Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, we start by answering a listener question on creep feeding bulls. Next, the crew cover anemia; the causes, effects, and treatment. Finally they discuss investigating new diseases in your herd. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!

2:54 Creep Feeding Bulls
Article Mentioned: Review: The effect of nutrition on timing of pubertal onset and subsequent fertility in the bull

10:47 Anemia

16:39 Investigating New Diseases

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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Newborn Fly Control, Bovine Science, Castration Research

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Red calves behind a barbed wire fence with trees in the background.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, we start by answering a listener question pertaining to newborn calves with flies. Next, the crew go over BCI’s other podcast Bovine Science. Finally Brad brings a research paper which analyzes the benefits of castration at an early age. Thanks for listening and enjoy the episode!

3:47 Newborn Calves with Flies

10:10 Bovine Science Podcast

14:47 Castration Research

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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Research Update, Shrinkage, South America

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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!

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Reinvesting, Calves on Feed, Risk Management

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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!

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Replacement Heifers, Marketing, Water

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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!

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Preweaning Calves, Post Season Bull Management, Crew Preparation

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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!

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VRSP Students, Listeriosis, Co-grazing

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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.

2:49 Veterinary Research Summer Scholar Program

10:20 Listeriosis

15:08 Co-grazing

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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Corn Diet, Breeding Heifers, Calf Digestion

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Black cow in green pasture.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team discusses feeding growing heifers alfalfa and corn. Next Dr. Phillip Lancaster and Dr. Bob Larson debate how early you should breed heifers versus the cows.Finally, Dr. Billy Brown returns to share insights on rumen development in calves and what it means for their future performance.

2:52 Listener Question: Feeding Heifers

11:37 Breeding Heifers Versus Breeding Cows

16:07 Calf Digestion with Billy Brown

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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Research Update, Records, Consumer Demand

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Black cow in green pasture in front of a tree.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team is joined by BCI graduate student Hayden Kunnary who gives an update on his research. Next the experts talk about record keeping during the summer. The crew round out the episode by debating the impact of consumer demand on the beef industry.

3:02 Hayden Kunnary Research Update

10:20 Summer Record Keeping

15:08 Consumer Demand Debate

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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Calving Season, Clostridium Perfringens, Starting Calves

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Black calf with white face standing in open green grass.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team is joined by Dr. Billy Brown, assistant professor in dairy cattle nutrition. They start the episode with a debate on when the best time is to calve out cows. Next, the crew answers a question from a listener who had a calf diagnosed with overeating disease. Finally Billy talks about some of his research on supplements and calves.

2:33 Calving Season Debate

12:13 Listener Questions: Overeating

17:21 Starting Calves with Distillers Grains

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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Diving into Diets: Alternative Backgrounding

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On this episode of Bovine Science Dr. Phillip Lancaster brings an article which looked into backgrounding steers in the Nebraska sand hills. The experts go over this paper and discuss what implications this research could have for the future.

Article Discussed: Comparison of alternative backgrounding and feedlot system strategies on performance of May-born, Red Angus cross yearling steers in the Nebraska Sandhills

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Beef-on-Dairy, Free Martin, Spring Pond Death

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Black cow with white face in pond next to cedar tree.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this week’s episode of Cattle Chat, the team answers your listener questions. starting with a question on calf nutrition. Next, Bob Larson answers a question about sexed semen and free martins. Finally Scott Fritz answers a question on pond scum.

4:02 Beef-on-Dairy Nutrition

13:36 Sexed Semen Free Martin

18:08 Spring Pond Scum

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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