Diving into Diets: Essential Oils in Rations, Part 2

In this episode of Bovine Science, Dr. Phillip Lancaster continues the series with an article that looks into the use of essential oils in feed rations. In part two of the Essential Oils in Rations series, they talk about the different benefits and effects of adding the oils to your feed.

Article Discussed: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/8/6/254

Tox Talk: High Culling Rates

A 2,000 cow dairy is seeing high culling rates due to lameness but not the typical lameness they are used to. What is wrong? Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz will discuss.

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 producers in the field.

Diving into Diets: Essential Oils in Feed Rations

In this episode of Bovine Science, Dr. Phillip Lancaster brings an article that looked into the use of essential oils in feed rations. The experts go over this paper and the styles of research groups used for the experiment.

Article Discussed: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377840124000841

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

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!

After the Abstract: Backfat and BSEs

On this episode of After the Abstract, Dr. Todd Gunderson brings a research article which looks at the effects of backfat thickness on results of a breeding soundness exam. 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.

Article discussed: Relationship between phenotypic subcutaneous backfat thickness and spermiogram outcomes in young beef bulls

Tox Talk: Death of Young Calves

When a large dairy operation finds seven young calves dead, they seek help from the toxicologists. What happened and how can they prevent it from happening in the future? Brad White and Scott Fritz go over this case and answer those questions. Thanks for listening!

KSVDL Toxicology: https://ksvdl.org/laboratories/toxicology/

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.

Newborn Fly Control, Bovine Science, Castration Research

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 @ksubciFacebook, 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!

After the Abstract: Tritrichomonas

Hereford bull in green grass.

This week on After the Abstract Todd Gunderson brings an article which analyzes the different methods for tritrichomonas testing in bulls. They break down the research and look at the findings as well as implications this could have on the beef industry.

Article Discussed: Differences in pain and trauma caused by common sampling devices used in the United States for Tritrichomonas foetus testing in bulls

Tox Talk: Collecting Samples

Black cow in front of green grass and blue sky.

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

KSVDL Toxicology: https://ksvdl.org/laboratories/toxicology/

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.

Preweaning Calves, Post Season Bull Management, Crew Preparation

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 @ksubciFacebook, 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!

Corn Diet, Breeding Heifers, Calf Digestion

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 @ksubciFacebook, 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!

Tox Talk: Shells in the Stomach

Black and white cows in green grass with trees behind them.

After a big thunderstorm some calves are found dead and some found sick. What caused it and why were the cows not affected? Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz will find out in this episode of Bovine Science.

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.

Herd Health: Preweaned BRD

In this episode of Bovine Science, Dr. Bob Larson and Dr. Brad White discuss the risk factors associated with BRD in preweaned calves. They discuss past research over the subject and options to mitigate the risk.

Articles Discussed:
BRD in preweaned calves: What’s new in risk factors?
Strategies for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Diagnosis and Prognosis: A Comprehensive Overview

Calving Season, Clostridium Perfringens, Starting Calves

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 @ksubciFacebook, 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!

Tox Talk: Ponderosa Pine

Three red and white cows in open green grass with row of trees behind them.

After a large snow storm 34 cows have aborted their calves. What caused this and how can it be prevented in the future? Find out on this episode of Tox Talk a Bovine Science Podcast with Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz? Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

Ponderosa Pine: https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/logan-ut/poisonous-plant-research/docs/ponderosa-pine-pinus-ponderosa/
KSVDL Toxicology: https://ksvdl.org/laboratories/toxicology/

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.

Intake Regulation, VTPRK, Forage Utilization

Black steer with white face in dirt pen.

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! For this episode the crew is joined by K-State beef systems extension specialist Emma Briggs to discuss her research in Hays. Dr. Bob Larson also discusses the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas, their purpose and what they do.

3:31 Intake Regulation

11:36 Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas

16:18 Forage Utilization

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!

Pasture Pulse: Calf Scours

In this episode of Bovine Science Dr. Matt Miesner is back to discuss calf scours. Dr Miesner brings some tips on rehydrating calves, the options available, and how long you should give the calf electrolytes. They also discuss resources that are available to assist in making decisions.

Resources discussed:
Hartnack, A. K., Niehaus, A. J., Rousseau, M., Pentecost, R. L., Miesner, M. D., & Anderson, D. E. (2015). Indications for and factors relating to outcome after rumenotomy or rumenostomy in cattle: 95 cases (1999–2011). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association247(6), 659-664. Retrieved Jun 9, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.247.6.659

Braun U. Ultrasonography of the gastrointestinal tract in cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2009 Nov;25(3):567-90,  https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-26375

Cockwill, K. R., McAllister, T. A., & Olson, M. E. (2005). Comparison of four rumenotomy techniques in cattle. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 46(12), 1111–1115. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1687032/

After the Abstract: Detecting BRD

This week on After the Abstract, Dr. Brian Lubbers and Dr. Brad White break down a cutting-edge study that explores how technology can help detect bovine respiratory disease (BRD) earlier in pre-weaned dairy calves. The study tested automated monitoring systems that track calves’ feeding patterns, movement, and social interactions. The goal? To see if behavioral changes could serve as early warning signs for BRD—before clinical signs appear.
Article discussed: Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves using sensor-based feeding, movement, and social behaviour

Diving into Diets: Sorghum Silage

In this episode of Bovine Science, we delve into the intricacies of sorghum silage processing and its impact on beef heifer nutrition. Our discussion centers around the recent study published in the Journal of Animal Science titled “Evaluation of kernel processing and processor type in whole-plant sorghum silage: effects on nutrient digestibility and animal performance in backgrounding beef heifers” (https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae369).

Tariffs, Clostridial Diseases, Beef Quality Assurance

Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! For Dr. Brian Lubbers last episode as a host he shares information on clostridial diseases and the value of getting Beef Quality Assurance certified. Dr. Dustin Pendell also gives a breakdown on tariffs. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!

4:23 Tariffs

11:19 Clostridial Diseases

16:30 Beef Quality Assurance
bqa.org

For more on BCI Cattle Chat, follow us on X at @ksubciFacebook, 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!

Tox Talk: Spring Turnout Gone Wrong

Four dead calves found in a pasture after being turned out for the spring. What caused it, and why were no cows affected? Find out on this episode of Tox Talk a Bovine Science Podcast with Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz? Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the show!

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.

Diving into Diets: Direct Fed Microbial

On this episode of Bovine Science Dr. Phillip Lancaster brings a research article studying the effects of a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial on digestibility. Dr. Brad White and Dr. Lancaster will discuss the results of this research as well as how it could help cows on forage.

Article Discussed: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf093