Tag: Scott Fritz

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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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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Tox Talk: High Culling Rates

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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.

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Tox Talk: Death of Young Calves

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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.

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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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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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Tox Talk: Collecting Samples

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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.

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Toxicology Sample Collection Guide 

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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. 

Tox Talk: Shells in the Stomach

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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.

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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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Tox Talk: Ponderosa Pine

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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.

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