Cattle Chat

Latest Episodes:

Guest Dr. Cassandra Olds: What is Theileria, How is Theileria Transmitted, Heifer Development Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

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

Guest: Dr. Cassandra Olds, Theileria, Theileria Transmission, Winter Feeding Strategies Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

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!

Guest Fred Gingrich, AVC, AABP, and Anaplasmosis Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

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.

Evolution in the Feedlot Industry, Questioning Cow Calf Practices, Big Cows vs Small Cows on Pasture Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

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

Caroline Wingert Research Update, Co-Mingling Bulls, Bull-to-Cow Ratio Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

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

Records or Plans, How to Implement a Plan, Saving Replacement Heifers Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

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

Hearing from Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

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

Research Update, New Grad Opportunities, New Products: How to Evaluate Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

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

Diving into Diets: Essential Oils in Feed Rations Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

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 Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

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

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