

Cattle Chat
BCI Cattle Chat
Listen to veterinary professionals from the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University talk about a variety of topics within the beef industry.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 21, 2025 • 22min
Hairy Heel Warts, Bull Composition, Sustainability
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! Dr. Brian Lubbers begins the episode by discussing Hairy Heel Warts in feedlots. He explains what could cause them and how it can be treated. Next, the experts discuss bulls composition and BCS for cows versus bulls. Finally, Merri Beth Day is back to discuss her research on sustainability in the cattle industry. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
2:25 Listener Question, Hairy Heel Warts
11:18 Bull Composition
15:58 Sustainability with Merri Beth Day
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!

Mar 14, 2025 • 23min
Listener Questions: Castration, Feeding Heifers, Average Daily Gain
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! On this episode the experts answer your listener questions. They start by discussing what age you should castrate calves and what vaccinations could be given. Next, Dr. Brian Lubbers and Dr. Phillip Lancaster discuss feeding heifers and some of the challenges that come along with that. Finally, they discuss average daily gain as well as feed to gain ratio. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
3:00 Castrating Calves
11:10 Feeding Heifers
15:54 Average Daily Gain
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!

Mar 7, 2025 • 23min
Virtual Fencing, Cattle Inventory, Smoke
On this episode of Cattle Chat we have another amazing guest, Dr. Juliana Ranches, who is an Assistant Professor at Oregon State University. She talks to us about virtual fencing and how it works. Then, Dr. Pendell asks the hosts some questions about the Cattle Inventory report. Finally Dr. Ranches discusses her research on the effects of exposure to smoke in cattle. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
3:15 Virtual Fencing
12:10 Cattle Inventory Report
16:32 Smoke and Cattle Health
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!

Feb 28, 2025 • 24min
Common Synchronization Issues, Sire Health, First Trimester
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! We are joined this week by Associate Professor Dr. Pedro Fontes sponsored by ESTROTECT. He and Dr. Bob Larson start the episode by discussing common synchronization problems. Dr. Brad White then asks Dr. Fontes about some of his research on sire nutrition and fertility. The experts finish the episode by discussing what causes pregnancy loss in the first trimester. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
3:41 Common Synchronization Problems
11:38 Sire Nutrition and Fertility
17:43 Pregnancy Losses in the First Trimester
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!

Feb 21, 2025 • 23min
Heifer Listener Question, Bull Selection, Research Update
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! On this episode Dr. Bob Weaber is back to talk about genetics and selection. We also get a research update from Merri Beth Day where she discusses the economic implications of disease in feeder cattle. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
2:25 Heifer Listener Question
11:44 Bull Selection at a Sale
16:35 Research Update
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!

Feb 14, 2025 • 24min
Yearling Bulls, Mineral Listener Question, Fall Born Calves
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! On this episode the experts dive into managing your yearling bulls. Next, they answer a listener question about adapting your mineral program throughout the year. Finally, the experts give some tips on handling fall born calves. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
2:16 Yearling Bulls: Bull Value Cow-Q-Lator
11:05 Listener Question: Mineral Program Adaptation
15:56 Managing Fall Born 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!

Feb 7, 2025 • 24min
Dr. Ty Lawrence, Evolution of Carcasses, Diseases in Fed Cattle
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! On this episode the experts are joined by another great guest Dr. Ty Lawrence Caviness Davis Distinguished Chair in Meat Science at West Texas A&M. They start the episode by discussing the changes in cattle overtime and how cattle may look in the future. Next, Dr. Brad White asks the experts about carcass size and what size should producers aim for. Finally Dr. Lawrence talks about some diseases he sees in the packing plants and how they compare to what we see at the BCI. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
2:47 Evolution of Carcass Composition
10:52 Optimal Carcass Size
15:54 Diseases in Fed Cattle
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!

Jan 31, 2025 • 24min
Research Update, Garden City Partnership, Feeding Program
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! This episode one of our students Liliana Rivas joins to tell us about her research with beef-dairy cross calves. Next, Marshall Stewart is back to tell us about K-State’s new project with Garden City Community College. Dr. Lancaster finishes the episode by answering a listener question concerning a cow feed program. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
3:00 Liliana Rivas Research Update
10:05 Marshall Stewart: Garden City Partnership
16:48 Listener Question: Feed Program
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!
Audio Player

Jan 24, 2025 • 24min
Leptospirosis, Mud, Mineral Program
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! In this episode Dr. Bob Larson and Dr. Brian Lubbers discuss what Leptospirosis is and whether we should vaccinate for it every year. Next Dr. Brad White asks the crew what affects mud can have on a cattle herd and what can we do to help. Finally they answer a listener question pertaining to mineral programs. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
3:02 Leptospirosis
9:16 Mud
13:52 Listener Question: Mineral Program
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!

Jan 17, 2025 • 24min
Bovaer, Prepare for Calving, Johne’s Disease
Welcome to BCI Cattle Chat! The whole crew is back in the studio for this episode of Cattle Chat. The experts begin the episode by discussing the new product Bovaer, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cattle, and the public concerns about the product. Next they give some tips on calving in cold weather, and finish the episode by discussing Johne’s disease and how to deal with it. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the episode!
2:33 Bovaer
10:13 Calving in Cold Weather
15:19 Johne’s Disease
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!


