Bovine Science with BCI

This case study follows the investigation of a puzzling eye disease outbreak affecting approximately 10% of a group of 1,200 stocker cattle shortly after processing and placement on pasture. The affected animals developed severe eye lesions, including corneal cloudiness, swollen eyelids, redness, and inflammation, but lacked many of the classic ulcers typically associated with pinkeye. Because cas...

This episode examines a study evaluating different nutritional strategies for developing replacement heifers and their impact on puberty attainment. Researchers compared traditional low-gain and high-gain feeding programs with two “stair-step” nutritional approaches that alternated periods of higher and lower energy intake. The goal was to determine whether strategic feeding could achieve the same...

This episode examines a study evaluating different nutritional strategies for developing replacement heifers and their impact on puberty attainment. Researchers compared traditional low-gain and high-gain feeding programs with two “stair-step” nutritional approaches that alternated periods of higher and lower energy intake. The goal was to determine whether strategic feeding could achieve the same...

This episode examines a study investigating whether the physical size of dry lot pens affects the development of replacement heifers, even when animal density remains the same. Researchers compared heifers housed in a standard-sized dry lot, a larger dry lot with the same space per animal, and a pasture-based control group. While growth performance and weight gain were similar across treatments, i...

This episode examines a study investigating whether the physical size of dry lot pens affects the development of replacement heifers, even when animal density remains the same. Researchers compared heifers housed in a standard-sized dry lot, a larger dry lot with the same space per animal, and a pasture-based control group. While growth performance and weight gain were similar across treatments, i...

This case study examines a sudden and devastating loss in which five cows and two calves died shortly after being moved to a dry lot following the calving season. The affected group consisted of only six cow-calf pairs that had been separated because they were open or had calved late, making the rapid mortality highly suspicious for a toxic exposure rather than an infectious disease. Necropsies re...

This case study examines a sudden and devastating loss in which five cows and two calves died shortly after being moved to a dry lot following the calving season. The affected group consisted of only six cow-calf pairs that had been separated because they were open or had calved late, making the rapid mortality highly suspicious for a toxic exposure rather than an infectious disease. Necropsies re...

This episode examines research exploring why some cow-calf producers adopt written grazing management plans while others do not. The study was motivated in part by sustainability goals aimed at improving grazing land management, soil health, water infiltration, and drought resilience through more structured planning. Researchers analyzed survey data from producers across the United States to ident...

This episode examines research exploring why some cow-calf producers adopt written grazing management plans while others do not. The study was motivated in part by sustainability goals aimed at improving grazing land management, soil health, water infiltration, and drought resilience through more structured planning. Researchers analyzed survey data from producers across the United States to ident...

This discussion examines a research study focused on improving long-term profitability in cow-calf operations through better heifer selection. The study used economic modeling and field data to evaluate three key factors: feed efficiency, longevity, and heterosis (hybrid vigor). Results showed that cows with greater genetic diversity consistently generated higher returns, largely due to improved r...

This discussion examines a research study focused on improving long-term profitability in cow-calf operations through better heifer selection. The study used economic modeling and field data to evaluate three key factors: feed efficiency, longevity, and heterosis (hybrid vigor). Results showed that cows with greater genetic diversity consistently generated higher returns, largely due to improved r...

This episode explores a research study evaluating whether sterile saline can effectively replace phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for collecting samples used in Tritrichomonas PCR testing. The discussion highlights a non-inferiority trial design, which differs from traditional statistical approaches by testing whether one method is not meaningfully worse than another. Researchers created controlled...

This episode explores a research study evaluating whether sterile saline can effectively replace phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for collecting samples used in Tritrichomonas PCR testing. The discussion highlights a non-inferiority trial design, which differs from traditional statistical approaches by testing whether one method is not meaningfully worse than another. Researchers created controlled...

This discussion explores the concept of systems thinking in beef cattle production and how it expands beyond traditional population medicine approaches. Systems thinking focuses on understanding how multiple interconnected factors—such as nutrition, environment, disease exposure, and management practices—interact over time to influence herd health and productivity. Many cattle health and performan...

This discussion explores the concept of systems thinking in beef cattle production and how it expands beyond traditional population medicine approaches. Systems thinking focuses on understanding how multiple interconnected factors—such as nutrition, environment, disease exposure, and management practices—interact over time to influence herd health and productivity. Many cattle health and performan...

This case study from a bovine science discussion examines a sudden and alarming incident in which 12 cows and 2 calves died within 12 hours of routine pre-weaning processing. Initially, the deaths raised concerns about vaccine reactions, toxic exposure, or handling stress, but the pattern of mortality did not align with typical causes. Adult cows, which only received topical parasite treatment, we...

This case study from a bovine science discussion examines a sudden and alarming incident in which 12 cows and 2 calves died within 12 hours of routine pre-weaning processing. Initially, the deaths raised concerns about vaccine reactions, toxic exposure, or handling stress, but the pattern of mortality did not align with typical causes. Adult cows, which only received topical parasite treatment, we...

In this episode of BCI Cattle Chat , the hosts explore what the future may hold for the beef industry, discussing trends in cattle size, production inputs, and market prices. They examine the realities of cow-herd expansion and consider how policy decisions could influence cattle production in the years ahead. The conversation also highlights recent research on liver abscesses in feedlot cattle, i...

This episode of After the Abstract on Bovine Science with BCI reviews a 2026 study examining bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in cow-calf herds and its potential effects on reproduction, culling risk, and calf weaning weights. The hosts discuss findings showing that although BLV prevalence was very high in the studied herds, standard ELISA-positive status was not significantly associated with poorer pr...

In this episode of Diving Into Diets on Bovine Science with BCI , Dr. Brad White and Dr. Philip Lancaster discuss a 2026 study examining whether lower-protein finishing diets can improve performance in long-fed feedlot steers. The researchers compared industry-standard 13.5% crude protein diets to reduced 11.5% crude protein diets over roughly 206 days on feed and found that cattle on the lower-pr...

In this episode of Tox Talk on Bovine Science with BCI, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz discuss a case where a group of cow-calf pairs was turned out onto pasture, and several adult cows died suddenly while calves remained unaffected, pointing away from infectious disease. With no lesions found on necropsy, the veterinarians focused on toxic causes, especially those affecting cardiac function,...

In this episode of Tox Talk with BCI, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz walk through a challenging case where 75 cows were turned into a new pasture and left unchecked for two weeks, resulting in 22 deaths. The surviving cattle showed jaundice and severe skin damage linked to secondary photosensitization from liver injury. Through diagnostics and pasture investigation, the cause was identified as...

On this episode of After the Abstract on Bovine Science with BCI reviews a recent study on pregnancy loss in crossbred beef cows, focusing on factors that influence whether pregnancies are maintained after conception. The vets highlight that estrus expression at the time of artificial insemination, cow body weight, and season all play significant roles, with lighter cows, those not showing estrus,...

In this episode of Diving into Diets on Bovine Science, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Phillip Lancaster discuss a 17-year study comparing fertilizing pasture versus supplementing cattle on smooth bromegrass and found that supplementation led to higher daily gains and greater gain per acre than either fertilized or unfertilized systems. Fertilization increased carrying capacity but did not improve individ...

In this episode of Tox Talk on Bovine Science, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Scott Fritz discuss a case where multiple two-month-old calves in a dry lot died with minimal clinical signs. Initial differentials included infectious disease, nutritional issues, and ryegrass staggers, but necropsy and testing were largely unrewarding. Ultimately, elevated tissue lead levels confirmed lead poisoning, even thou...