Podcast Summary: BCI Cattle Chat

Episode Title: Bull Creep Feeding, Anemia, New Diseases
Date: September 12, 2025
Hosts: Brad White, Bob, Todd, Philip
Podcast Description:
Veterinary professionals from the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University discuss critical topics within the beef industry, including creep feeding bulls, recognizing and managing anemia, and identifying new diseases in cattle herds.

Episode Overview

This episode delves into three central topics:

1. Creep Feeding and Fertility in Bulls – examination of listener questions about nutritional management and fertility outcomes in purebred bulls.
2. Anemia in Adult Cattle – insight into causes, recognition, and management strategies for anemia in cows and bulls.
3. Emerging Diseases and Outbreak Investigation – a case-based discussion of how producers, veterinarians, and labs work together to identify novel diseases like high pathogenic avian influenza.

The conversation features both scientific evidence and practical insights, blending research references with hands-on advice for cattle producers and veterinarians.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Creep Feeding and Bull Fertility

(Begins ~02:46)

• Listener Question Recap:
  Todd previously indicated that creep feeding can improve fertility outcomes in bulls. The team explores the evidence behind this claim.

• Research Support:

  • Bulls that are creep fed pre-weaning (especially in purebred operations producing yearling bulls) reach puberty faster than those not creep fed.
  • Early nutrition supports testicular tissue development, resulting in a higher proportion of pubertal bulls at sale time.

    "That pre-weaning plan of nutrition really helps to develop testicular tissue, really helps them to reach maturity, sexual maturity at a younger age." – Todd [03:56]

  • Creep feeding does NOT "fix" subfertility caused by genetic or acquired defects; it helps only if the animal is already capable of normal fertility.
  • Caution: Over-conditioning (i.e., getting bulls too fat) prior to bull testing can negatively affect fertility due to excess fat around the scrotum, particularly at the pampiniform plexus, which regulates testicular temperature.

    "If you insulate [the pampiniform plexus] with fat, well, then it doesn't work anymore… you have more abnormal sperm, you have lower fertility." – Bob [07:03]

• Heifer Comparison:
  Physical condition and nutrition for puberty are not sex-specific; appropriate nutrition for both heifers and bulls is necessary.

  "It seems like that nutrition connection… is not sex specific." – Philip [05:21]

• Goldilocks Principle:
  Both under-conditioned and over-conditioned bulls and heifers have reduced fertility. Even growth curves and moderation are key.

• Key Reference:

  • Review Article: Kenny & Byrne (2018) – The effect of nutrition on timing of pubertal onset and subsequent fertility in the bull

    "For those who are interested… it was actually in 2018… Kenny and Byrne…" – Todd [10:14]

Takeaway:
Creep feeding can lead to earlier puberty and more consistent performance in yearling bull sales if managed carefully, avoiding both under- and overfeeding.

2. Recognizing and Managing Anemia in Adult Cows & Bulls

(Begins ~10:29)

• Definition:
  Anemia is a reduction in red blood cells, limiting oxygen supply to body tissues.

• Clinical Signs:

  • Weakness, disorientation, and at times aggressive or "dangerous" behavior due to hypoxia (oxygen shortage to the brain).

    "A classic clinical sign you'll see with a cow that has anemia is weakness, maybe being a little disoriented… some cows will respond… by becoming very aggressive and even to the point of being dangerous." – Todd [11:38]

  • Pale mucous membranes (gums, nose, around the eyes, vulva) – easier to spot in cattle with less pigmentation.

    "But if they are white, I mean just almost typewriter paper white, that's an indication of anemia." – Bob [13:03]

  • Yellowish mucous membranes (jaundice) in some forms of anemia.

• How to Observe:
  For cattle with dark pigmentation, check inside the vulva, as it has little pigment and shows paleness more clearly.

• Causes of Anemia:

  1. Rapid blood loss (hemorrhage) – often obvious unless internal.
  2. Red blood cell destruction (often due to parasites, e.g., anaplasmosis, filariosis).
  3. Reduced production (rare in cows, e.g., from severe leukemia).

• Onset:
  Varies from rapid (days) with blood destruction or hemorrhage to slow (weeks) in rare bone marrow problems.

• Practical Tip:
  Anemic cows are easily stressed and can become dangerously unpredictable or expire with exertion. Handle with extra care.

Takeaway:
Producers should be vigilant for subtle or sudden changes in cow behavior, coloration, or herd activity, and always prioritize safety when working with potentially anemic animals.

3. Emerging Diseases & Effective Disease Investigation

(Begins ~17:07)

• Case Example:
  The recent emergence of high path avian influenza in dairy cows – an example of detecting a novel disease through observation and careful investigation.

  • Unusual Symptoms: Drop in milk production, irregular milk without obvious illness, not matching known disease profiles.
  • Process:
    • Producers note anomalies ➔ relay to veterinarians ➔ vets sample and test ➔ labs rule out common causes ➔ escalate to broader or more unusual testing.
  • Found connection to avian influenza after ruling out expected diseases.

• Strategies for Detecting Unusual Problems:

  • Start by ruling out common causes first ("when you hear hoofbeats, look for a horse, not a zebra").
  • Stay alert for "stripes": unexpected symptoms, new patterns (e.g., dead birds or cats near herd, concurrent symptoms in people).
  • Consider changes in environment: new feed sources, exposure to new animals.

• When to Escalate:

  • Illnesses not responding to standard treatments.
  • Disease presentation in unexpected ages or numbers.
  • Disease duration longer than typical patterns.
  • Symptoms don't fit any "known buckets."

    "Anytime something's not acting the way it has in the past, that's a time to reevaluate and bring in a veterinarian…" – Bob [22:05]

  • Teamwork between producers, veterinarians, and diagnostic labs is essential.

• Broader Relevance:

  • Emphasizes prompt communication, open-minded investigation, and the importance of reporting anomalies for the benefit of the entire industry.

Takeaway:
Effective disease investigation hinges on recognizing when something is truly "out of the ordinary," a willingness to seek help, and the power of collaborative problem-solving.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Creep Feeding and Bull Fertility:

  "If you feed them too much prior to that bull test, especially post weaning, they may come into that bull test over conditioned… And in fact, over conditioning yearling bulls can be a real challenge to fertility." – Todd [04:52]

• On Recognizing Anemia:

  "Pale mucous membranes… almost typewriter paper white, that's an indication of anemia." – Bob [13:03]

• On Disease Investigation Mentality:

  "In veterinary school we're often taught that, that when we hear hoofbeats, look for a horse, not a zebra. But occasionally you do find a zebra." – Todd [19:46]

• On When to Seek Help:

  "Anytime something's not acting the way it has in the past, that's a time to reevaluate and bring in a veterinarian and start looking it up." – Bob [22:05]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Creep Feeding Bulls and Fertility – [02:46] to [10:29]
• Physiology & Goldilocks Principle – [05:21] to [09:52]
• Anemia in Adult Cattle – [10:29] to [16:57]
• Recognizing, Diagnosing Anemia – [11:32], [12:56], [14:21]
• Emerging Diseases—High Path Avian Influenza Case – [17:07] to [21:35]
• How to Distinguish Usual vs. Unusual Disease Outbreaks – [19:37] to [23:13]

Conclusion

This episode provides actionable advice for cattle producers and veterinary professionals on nutritional management practices, practical recognition of health disorders like anemia, and a rational approach to identifying and responding to new or unexpected diseases. The team emphasizes both evidence-based management and the necessity of adaptability, teamwork, and observation in cattle herd health.

For further questions or topics, listeners are encouraged to contact the BCI Cattle Chat team via email or social media.