Cattle Chat Podcast Summary

Episode: Caroline Wingert Research Update, Co-Mingling Bulls, Bull-to-Cow Ratio
Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Brad White (B)
Guests/Contributors: Dustin (D), Scott (C), Bob (A), Philip (E), Caroline Wingert (F)
Produced by: Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University

Episode Overview

This episode offers a rich mix of current research and practical management discussion for beef cattle professionals:

• Research Update: Graduate student Caroline Wingert discusses her research on the challenges and success factors for rural veterinarians.
• Management Discussion: The regular panel tackles listener questions about co-mingling bulls, how to minimize fighting, and optimal bull-to-cow ratios.
• Economic Reflection: The panel compares managing ranch risk and marketing strategies to playing offense in baseball—singles, doubles, or going for the home run.

Segment 1: Meet Caroline Wingert & Her Research (02:45–09:08)

Caroline’s Background

• Originally from Ottawa, Kansas. Grew up showing and raising cattle on a small herd.
• Studied Agricultural Economics at Kansas State, now pursuing a master’s and conducting research at BCI.

Research Focus

• Motivation: "I'm originally from a rural area, and I think that that's kind of the backbone of America. And I feel like if you neglect the rural areas, then it just leaves us open to bigger issues." — Caroline (03:19)
• Main Focus: Exploring factors that affect retention and success among rural veterinarians.

Research Approach

• Survey Construction: Developed survey with input from industry, rural veterinarians, and the BCI team.
• Three Key Metrics:
  • Longevity: Whether vets stay in practice more or less than five years and what affects this.
  • Career Satisfaction: Burnout, recommendations, and if they’d choose this career again.
  • Financial Success: Metrics include home ownership, loan repayment, and salaries.
    (05:00–05:30)

Defining “Rural”

• Considered multiple definitions—family proximity, reliance on resource extraction, distance from major retailers.
• "We looked at... is there a big resource extraction that your community is reliant on? ...Can you travel to and from the family in the same day?" — Caroline (07:36)

Early Results & Insights

• No major surprises yet; excitement about digging into the data after months of careful preparation.
• Importance of subjective factors like distance to amenities, family, and service options in rural practice.

Notable Quotes:

• "It was more lifestyle type stuff for me… distance to sporting events... distance to amenities, retail shops." — Scott (06:43)
• "There’s no clear definition of what’s rural and what drives success or not." — Brad (08:15)

Segment 2: Co-Mingling Bulls (09:08–16:26)

Listener Question

• Should you house bulls of similar size/age, or combine mature and younger bulls to reduce fighting? Is there a “least risky” way?

Panel Discussion

• Classic advice: Same age and size to minimize dominance issues.
• Listener logic: Wouldn’t a big age/size difference naturally prevent fighting, as a young bull wouldn’t challenge a mature bull?

Bob:
"I think she's got a good point there. The real answer is, I don't think we know enough about bull behavior... Any of us that have had bulls... at some point or another, you have bulls that fight and one gets pretty darn injured." (10:05)

Housing Recommendations

• Key Management:

  • Provide LOTS of space, avoid tight corners around feed/water (biggest risk for fights).
  • Spread out resources—“However big you think the pen ought to be, make it even bigger.”
  • "Don't make pinch points where bulls are likely to come together when they're wanting to have a fight, such as around food or water." — Bob (11:16)

• Alternative: Individual paddocks for small groups, solid fencing for separation (13:03).

Research Gaps

• Bull dominance and libido are separate traits:
  • A “submissive” bull can still breed as many cows as the dominant one by sneaking opportunities.
  • "In a five-bull pasture... one or two bulls are going to breed two thirds of the cows... some may not breed any." — Bob (14:04)

Practical Experiences

• Even two bulls in a pasture can both fail—e.g., a herd with two bulls, neither breeds cows due to dominance standoff. (15:52)

Segment 3: Bull-to-Cow Ratio (16:26–19:31)

Time-honored Rules

• Yearlings: One cow per month-of-age after passing a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE).
• Mature Bulls: More flexibility, but risk rises with group size.

Bob:

• "My personal preference is to get it as high as possible, as many cows as possible, to keep my bull cost [down]... I'm going to say 35." (16:55)
• Emphasis on careful observation: if pushing upper limits (e.g., 35 cows per bull), monitor closely—especially early in the breeding season.
• “I want as many cows per bull as I can afford, can manage, because then... I’ll invest more in the bulls themselves... I need to watch to make sure he is breeding one and a half cows [per day].” (17:18)

Risk Management

• Observation is essential. Vulnerable bulls (lame, injured, poor libido) can be detected mostly visually.
• Less observable herds (e.g., on vast pastures) are at greater risk if bulls have problems.

Segment 4: Broader Ranch Risk & Selling Strategy (19:31–23:54)

Risk and Reward: Baseball as a Metaphor

• 85% of US turkeys are sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas; similarly, 85% of cow-calf producers’ income comes from one seasonal moment.
• Selling strategy: Aim to sell at the optimal moment, but market volatility makes it hard.

Dustin:

• Know your break-even point and set reasonable profit goals, but “are you truly hedging, or are you kind of trying to maybe more speculate?” (21:43)
• Don't necessarily lock all sales at one price; consider hedging part and speculating with the rest ("maybe you do 35 or half... then the others, you try to maybe take a little more risk." — 22:11)

Bob:

• “Get your singles and doubles... I'd like to hit a home run, but if I consistently get, you know, where I'm moving the game forward... that's not a bad way to play the game.” (22:30)

Closing Thoughts:

• Know your strategy, play to your strengths, and avoid comparing yourself to those with different risk tolerances.
• “It’s, you know, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. When somebody's hitting a home run, you're going, ah, I wish I was like that. And when you're consistently keeping the ball moving forward, the home run hitter might go, man, I wish I was like that. Know your strategy and be happy with it.” — Bob (23:30)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "I don't have time for commercials." — Caroline (02:41)
• "If you neglect the rural areas, then it just leaves us open to bigger issues." — Caroline (03:19)
• "It's more complicated than I thought." — Bob (14:02)
• “I want as many cows per bull as I can afford, can manage...” — Bob (17:18)
• “Know your strategy and be happy with it.” — Bob (23:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:45–09:08: Caroline Wingert's Background and Rural Vet Research
• 09:08–16:26: Co-Mingling Bulls: Practical Tips and Bull Behavior Insights
• 16:26–19:31: Bull-to-Cow Ratio: Best Practices and Risk Considerations
• 19:31–23:54: Managing Marketing Risk: Baseball Analogies and Real-World Strategy

Tone & Style

The episode mixes friendly banter (“I don't have time for commercials.”) with in-depth, practical insights, maintaining a conversational and supportive tone throughout. The discussion is rich with personal anecdotes and encourages critical thinking about both ranch management and long-term strategy.

Summary Prepared For: Listeners who want actionable insights on rural vet careers, bull management, and ranch economics—delivered with wisdom and humor from the BCI team.