Cattle Chat – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Dr. Dustin Pendell’s Trip to Taiwan, Fog Fever in Wyoming Cattle, Welfare Practices in Australia
Date: January 9, 2026
Host and Contributors: Brad White (Host), Dr. Dustin Pendell, Dr. Todd, Dr. Philip, Dr. Bob, Dr. Eduardo Bortoluzzi, Cameron Best

Overview

This episode of BCI Cattle Chat takes listeners around the globe, exploring critical issues in the beef industry. The main topics include an in-depth discussion on "fog fever" (respiratory disease) in Wyoming cattle, insights from Dr. Dustin Pendell’s recent agricultural trip to Taiwan, and a conversation with Australian guest Cameron Best about animal welfare and production differences between the U.S. and Australia. Throughout, the BCI team shares practical knowledge, global perspectives, and lively anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Question: "Fog Fever" (Respiratory Disease) in Wyoming Cattle

[02:51–10:12]

• Case Introduction:

  • Dr. Todd interviews Dr. Glenn Gamble from Wyoming, who describes recurring, sudden deaths in cattle along a boggy, two-mile stretch called Mill Creek.
  • Dr. Gamble suspects "fog fever" (3-methylindole poisoning) linked to cattle grazing on lush pastures after dry ones.
    • "You just find them dead. They’ll be 15 at a time." (Dr. Gamble, [03:36])

• Underlying Biology & Plant Concerns:

  • Fog fever starts with L-tryptophan, which plants synthesize. In lush, rapidly growing pastures, certain plants (e.g., perilla mint, alfalfa, brassicas) can have higher L-tryptophan levels.
  • Cattle’s rumen bacteria, especially when transitioning from dry to lush forages, convert L-tryptophan to the toxic 3-methylindole.
    • "All plants, if they’re at a lush stage of growth, can do this. Brassicas are known to do this. All kinds of grasses, Bermuda grass, buffel grass, legumes, alfalfa…" (Dr. Todd, [06:40])

• Management vs. Eradication:

  • It’s not usually one single culprit plant; many can cause the problem.
  • Eradicating and replanting pastures is impractical due to the specialized nature of boggy area plants and inevitable natural regrowth.
  • Best management focuses on slow transitions from dry to lush forage, feeding hay before pasture turn-out, or using ionophores (rumensin, bovatec) to inhibit conversion in the rumen.
    • "I think your best bet is trying to manage it either with transitioning cattle over to lush forages more slowly...Ionophores...have been shown to slow the conversion." (Dr. Todd, [09:17])
    • "I'm pretty sure after a few years the native plant's going to come back in because they're going to be able to out-compete whatever you put in there." (Dr. Philip, [09:53])

2. Dr. Dustin Pendell’s Agricultural Visit to Taiwan

[10:53–16:33]

• Culinary Anecdotes:

  • Dr. Pendell shares unique eating experiences in Taiwan, highlighting beef tartar and wagyu, with playful banter about raw egg and sea urchin.
    • "I had enough glasses of wine and other drinks that it was OK." (Dr. Dustin Pendell, [11:25])

• Livestock & Meat Consumption in Taiwan:

  • Taiwan produces less than 200,000 head of beef cattle, only about 5% of its demand—95% of beef is imported.
  • ~50% of imports are from the U.S., with others from Australia and South America.
    • "They've got less than 200,000 head of cattle... they can produce about 5% of what they consume, so that means 95% basically is all imports." (Dr. Pendell, [11:56])
    • "About 50% of their imports come from the U.S." (Dr. Pendell, [13:16])

• Dietary & Educational Observations:

  • Poultry is the primary protein (45 kg annual per capita), followed by pork (35 kg), with beef just 8–9 kg.
  • During his visit to a university, Dr. Pendell noted the growth in small animal veterinary medicine over livestock focus—urbanization and population density likely limit livestock production.
  • Veterinary clinics in Taipei are predominantly for small animals.

3. Australian Cattle Welfare Practices: Guest Cameron Best & Dr. Eduardo Bortoluzzi

[17:14–21:54]

• Systems Comparison: U.S., Australia, Brazil:

  • Dr. Eduardo contrasts U.S. focus on "biological function" (confinement, close observation, low predation) with Australia and Brazil's "natural living" on pasture, facing health and predation challenges.

• Mortality and Predation in Northern Australia:

  • Northern herds: 1–2% annual losses in dry stock, 3–5% in breeders—can be higher with predation or environment stress.
  • Dingo predation persists despite decades of control attempts—usually a threat to weak calves.
    • "Dingo baiting's been going on for 100 years and they're still there." (Cameron Best, [18:29])

• Management Practices:

  • Frequent human presence via water checks—cattle may see people every 3–4 days.
  • Only 2–3 major handling events per year; management is about timing and logistics.
  • Gathering relies on a multi-modal approach: helicopters to move cattle, motorbikes to pick up, horses to shepherd, with improved infrastructure like fencing and water aiding control.
    • "A lot of places now invested... in a lot more fences, a lot more waters. So they'll aggregate a mob... and just put them in a lane." (Cameron Best, [20:38])
  • Drone technology is emerging in less remote areas; further south, management becomes more similar to U.S. style (ATVs, motorbikes, horses).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fog Fever Management:
  • "I think your best bet is going to be trying to manage it either with transitioning cattle over to lush forages more slowly...I think that's probably going to be a better way to deal with this than...trying to completely transform a whole entire ecosystem…" (Dr. Todd, [09:17])
• On Taiwan’s Beef Import Reliance:
  • "They’ve got less than 200,000 head of cattle... can produce about 5% of what they consume, so that means 95% basically is all imports..." (Dr. Dustin Pendell, [11:56])
• On Extensive Australian Management:
  • "Helicopters will get the cattle moving... then you’ll have a group of stockmen on horses... So the actual shepherding's done by the horses when you get them in a big mob." (Cameron Best, [20:23])
  • “Dingo baiting’s been going on for 100 years and they’re still there. And I think there’s an answer there we haven’t yet discovered.” (Cameron Best, [18:29])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:51–10:12] Fog Fever in Wyoming Cattle – Listener Question & Clinical/Management Discussion
• [10:53–16:33] Dr. Dustin Pendell’s Taiwan Experience – Beef Systems, Veterinary Education, Food Anecdotes
• [17:14–21:54] Australian Welfare Practices – Cameron Best & Dr. Eduardo Bortoluzzi

Episode Tone and Takeaways

True to BCI Cattle Chat’s practical and collegial style, the episode offers grounded advice, thoughtful international perspectives, and a sprinkling of personal stories. Whether discussing disease management in Wyoming, market dynamics in Taiwan, or the challenges and logistics of Australian cattle production, the show connects veterinary science to real-world producer concerns and highlights the global interconnectedness of the beef industry.