Cattle Chat Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Expansion, Milo, Keeping Bulls
Date: October 10, 2025
Host: BCI Cattle Chat (Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University)
Guests: Dr. Jason Warner (Animal Science, K-State), Dr. Bob Larson, Dr. Brad White, Dr. Scott Fritz

Episode Overview

This episode of Cattle Chat brings together veterinary professionals and animal scientists from Kansas State University to tackle timely listener questions affecting the beef industry. Topics include considerations for herd expansion in a high-price market, the risks of feeding moldy milo (sorghum) to cattle, and the management trade-offs of leaving bulls with cows year-round. The conversation blends practical insights, technical expertise, and candid perspectives relevant to cow-calf producers.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Reflecting on Outdated Technology

Timestamps: 00:09 - 03:09

The episode opens on a light-hearted note, with the hosts reminiscing about items from the 1990s that are now obsolete (e.g., phone cards, lunch punch cards, VHS rewinders).
Notable Quote:

• "I don't know about really enjoyed it, but came across my mind the other day. The, you know, the phone card…" — Dr. Bob Larson (01:28)

2. Herd Expansion: Is Now the Right Time?

Timestamps: 03:09 - 10:26

a. Industry Trends & Producer Questions

• Recent data notes 47% of cow-calf herds are reportedly expanding (03:09).
• The panel questions whether this means a true nationwide expansion or simply recovery from previous contraction.

b. Key Considerations for Expansion

• Multiple Variables: Carrying capacity (forage management), annual cow costs, reproductive efficiency, heifer retention strategies, and market price projections.
• Personalized Approach: The importance of basing the decision on the individual operation’s context and resources rather than just national trends.

Notable Quotes:

• “As herds get larger, we’ve got more economies of scale there… being able to keep those females back.” — Dr. Jason Warner (04:30)
• “It seems like a bad year to invest just with the way prices are. Buy high and sell low, that’s not a good business decision.” — Dr. Scott Fritz (05:29)
• “You know how many times I've been wrong? … Five years later you go, oh, actually that was a good idea. Or not.” — Dr. Bob Larson (06:06)
• “You got to know what your annual cow costs are… and be realistic about future feeder calf prices.” — Dr. Jason Warner (07:40)

c. Reproductive Efficiency as an Expansion Lever

• A cost-effective method of expansion is improving existing cow reproductive rates via bull fertility and proper body condition (08:53).
• Warning against skipping female retention entirely: “If you skip a generation… your cow herd is that much older on average after one year.” — Dr. Jason Warner (09:47)

3. Moldy Milo: Risks & Recommendations

Timestamps: 10:26 - 17:38

a. Assessing Mold & Fungus Risks in Sorghum

• Mold is often less of an issue in arid milo-growing areas, but risk increases with heat and moisture (11:14).
• Differentiation among endophyte, ergot, and flat-out mold:
  • Endophyte: Fungus inside plant, usually in fescue, invisible to the eye (12:03).
  • Ergot: Fungus visible as black sclerotia replacing seeds; produces honeydew that can contaminate the plant (13:07).
  • Mold: Visible, fuzzy, white discoloration (12:28).

Notable Quotes:

• “Everything can be a toxin, but the dose is what matters… sorting that out gets challenging in forage settings.” — Dr. Scott Fritz (12:35)
• “Analytical testing is really our best approach there, of course.” — Dr. Jason Warner (14:48)

b. Practical Management Strategies

• Walk the field to assess mold/ergot prevalence; dilution can help if concentrations are low (15:37).
• Collaborate with labs for targeted sampling and testing; communicate across harvesting/grazing operations (15:18).
• Moldy forage can often be managed with creative feeding strategies, ration adjustments, or toxin binders if properly assessed (17:07).

4. Keeping Bulls with the Cowherd Year-round: Pros & Cons

Timestamps: 17:38 - 24:17

a. The Defined Breeding Season Argument

• Leaving bulls year-round leads to dispersed calving, complicating nutrition, herd health, and management (18:12).
• “I like a nice tight group of cows. One of the ways to do that is put the bulls in and take the bulls out… one of the ways to get into trouble is just to leave the bulls out there all the time.” — Dr. Bob Larson (18:12)

b. The Small Herd/Practicality Argument

• For small operations, housing and feeding bulls separately can be impractical or costly.
• Solution: Diligent pregnancy checking and culling off-season pregnancies can help maintain a tighter calving window even if bulls stay with cows (19:05).

c. Alternative Approaches & Nuances

• Leasing bulls as a facility management workaround (19:52).
• Using reproductive management tools (estrus synchronization, nutrition) to ensure most cows conceive early, even with bulls present year-round (20:14).
• Discipline is crucial: Must pre-check rigorously and cull late-bred cows to avoid year-round calving drift (21:10).

Notable Quotes:

• “If you are going to leave those bulls in, do what you can to make sure cows have the best chance to conceive early…” — Dr. Jason Warner (20:14)
• “The solution that none of us liked was just leaving [the bulls] out and not managing the breeding season or the calving season… you can’t just let it drift.” — Dr. Brad White (23:58)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the realities of cattle economics:
  • “You’ve got depreciation on all those things. When you buy high and sell low, that does not seem like a good business decision.” — Dr. Scott Fritz (05:29)
• On reproductive management:
  • “There’s never a time in the cattle cycle when you don’t want to do as good as you can at reproductive efficiency.” — Dr. Bob Larson (09:47)
• On risk management in forage:
  • “Everything can be a toxin… but it’s all about the dose.” — Dr. Scott Fritz (12:35)

Useful Timestamps

• 00:09 – 03:09: Outdated tech and nostalgic discussion
• 03:09 – 10:26: Herd expansion—market trends, producer considerations
• 10:26 – 17:38: Moldy milo and feed safety management
• 17:38 – 24:17: Bulls in the herd year-round—pros, cons, and practical management

Conclusion

This episode delivers practical, experience-driven advice for cow-calf producers navigating expansion, feed safety, and breeding management decisions. The panel stresses the importance of understanding your own operation’s costs, resources, and management capabilities. The key to all scenarios? Be proactive, disciplined, and flexible—there are rarely absolutes, but always consequences for whichever path you choose.