Cattle Chat Episode Summary

Podcast: Cattle Chat
Hosts: BCI Cattle Chat team, Beef Cattle Institute, Kansas State University
Episode: Listener Question, FFAR ICASA Grant, Listener Question
Date: August 16, 2024

Overview

This episode explores three main topics:

1. Listener Questions on cattle feed (specifically using rye seed) and starting a cattle operation after relocating internationally.
2. Discussion of a New Research Grant: The team describes their involvement in a new multi-institutional research grant funded by the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) and ICASA, focusing on pulmonary diseases in feedlot cattle.
3. Practical Advice: The veterinarians and cattle industry professionals share science-based, real-world guidance for cattle producers at varying levels of experience.

The tone of the episode is collegial, exploratory, and practical, with each host contributing perspective backed by expertise or current research.

Key Discussion Points

1. Fun Icebreaker: The Fate of the Thumbs-Up Emoji (00:56–03:38)

• The hosts banter about potential new favorite emojis if the "thumbs up" emoji is ever outlawed.
  • Dustin prefers just texting "OK."
  • Brad notes, "I got a friend who will sometimes just text back K. And I'm like, you didn't have time to type both O and K?" (02:47)
  • They joke about needing a seminar on phone emoji use.

2. Listener Question: Feeding Rye Seed to Cattle (03:38–07:19)

Can Harvested Rye Seed be Fed to Cattle?

• Philip: "Yeah, you can use it in a cattle ration. So there's lots of cereal grains that we use in cattle rations. Wheat, oats, barley, rye is going to be somewhere probably similar to oats." (03:49)
  • Rye has higher fiber than wheat; similar nutritive value to oats.
  • Research suggests processing (grinding/rolling) rye doesn’t enhance cattle performance in most cases.
  • Whole rye grain can be included in the ration; in backgrounding/growing cattle, it can substitute for corn without performance detriment.

Downsides in Finishing Rations:

• Using rye in high percentages (replacing all corn) for finishing cattle lowered end-phase feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion relative to corn.

Cautions on Disease and Toxins:

• Bob: "Yeah, there is a concern. Cereal grains and rye is actually one of the ones that are a bigger risk for a problem. Basically a fungus, an ergot fungus..." (06:05)
  • Ergot fungus can develop in rye, causing vasoconstriction in animals (extreme cases: loss of tail, feet).
  • Identification: Black, dark purple, or brown structures in rye seed heads, resembling small droppings.
  • Should not use ergot-contaminated rye for feed.

3. Research Spotlight: FFAR ICASA Grant on Pulmonary Disease in Feedlot Cattle (07:19–16:15)

What is FAR/ICASA?

• Brad: "Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research... ICASA is an acronym for the International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture." (07:45)
  • Multi-institutional grant involves Kansas State, Colorado State, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Rowan University, and partners from the cattle industry.

Research Focus:

• Bob: "It's really an investigation into the different types of lung disease... not only kind of the classic pneumonia, respiratory disease, but other [types] like atypical interstitial pneumonia." (08:52)
  • Assessing classic and atypical lung diseases, including their different risk factors.

Nutrition & Cattle Health Interplay:

• Philip: "We're going to look at how we can associate nutrition, feed characteristics, GI issues with the pulmonary lesions that we're seeing in cattle." (10:01)
  • Will measure: Rumen lesions, small intestine hemorrhaging, ration particle size, feeding patterns.

Economics & Real-World Impact:

• Dustin: "It's a multidisciplinary group, including the economics..." (11:24)
  • Economics are central: Their PhD student is analyzing the economic impact of pulmonary diseases.

Why this Grant is Unique:

• Brad: "The goal with FAR is to really help build those private public partnerships...working with several individual feed yards as well as consulting groups to try to work through the process." (12:25)
  • Real-world industry partners are deeply involved, providing resources and data.
  • Bob: "It really does cause honest conversations...We need to make sure that we're bringing value to those private partners because they've got resources, they've got skin in the game and they expect us to provide answers." (14:07)

Takeaway:

• Teamwork between academics and cattle industry is central.
• Real-world application and private sector partnerships are crucial for research relevance and impact.

4. Listener Question: Getting Started in Alabama After Cattle Experience in South Africa (16:15–23:56)

Listener Background:
Moving from arid region near desert in South Africa to Alabama, USA, wants to start a cattle operation; asks for advice.

Initial Reactions:

• Bob: "It implies some humility...The management is going to have to be different in each of those [environments]...I would not feel comfortable giving advice because the management is different for different geographic areas." (17:22)

  • Stresses importance of local expertise and building relationships with those familiar with the area (extension agents, cattlemen’s associations).

• Brad: Agrees, suggests that strong local producer networks and formal resources are invaluable.

Getting Specific:

• Brian: "I have a lot more questions than I have advice...Does the listener need cash flow now or is this a long term investment?" (18:44)

  • Highlights importance of knowing operational goals, cash flow needs, land quality, and pasture condition before making recommendations.
  • Suggests different strategies based on timeline and resources: bred heifers (longer return), stocker calves (quicker cash flow).

• Dustin: "Getting to know the local resources...building all those different kinds of relationships." (20:59)

• Philip: "Alabama has a pretty good environment for running stocker calves...But you can grow young calves pretty well. He probably is not familiar with...northern Alabama is going to be fescue country. Fescue is a whole different ball game when it comes to managing cattle on grass." (21:35)

  • Emphasizes learning about local forage (fescue's management and effects), and understanding marketing channels for calves vs. fat cattle.

• Brad: "A lot of our industry does not feed those cattle all the way through, regardless of where you are...thinking about what are some of the options there." (22:34)

  • Encourages thinking through return timelines, marketing options, and developing business plans/spreadsheets to model different scenarios.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Yeah, you can use it in a cattle ration." – Philip (03:49)
• "Cereal grains and rye is actually one of the ones that are a bigger risk for a problem... an ergot fungus." – Bob (06:05)
• "The goal with FAR is to really help build those private public partnerships." – Brad (12:25)
• "Management is going to have to be different in each of those [environments]...I would not feel comfortable giving advice because the management is different for different geographic areas." – Bob (17:22)
• "Fescue is a whole different ball game when it comes to managing cattle on grass." – Philip (21:55)

Episode Flow & Timestamps

• 00:56–03:38 – Emoji/communication discussion, lighthearted intro
• 03:38–07:19 – Listener question: feeding rye seed to cattle
• 07:19–16:15 – Research spotlight: FFAR/ICASA grant, pulmonary disease in cattle
• 16:15–23:56 – Listener question: Setting up cattle in Alabama after moving from South Africa
• 23:59 – Reminder for listener emails, show close

Takeaways

• Feeding rye grain: Can be practical for cattle in many situations, but ergot contamination is a serious risk; replacement value varies with stage of production.
• Industry-relevant research: Emerging research is increasingly multidisciplinary and collaborative with industry; this approach yields real-world, applicable results.
• Relocating cattle operations: Success requires humility, a willingness to learn from new peers, deep understanding of local resources, and tailored business strategies. The community and environmental context are key.

For further questions or deeper dives into these topics, the hosts invite listeners to reach out via email: bcisu@ksu.edu.