Podcast Summary: BCI Cattle Chat

Episode Title: Research Update: Maddie Mancke and Scours Management
Date: March 16, 2026
Host: Dr. Brad White
Guests: Dr. Bob Larson, Dr. Philip Lancaster, Dr. Dustin Pendell, Maddie Mancke (PhD student, Kansas State University)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on two major topics:

• A research update from Maddie Mancke about her innovative work on managing heat stress in feedyard cattle, specifically via alternative feeding patterns.
• Practical discussion on the management and prevention of calf scours, including protocols for intervention and environmental management strategies.

The conversation is technical but approachable, aimed at beef industry professionals and cattle producers, blending academic research with real-world application.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maddie Mancke’s Background and Research Focus

• Introduction (00:24): Maddie is a PhD student originally from Washington State, involved with BCI since 2022, completing necropsy work before starting her doctorate.
  • “I got involved with the BCI through the first summer of necropsies in 2022 and stuck around for a PhD and really glad I did…” — Maddie (00:24)
• She has conducted two consecutive summers of heat mitigation research in feedyards.

2. Heat Stress in Cattle: Research Update

Why Study Heat Stress? (04:01–04:45)

• Host Context: Managing heat stress is a persistent challenge, especially during summer feedlot conditions. Common tools include water sprays and shade structures, both with economic and practical limitations.
• Maddie’s research explores cost-effective and feasible alternatives suitable for commercial operations.

The Feeding Pattern Hypothesis (04:45–05:55)

• Problem: Metabolic heat from digestion peaks after feeding, often coinciding with midday environmental heat.
• Hypothesis: Shifting major feedings from morning (AM) to night (PM) may offset the peak metabolic heat load to early mornings, when environmental temperatures are lower.
  • “Why are we feeding cattle in the morning to where their highest metabolic heat load is in the afternoon, which coincides with the peak environmental heat?” — Maddie (05:14)

Study Design (07:36–09:58)

• Randomized Controlled Trial: 48 pens, nearly 7,800 steers divided evenly into AM-fed and PM-fed groups, following their terminal sort based on weight and tip measurements.
  • “We allocated steers at terminal sort... randomly allocated that animal to AM fed or PM fed. That consisted of 24 AM fed pens and 24 PM fed pens…” — Maddie (07:36)
• Transition Protocol: Gradual and thoughtful, to minimize stress and avoid slick bunks or feed disruptions.
  • “We kept that feed call consistent for the following two nights... and then on the fourth night, we made cuts to the feed call to allow the steers to clean up the bunks…” — Maddie (08:20)
• Logistics: Required strong cooperation from the feedyard crew with night shifts and staggered feedings.

Key Outcomes (10:44–12:54)

• Performance:

  • No statistical difference in live animal or carcass outcomes between AM- and PM-fed groups, even during modest heat stress events.
  • Crucially, night feeding did not harm cattle, suggesting it is a feasible management alternative.
    • “We ended up not finding a difference between the AM and PM groups... we did see some heat stress effects... but not enough to where I think we could possibly see some interactions.” — Maddie (10:44)
  • The study faced a summer with lower-than-typical heat, limiting stress observations.

• Operational Impact:

  • Night feeding crews found value: less stress, greater accuracy, more training opportunity.
    • “The feeding crew... switched from day shift. They really enjoyed being a part of the research...” — Maddie (11:55)
    • “Maybe working in the evenings on July and August is better than in the middle of the day.” — Dr. Bob Larson (12:54)
  • Study logistically easier, more precise due to fewer pens and less daytime pressure.

• Research Significance:

  • Scalability: With nearly 8,000 steers, the research is robust and applicable to commercial yards.
  • Future Directions: Worth repeating in hotter years to fully assess potential of night feeding for mitigating heat stress.

3. Calf Scours Management – Listener Q&A

When and How Should We Treat Calf Scours? (15:01–17:22)

• Prompt Diagnosis:

  • Treat calves as soon as there's concern—look for behavioral signs of illness (depression, lethargy), not just loose stools.
    • “If I'm at all concerned, it's important to get intervention in there early. And intervention is usually oral fluids... and if necessary... intravenous fluids.” — Dr. Bob Larson (16:46)

• Severity Varies by Age:

  • Biggest risk: young calves (<3-4 weeks old). Over 4 weeks, risk decreases.
  • “The high, high risk time for scours causing big problems with calves is really less than three to four weeks of age.” — Dr. Bob Larson (15:58)

Preventing Scours with Environmental Management (17:49–23:44)

• Prevention Trumps Cure:

  • “Preventing scours is a whole lot better than treating calves with scours.” — Dr. Philip Lancaster (17:49)
  • Clean calving environments = less pathogen exposure.

• Challenges When Movement is Limited:

  • If moving pregnant cows is not possible, shift feed sources, use fencing to keep calves in clean/bedded areas, and be creative with farm layout.
    • “You have to move them... I can't leave them in a poor environment and overcome that with any type of medicine.” — Dr. Bob Larson (19:00)
    • “Try to provide an area, create a creep pen... where you bed down with straw that the calves can go in and have a clean, dry place.” — Dr. Philip Lancaster (19:29)

• Sandhills Calving System:

  • Move pregnant cows every 2 weeks to fresh pastures; newly born calves are left behind. If several pastures are impractical, even making a single move has big benefits.
    • “If you really keep track of which calves get scours, it's essentially never the calves that are born really early.” — Dr. Bob Larson (22:17)
    • “Even one move is a huge help.” — Dr. Bob Larson (23:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Why are we feeding cattle in the morning... where their highest metabolic heat load is in the afternoon, which coincides with the peak environmental heat?... Why don’t we try feeding cattle at night to offset the heat load during the day?” — Maddie Mancke (05:13)
• “Intervention is usually oral fluids... and if necessary, you even go to intravenous fluids and again to rehydrate them and replace some of those minerals that are being lost.” — Dr. Bob Larson (16:46)
• “You have to move them. I mean, if you have a scours outbreak where you've got a number of calves, I have got to change the environment they're in. I can't leave them in a poor environment and overcome that with any type of medicine.” — Dr. Bob Larson (19:00)
• “Even one move is a huge help.” — Dr. Bob Larson (23:42)
• “I think if I keep doing heat stress research every summer, heat stress is going to go away.” — Maddie Mancke (13:43), joking about coincidentally mild summers.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Maddie Mancke Introduction & Background: 00:21 – 01:00
• Research Motivation and Design: 04:01 – 09:58
• Findings and Operational Impacts: 10:44 – 13:13
• Research Significance & Sponsor Acknowledgment: 13:53 – 14:45
• Calf Scours Management Q&A: 15:01 – 23:44

Summary & Takeaways

• Heat Stress: Nighttime feeding can be safely implemented in feedlots without sacrificing cattle performance—even if it does not dramatically reduce heat stress under mild conditions. The trial demonstrates both operational and animal benefits, paving the way for future research on extreme heat mitigation.
• Scours: Prompt individual treatment is important, but environmental management—especially moving pregnant cows to fresh ground, providing clean bedding, and creative use of space—remains the cornerstone of scours prevention. The “Sandhills calving method” or even one movement can significantly reduce outbreak risk.

This episode is packed with practical research, actionable advice, and candid experiences from vet professionals dedicated to advancing beef cattle care.