Fall Cattle Health Update: New World Screwworm, Theileria & Receiving Calves

With fall calf sales ramping up across Kansas, cattle health and management are top priorities for producers. In this episode we visit with Dr. AJ Tarpoff, K-State Extension Beef Veterinarian, to discuss the latest developments surrounding New World screwworm, Theileria orientalis Ikeda, and practical strategies for successfully receiving newly purchased calves. Dr. Tarpoff also shares practical tips producers can implement immediately, including simple ways to encourage newly arrived calves to drink, the importance of establishing receiving protocols before purchasing cattle, and why investments in animal comfort can pay dividends in performance. Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and upcoming Beef Quality Assurance trainings 01:30 – New World screwworm update and response efforts 06:45 – Theileria orientalis Ikeda in Kansas cattle 12:55 – Common mistakes when receiving newly purchased calves 14:00 – Water, feed, bedding, and recovery after transportation 16:00 – Veterinary protocols, processing, and treatment decisions 18:45 – Practical watering strategies and digital recordkeeping 20:35 – Nutrition management and K-State Extension resources 23:40 – Weather stress, bedding, and cattle comfort 25:35 – Purchasing cattle, commingling, and disease prevention 28:15 – Kansas Mesonet Animal Comfort Index and closing reminders Additional Resources Kansas Mesonet – Animal Comfort Index https://mesonet.k-state.edu/ USDA APHIS – New World Screwworm https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ K-State Research and Extension https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/ Beef Quality Assurance Training: Dr. Tarpoff discusses upcoming trainings in Pratt on November 4, with additional events planned in Mankato and Sublette in December 2026. Check K-State Extension announcements for registration details. For more information about Theileria, be sure to listen to our previous episode featuring Dr. Cassandra Olds, where we take a closer look at the parasite, transmission, and management considerations for cattle producers. Questions or interview ideas, please contact Justin Goodno: jgoodno@ksu.edu This institution is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Program information may be available in languages other than English. Language access requests and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including alternative means of communication (e.g., Braille, large print, and American Sign Language), may be requested by contacting the event contact (insert name) four weeks prior to the start of the event (insert deadline date) at (insert phone number and email). Requests received after this date will be honored when it is feasible to do so. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request. Kansas State University is an equal opportunity provider and employer.