Five Range Management Principles: Adaptive Management
Five Range Management Principles: Adaptive Management (sdstate.edu)
Calving Distribution Affects Herd Health
Calving Distribution Affects Herd Health (sdstate.edu)
Beef Carcass Yield Grades: What do they mean and how are they calculated?
Beef Carcass Yield Grades: What do they mean and how are they calculated? (sdstate.edu)
Using Feedlot Manure to Reduce Crop Production Costs
Using Feedlot Manure to Reduce Crop Production Costs (sdstate.edu)
Cull Cow Management and Marketing Opportunities
Cull Cow Management and Marketing Opportunities (sdstate.edu)
Strategic Replacement Heifer Selection at Weaning
Originally written by Taylor Grussing, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist. Now that calves are weaned and pregnancy checks are occurring, it’s time to start thinking about selecting replacement heifers to breed in the spring. Due to the differences in goals and needs between operations, there is no one size fit’s all selection equation that producers can follow. However, there are some common characteristics and questions that all producers should consider to help…
Forage Sampling Procedures
Warren Rusche Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Feedlot Specialist Proper sampling of forage is essential if we want to obtain an accurate indication of the nutrient composition, dry matter content, or value of any feedstuff. Correct sampling and analysis is even more important under conditions that might increase feedstuff variability, such as challenging growing conditions. Sampling procedures vary depending upon the type of forage and whether or not sampling occurs pre-harvest or after…
High Nitrates and Pregnant Cows
Olivia Amundson SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Drought poses many challenges to the beef cow herd. Nitrates in feed is one of the challenges that producers need to be aware of, especially in the reproductive herd. Nitrates can be found in multiple forages and weeds, such as millet, oats, wheat, corn, sorghum, sudan, kochia, pigweed, lambsquarter, brome grass and orchard grass, to name a few. Nitrates are taken up from the soil by…
Five Tips to Keeping Livestock Vaccines Viable on Farm
BROOKINGS, S.D. - Vaccines are crucial to keeping livestock healthy and productive. While vaccines do not provide absolute protection, the “added insurance” helps stimulate the animal’s immune system and increases its ability to fight off an infection or lessen the impact of disease if it should occur. However, with timing, labor constraints and the necessity for boosters, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Veterinarian and State Public Health Veterinarian Russ Daly says there are several factors…
Prussic Acid Precautions
Adele Harty SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist During periods of drought, it is important to consider and be aware of the factors that can be a concern during these conditions, specifically nitrates and prussic acid. In normal years plant growth is normal, and these compounds do not accumulate to levels that could be toxic to livestock, but when plant growth is inhibited, the risk increases significantly due to the plant not developing at…