Livestock

Our Experts

Addie Womack

Robert Thaler

Bob Thaler

Erin DeHaan

Professional headshot of Jaelyn Quintana

Jaelyn Whaley

Professional headshot of Jessica Drum

Jessica Drum

Julie Walker

Kaylyn Rudy

Professional portrait of Logan Vandermark

Logan Vandermark

Professional portrait of Madison Kovarna

Madison Kovarna

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South Dakota producers face new challenges each day. SDSU Extension is your partner, providing resources and expertise to help meet production goals.

Featured Resources

A South Dakota Mesonet station in a snow-covered field.

Livestock Stress Tool

Weather conditions in the Northern Plains can present more than a few challenges for livestock producers. From below zero or blizzard conditions during winter or even spring, to heat waves in the summer months, farmers and ranchers need to be prepared for rapidly changing conditions to provide the best care for their livestock and minimize their risks of losses.

A vast, open rangeland with a few patches of weeds.

Noxious Weed Control in Pasture and Range

Noxious weed control in pastures is becoming more of a challenge. Most ground commercial spray businesses are no longer spraying pastures. If they are, there may be restrictions on the time they will spray, what products they will spray, or they may only spray if they also have all of the rest of your spraying business.

Upcoming Events

A group of people sits on an open trailer and listens to a man giving a presentation in front of a field
Jul 08

Southeast Research Farm Field Day and Family Evening

Attend the Southeast Research Farm field day and family evening on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Southeast Research Farm (29974 University Road, Beresford, SD 57004). The farm is located six miles west and three miles south of Beresford.

group of students looking at a pair of beef cattle
Jul 16

South Dakota Youth Beef Summit

South Dakota Youth Beef Summit is a program for youth ages 12-21 interested in learning more about the beef industry. This event will take place on July 16, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at various locations on the campus of South Dakota State University.

Related Topics

Dairy Cattle, Goats, Horse, Poultry, Rabbit, Swine, Animal Welfare, Quality Assurance, Animal Health, Pasture, Range, Barns, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, Beef Feedlot and Backgrounding, Beef Herd Health and Quality Assurance, Beef Industry and General Management, Beef Marketing and Economics, Beef Nutrition, Beef Reproduction and Genetics

Related Content

Producers working cattle in a holding pen.

What Cattle Working Facilities Are the Best?

Research is continually being conducted to better understand cattle behaviors and develop working facilities that work with them. Learn some basic aspects of working facilities so you can design a system that best fits your operation.

Grasshopper with red hind tibia. It’s sitting on a green grass stem.

Survey of Grasshoppers in South Dakota

Fact sheet on the abundance and species diversity of grasshoppers in South Dakota

Two pictures of two different species of thistle. Both pictures are filled with a green thistle plant and various green plants in the background.

Thistle Species Are Budding in South Dakota

Thistles are starting to bud across South Dakota. This is a critical growth stage for management, as the plants are beginning to produce seeds and herbicides are not effective.