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Livestock

All Livestock Content

An orange plastic hoop placed around a portion of tall grass on a range to provide a measurement.

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure: Range Record Keeping

Range record keeping helps detect and demonstrate landscape changes that have a direct impact on your ability to maintain or grow your herd.

a yong man presenting to a group of people

Growing Connections: An Organizational Map of the South Dakota Local Food System

Behind every farmer’s market, community supported agriculture share, or local food event is a network of advocates, educators, and organizations that make it all possible. The South Dakota Local Food System map illustrates the organizations that strengthen local food through a variety of roles and functions.

Golden windrows in a hay field

SDSU Extension encourages testing forage nitrate levels

June 11, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is encouraging producers to test the nitrate levels in their forages.

Two producers moving cattle out of a shelter.

Biosecurity for Beef Cow-Calf Operations: Managing the Entry of New Animals

Infectious disease can impact cow-calf operations in dramatic ways. These steps should be considered the minimum standards for introducing new animals into cow-calf operations to avoid the spread of infectious disease.

Group of black cattle near a stock dam that’s drying up under drought conditions.
Jun 17

Drought Meeting

SDSU Extension will host drought meetings from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CDT/9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. MT on June 17 in Hot Springs, Winner and Yankton.

A trailer with the SDSU Extension logo and aerial footage of landscapes is shown

SDSU Extension leads the way in precision livestock research and use

June 09, 2026

It may seem like major cities have the advantage on cutting-edge research, but for precision range and livestock research, look to South Dakota. The primary hub of that research is conducted at the Cottonwood Field Station, a 2,640-acre station in western South Dakota’s grasslands.

two men viewing a laptop on the hood of a white pickup

Beef Quality Assurance

South Dakota producers have the option to receive beef quality assurance (BQA) certification.

Two young producers inspecting a herd of cattle in early spring pasture.
Jun 19

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training @ Sioux Falls

A Beef Quality Assurance training will be held on June 19 from 2:30-4:45 p.m. for anyone involved in raising or handling cattle.

Cattle stand next to a watering hole in a pasture

SDSU Extension hosts drought meetings on June 17

June 04, 2026

SDSU Extension will hold free regional drought meetings on June 17, 2026, in response to current moderate to severe drought conditions affecting agriculture in southern South Dakota.

sun rising over South Dakota field

Agriculture

Both livestock and crops are essential to South Dakota's agricultural industry.