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Black angus cattle eating from a feed bunk.

Feeding Hybrid Rye Grain to Cattle

Feedlot researchers at SDSU were approached to evaluate the potential for hybrid rye to be used in cattle finishing diets. See what they found in terms of cattle performance and feed efficiency.

group of cattle at feedbunk

Feeding Damaged Wheat to Cattle

Feeding damaged wheat to livestock is one way to salvage value from the crop. Wheat can work well in cattle diets with some limitations.

Pile of chopped silage in front of a tractor.

Does Kernel Processing Silage Pay for Growing and Finishing Beef Cattle?

Kernel processing involves passing harvested silage through a set of rollers mounted on the chopper. But does this extra step result in improved efficiency and reduced costs of gain?

Small group of bison on rangeland.

Decoding Bison Dietary Selection: More Than Just Grass

While bison are often thought of as quintessential grazers, their diet is surprisingly variable. However, they also snack on non-grass species throughout the year.

Swine drinking from a waterer in a finishing facility.

Water Usage Increased by Dietary Phytase Incorporation in Growing and Finishing Swine

Total water usage is an important consideration in sustainable pork production. Recent research at the SDSU investigated water usage of growing and finishing pigs fed diets without or with phytase included in the diet.

Group of weanling pigs inside a wean-to-finish facility.

Tribasic Copper Chloride Source Shows Promise in Weanling Pig Performance

One of the many challenges in swine production is getting newly weaned pigs off to a good start. Research has found that tribasic copper chloride supplemented into nursery pig diets can be effective at improving growth performance and intestinal health of weanling pigs.

South Dakota State University Swine Education and Research Facility exterior.

Trace Mineral Incorporation Level Did Not Impact Grow-Finish Pig Performance

Recent research at SDSU found that supplementing dietary trace minerals at levels closer to NRC requirements in typical corn-soybean meal diets for grow-finish pigs did not have an impact on overall pig performance and carcass characteristics.

Tractor loading a liquid manure applicator in a bare field.

Swine Manure for Spring Planting

Did you know that swine manure is a valuable fertilizer that offers many benefits? Learn how it can be used to promote healthy plant growth, improve soil fertility, and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.

A sow and her piglets rest in dry and clean pen. Courtesy: USDA

Next-Level Precision Sow Feeding

As the nutritional requirements of sows continue to be further refined, are there opportunities to achieve next-level precision sow feeding?

A group of matureing swine in a group pen.

Is it Time to Reconsider Trace Mineral Levels in Pig Diets?

Growing pigs require trace minerals such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc for various biochemical functions, including cellular development and energy metabolism, which lead to optimal health and immunity.