Livestock

All Livestock Content

Hand presenting a GPS tracking tag on a black heifer cow.

GPS Tracking Ear Tags in Beef Cattle Production

GPS tracking ear tags are an exciting advancement in precision livestock technology that can improve operational efficiency, provide real-time animal monitoring, and generate alerts when animals leave designated areas.

SDSU Extension welcomes new forage field specialist

February 10, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Kim Ricardo as a new Forage Field Specialist.

Row of black cattle lined up at a feed bunk.

Live Cattle Basis

Futures prices are from organized trades that provide price information for buyers and sellers of commodities. Local cash prices can be compared to futures prices using a basis measure. With an expected basis measure, producers can observe futures prices and infer cash prices.

Cow with newborn calf in late-winter pasture.

SDSU Extension encourages participation in Nebraska Extension Calving College

February 06, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is encouraging cow/calf producers to participate in a series of calving workshops hosted by Nebraska Extension.

A herd of cattle gather around a stock pond on a vast, lush grassland. Courtesy: USDA [CC BY 2.0]

Weed Control: Pasture and Range

There are many undesirable plants or invasive plant species in South Dakota's 24 million acres of native and tame pasture range. This guide provides a summary of different herbicide suggestions and uses.

Black beef cattle at a feedbunk at an SDSU research facility.

Replacing Distillers Grains with Heat-Treated Soybeans to Increase Finishing Cattle Growth

Heat-treated soybeans offer interesting attributes that could enhance cattle growth. The SDSU Feedlot Research group recently examined how they can fit into modern cattle feeding diets.

The Healthy Swine Herd Series

Series of publications to keep your swine herd healthy

Farm employee inspecting a piece of heavy machinery.

Safety & Training

Covering the range from animal handling to equipment safety, including training and certification to keep producers and their workforce productive.

SDSU Extension co-hosting Cattlemen’s Education Day

February 03, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension, in partnership with the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, is hosting Cattlemen’s Education Day on Feb. 19, 2026.

Rolling Rangeland with patches of snow with a wire snow catch fence on the right.

Reading the Range in Winter: What Dormant Season Clues Reveal About Spring

For range and grazing management, winter is one of the most revealing times of the year. With a few hours in each pasture, managers can gather a season’s worth of insight and set themselves up for a more-resilient grazing year.