Livestock

All Livestock Content

Facility inspector inspecting animals at a large dairy farm.

Avian Influenza Viruses in Dairy Cows: What is the role of biosecurity?

The recent finding of an avian influenza virus in dairy cows suffering from a previously unknown disease syndrome has brought attention to disease control and detection methods on dairy operations.

Group of pigs in a wean-to-finish facility.

Light Versus Heavy Barrow Fecal Microbiome at Finishing

Understanding the differences in the microbiome between light and heavy market hogs may provide insights into optimizing growth performance, feed efficiency, and sustainability of the swine industry.

Young, black angus cattle eating feed in a feedlot.

Healthy Guts Make Healthy Cattle

Feed additives, including probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, can be incorporated in beef cattle diets to help improve animal health, increase performance, and reduce antibiotic use.

Rancher viewing data on a laptop on the seat of his truck.

Online Tools To Help With Rangeland Drought Planning

Learn about some free online tools that producers can use to assess drought conditions, evaluate forage resources, and manage herds through periods of abnormally dry weather.

Producer entering data into a calving app on his smart phone.

Calving Apps: Beyond the Barn

There are many calving apps available for smart phone users, and finding the right one can be challenging. Learn some expert tips on selecting the right one to accomplish your operation's goals.

Cattle at a concrete feed bunk at the SDSU Southeast Research Farm.

Case Study: Effect of Adding More Concrete to Open Pens

Mud caused by excessive precipitation dramatically reduces cattle performance. Pouring additional concrete and working on improving pen surfaces are approaches that can improve poor-weather performance in an open yard.

USDA Choice ribeye steaks on display at a grocery store.

USDA Beef Quality Grades: What do they mean?

A large portion of beef sold at retail is accompanied by a USDA quality grade label. Learn how quality grades are determined, what they mean, and how they can be used to select the perfect cut for your purposes.

Three calving books on display: Rite in the Rain book, SDSU Extension IRM Redbook, and the K-State cow/calf record book.

Calving Books: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Calving books are an essential record-keeping component for cow-calf operations. Learn some expert tips for finding a book that best suits your operation and employees.

Group of farmers and ranchers gathered at an emergency meeting.

Texas Panhandle Wildfire Relief Resources

On February 26, 2024, wildfires began to spread across a large portion of the panhandle of Texas. As of March 8, 2024, there have been 1,058,482 acres burned by the fire, making this the largest recorded wildfire in the state’s history.

four students smile at the camera holding large manila envelopes next to the man who presented them with the scholarships

SD Master Pork Producers Association awards scholarships to 4 SDSU students

March 08, 2024

Four South Dakota State University students have received $1,000 scholarships from the South Dakota Master Pork Producers Association.