Livestock

All Livestock Content

Black angus cow drinking from a waterer.

Weather and Water Intake in Beef Cattle

Water is a vital nutrient for beef cattle health and performance, and it is important to understand how weather can influence water intake during periods of warmer and cooler weather.

Sydney Vanderhoff stands in front of a building. Her long hair is down and she is wearing a black polo and blue jeans

SDSU Extension welcomes new Beef Nutrition Field Specialist to Mitchell office

September 08, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Sydney Vanderhoff as a new Beef Nutrition Field Specialist.

Woman with tablet examining ground beef at a grocery store.

What’s the Beef With Ground Beef?

Unpack some of the common myths about the appearance, quality and processing of store-bought ground beef products.

Group of mixed cattle cooling off in a stock pond.

Indicators of Heat Stress

All cattle experience heat stress, whether they are in the feedlot or out on pasture. Learn some key indicators to watch for when herds are faced with extreme heat events.

Show pig at State Fair.

Show Pig Season

Show pig season is a culmination of dedication, passion, and hard work, and the process of raising pigs to show involves a delicate balance of proper nutrition, exercise, and grooming.

A black angus bull standing in a hilly pasture.

How Many Bulls Do You Need When Synchronizing With Natural Service?

The use of estrous synchronization with natural service provides an opportunity to utilize the benefits of synchronization. However, the first question producers ask is, “How many more bulls do I need?”

A group of mixed cattle in a feedlot.

Adding Value to Corn Through Cattle

What is the “best” way to evaluate profitability of an enterprise, more specifically feeding cattle?

rancher observing cattle at a feedbunk

Feed Bunk Management

A successful slick bunk feeding program matches dry matter intake (DMI) to the cattle’s appetite as closely as possible and keeps DMI consistent from day-to-day.

High-moisture corn being stored in a bunker for use as cattle feed.

Harvesting High-Moisture Corn and Earlage

Producers who raise both corn and cattle have the option of harvesting some or all of their corn acres as a high-moisture grain crop to be marketed through cattle. There are several advantages to harvesting corn earlier at a high-moisture content.

A group of white cattle standing in a feedlot.

Feeding Value of Light Test Weight Corn

Whether due to planting delays, a cooler growing season, or an unexpectedly early frost, stress factors sometimes result in crops that do not meet standard test weight requirements. So how does reduced test weight affect the feeding value of corn and cattle performance?