Livestock

Test Emergency Backup Systems in the New Year

Animal care starts with having confidence in facilities and ventilation systems that safeguard health in all weather conditions. Testing emergency backup equipment at the start of a new year is a good preventative practice.

Let’s Talk BQA Assessments

Simply put, BQA assessments are a review of a farm or ranch by an assessor that helps managers benchmark their current level of cattle care and discover areas they may be able to improve.

How Much Room Does a Pig Need?

Let’s take a moment to consider one of the animal observations from the Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) Site Assessment and its impacts. Recommendations exist in facility planning books about the square footage for an animal at each phase of production.

Handling Reminders for Dairies: Training Resources

Sources of handling stress are accumulative in cattle. Stockmen can have a positive impact on the amount of stress cattle experience by planning ahead and being realistic about allowing adequate time to get things done well.

Discussing the Dart Delivery Method for Treating Cattle

Cattle ranchers strive to minimize the stress of handling and disease on their animals. One way they can do this is by implementing remote delivery devices.

Challenges of Employee Turnover: Product quality and consistency

High employee turnover can lead to inconsistent animal production or potentially lower quality products, both meat and milk. How is this possible? Is it because cattle get accustomed to routines and the people who perform tasks in their home environment?

Virtual Fencing: Emerging Companies, Functionality and Benefits

Research conducted in the past few years has shown promising results for virtual fencing to be a viable option in many scenarios.

SDSU Extension welcomes new bison specialist

April 19, 2023

SDSU Extension is excited to announce a new bison specialist. Jeff Martin has been named the SDSU Extension Bison Specialist and the Assistant Professor of Bison Biology and Management in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Martin’s role is 70 percent research and 30 percent Extension, and he will continue to be based at West River Research and Extension center in Rapid City, South Dakota.