Skip to main content

Livestock

All Livestock Content

Beef, swain and lamb carcasses cleaned and ready for butchering and processing at a locker.

Guide for Purchasing Freezer Beef, Pork and Lamb

Purchasing meat directly from farmers and ranchers has become a prominent consumer trend. This article focuses on purchasing a beef animal, pig or lamb to stock your freezer.

Eric Berg, professor of animal science at NDSU, giving a presentation

Eating Like a Pig is Healthy

On Thursday, February 25, 2016, Dr. Eric Berg gave a presentation at South Dakota State University on “Eating Like a Pig: The Role of Meat in the Human Diet” as part of the University’s Speakers series.

man with rubber gloves inspecting cell-based food product

Cell-Based Meat Products: Background and Current Status

There is ongoing development of cell-based or lab-grown meat products by numerous companies around the world.

an image showing beef cuts

Buying Beef at the Grocery Store

The tremendous number of choices available to beef consumers offers a cut for any meal, but can also leave the most confident consumer puzzled as to the proper cut that should be purchased. Use this guide to help you select the ideal beef cut for your occasion.

Large groups of mixed cattle in a feedlot.

SDSU Extension Encourages Cattle Feeders to Attend Feedlot Tour July 19-20

In an effort to provide cattle feeders and producers the opportunity to view a variety of cattle feeding facilities and practices, Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Specialist, in collaboration with the South Dakota Cattle Feeders Council, an affiliate of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, have coordinated a feedlot tour July 19-20.

Beef carcass with a transparent grading grid placed over the cut.

Beef Carcass Yield Grades: What do they mean and how are they calculated?

Beef carcass yield grades are used to estimate cutability, which is the amount of boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts from the round, loin, rib and chuck a carcass will yield.

Raw New York strip steaks on a wood cutting board.

Backgrounding Beef Calves on Cover Crops May Improve Steak Tenderness

Can short-term backgrounding diets of beef calves have long term impacts of meat quality? Recent research from the meat science team at South Dakota State University says, “Yes.”

an image showing beef cuts

Adding Value to the Beef Carcass: Getting to know the value cuts

New value cuts have provided value back to the beef supply chain. Alternative fabrication provides consumers with more options and increases per head carcass value.

2021 grazing school attendees.

Eastern Grazing School to be Held July 26-28

July 12, 2022

The South Dakota Grassland Coalition, through a partnership with SDSU Extension and others, will host the Eastern South Dakota Grazing School July 26-28, 2022 near Marvin, South Dakota.

Newborn dairy calf and mother cow.

Dairy Embryo Transfer Activity in the United States

The use of embryo technologies has been described as an alternative to improve pregnancy and accelerate genetic improvement in dairy cows. See the latest trends on its use in South Dakota and beyond.