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Bull Selection

Bull sale season is upon us and those who are in the market for a new herd sire face a choice that will impact their herd for many years.

The Effects of Ewe Nutrition on Lamb Performance

In the livestock industry, profitability is determined by the efficiency of production; with growth and development of offspring having a large impact. In sheep production, ewe nutrition is one of the biggest factors in fetal growth, milk production, and lamb performance; therefore, determining how profitable a production system will be. Not only does the ewe depend on proper nutrition for fetal development but also udder development and milk production.

Importance of Pregnancy Detection During a Dry Year

With weaning wrapping up, pregnant cows should be identified and turned back out to pasture or crop residue. By removing open or even late cows from the herd, valuable feed resources are saved if drought conditions continue.

Early Weaning: Impact on Replacement Heifers

Early weaning calves is a common practice for managing through a drought. However, how does early weaning affect the heifers meant for replacements?

Making Use of “Ugly” Feeds

Feed does not have to be perfect to be useful. The key to making smart feeding decisions is knowing what the imperfections are and adjusting accordingly.

Cow Mineral Nutrition: Trace Minerals and Managing Interactions

Mineral nutrition is vital to overall cow performance. Without appropriate balance of minerals, cows may not perform as desired or could exhibit detrimental effects. There are six trace minerals of significant importance in a cow’s diet.

Johne’s Disease Management: Preventing Manure Contact is Key

The key to decreasing Johne’s Disease transmission is preventing young stock from coming in contact with manure from potentially infected animals.

Cow Mineral Nutrition: Reading The Tag and Bioavailability

Mineral nutrition is vital to overall cow performance. Not all mineral supplements are created equal, and it is important to know what to look for in a mineral supplement and what you might want to avoid.

Herd Management: Keep or Cull During a Drought?

Drought forces unexpected changes so it’s critical to have a strategy to keep only the “right” females that will benefit the operation.

Rotational Grazing Benefits: South Dakota Producer Perceptions

To better understand producer perceptions on rotational grazing, we sent out 1,500 surveys to South Dakota ranchers inquiring about adoption status and perceptions of rotational grazing.