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Beef Cattle Budgets

What does it cost to maintain a cow for the year? This is a common question asked by producers across the nation.

Digital padlock over a circuit board, representing data encryption.

Protecting Your Data: The Role of Authentication and Encryption in Agricultural Cybersecurity

Precision agriculture emphasizes using data to make smarter farming decisions. In the digital world, authentication and encryption are two prevalent ways to keep farm data secure, accurate, and trustworthy.

Cattle lined up along a feed bunk as a truck loads feed.

How Protein Source Affects Protein Metabolism in Ruminants

While it is common to balance beef cattle diets based on the crude protein system, it does not paint an accurate picture of what is occurring inside the animal, leading to gaps in nutrition and economic losses.

Left: Small group of cattle in a bud box pen. Right: Cattle gathered in a round tub structure.

Bud Box vs. Round Tub Systems

Cattle working systems have evolved, giving producers more options than ever before. Two of the most popular designs today are the bud box and the round tub.

4-H ribbons and awards stacked on a table.

Nov 22

South Dakota 4-H Gala

The South Dakota 4-H Gala will be held on November 22, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. CST at SDSU Alumni Center (815 Medary Ave., Brookings, SD 57006).

4-H Supporters

4-H supporters are dedicated individuals, organizations, and community partners who share a common commitment to empowering youth through hands-on learning, leadership development, and civic engagement.

How Much Meat Can You Expect from a Fed Steer?

The yield of edible meat from a beef carcass often comes as a bit of a surprise, even to those that have had their own meat processed for years. A previous article covered dressing percent—the percent of the live animal weight that becomes carcass weight, which for fed beef is usually around 62-64%. In other words, from a 1200 pound steer, you can expect a 740 – 770 pound carcass.