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Angus crossbred calf with a yellow ear tag.

Research Update: Supplement Delivery Methods for Weaned Calves

When transitioning calves through weaning, it is critical to ensure that they consume nutrients to support their immune system and to set them up for rapid, efficient gains. But what supplement delivery methods work best?

Group of young swine bunched up in a research pen.

Distillers’ Dried Grains With Solubles Decreased Feed-To-Water Ratio

Recent research at SDSU found that using distillers’ dried grains with solubles in swine diets showcased a significant impact on water consumption, leading to a decrease in the feed-to-water ratio.

Rancher moving a group of beef calves.

Preparing for the Fall Run

Having a plan in place for weaning and marketing will reduce stress for both your operation and your calves when the grazing season comes to an end and movement of calves begins.

Cattle using a fabricated windbreak in north western South Dakota.

Don’t Discount the Need for Vitamin A and E in Beef Cows During Winter

Supplying sufficient Vitamin A and Vitamin E to cows in late gestation is important every year. Vitamins A and E are plentiful in green forages, but tend to be much lower in hay and winter range and continue to decline as the fall and winter progress.

A small herd of black angus cattle eating forage.

Clearing up Confusion on Protein and Energy Supplements

Differentiating between protein and energy supplements is key to developing an effective cattle supplementation program, but it can be very confusing. With the multitude of feed options available, understanding types of feeds and nutrient requirements will help ensure cattle perform optimally.

Dairy cattle feeding on silage.

Keeping the Dairy Cow Healthy Means Keeping Her Gut Healthy

While we usually think of a cow’s gut simply as the organ system responsible for digestion and absorption of nutrients, it also plays other critical roles. Essentially a long tube from the mouth to rectum, open to the outside world, the digestive tract is the most substantial interface between the cow’s external environment and her body.

A rancher sitting at a laptop near a cattle pen.

Opportunities for Open Cows

It’s that time of year when driving along the countryside or sitting in the sale barn cows start to show up with an “O” drawn on her side as the Veterinarian called her open on pregnancy check day.

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.

A small group of cattle grazing in a green pasture.

Anaplasmosis: Is it a problem in the Northern Plains?

Cattle producers have been hearing more and more about a disease called anaplasmosis. This disease recently appears to have become more common in areas not previously affected. The disease is typically associated with cattle herds in warmer areas of the country, but is it ever a problem up here on the Northern Plains?

A group of calves in a feedlot.

And They’re Off! Winning the Calf Starting Race

Feeding cattle successfully is a bit like a horse race; a bad start can doom the chances of winning. Getting calves off to a great start is crucially important if we want to maintain health and performance throughout the feeding period.