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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?

Several chickens in chicken coup. Some are resting lethargically.

Importance of Chicken Infectious Bronchitis Virus: Q&A

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a coronavirus that infects chicken flocks, causing respiratory disease. Some IBV isolates can result in a kidney disease (nephritis). Drop of egg production in laying hens is an important sign for IBV infection.

Rancher applying an implant inside a cow's ear with an implant gun.

Questions and Misconceptions Surrounding Implants

Growth promoting implants are among the most widely used technologies in the beef industry. The first implant received FDA approval in 1954, yet in spite of a long history, there are still myths and misconceptions surrounding their use.

Illustration of a rancher making a management decision that triggers a chain of dominoes representing different technologies such as wearable livestock sensors, genetics, satellites, drones, modeling, and data analytics. The falling dominos symbolize how management actions create effects that unfold over time, often with delayed and unintended consequences. Zeros and ones in the background represent the increasing amount of data modern ranchers must interpret when making decisions.

From One Decision to Many Outcomes: Why feed management decisions ripple through beef production systems

Feed management is the starting point of a system that rewards informed decisions and magnifies uninformed ones. Producers who use feed informed nutrition models are often able to reduce waste, increase gains, and decrease costs.

Hereford heifers feeding from trough during drought.

Livestock Tools for Managing Through Drought

As drought conditions continue, ranchers are faced with making some difficult decisions. South Dakota State University Extension offers multiple tools and resources that can be used to help make the best management decisions for your operation.

A producer meeting with an employee in a farmyard.

Leading Through COVID-19 on the Farm and Ranch

Producers can be quick to adapt and utilize technology, but sometimes need a little nudge in other areas. COVID-19 sometimes feels like one of the areas that agriculture needs a nudge in.

stack of coins with faded chart lines showing in the foreground

SDSU Extension Silage/Earlage Calculator

The Silage/Earlage Calculator is designed to help corn and livestock producers answer questions regarding the value of standing fields of corn either as grain, silage and earlage.

Feeding Drought-Stressed Crops to Cattle

Can drought-stressed crops be be utilized as feed? The answer is yes, if we know what the levels of nitrates are in the feedstuffs in question.

What the Research Says About Pain Control at Castration

Pain management at castration is a topic that will continue to come up as we focus on animal welfare. Research is being done to determine what pain management strategy works best for the castration of beef bulls.

SDSU off-site wean-to-finish production barn.

Evaluating the Effects of Replacing Soy Protein Concentrate with Corn-Fermented Protein on Growth Performance and Gut Integrity of Weaned Pigs

A recent trial at the SDSU offsite swine commercial wean-to-finish research barn investigated if corn-fermented protein could replace soy protein concentrate in weaned pig diets with similar effects on growth performance and gut integrity.