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Nursery Pig Performance Impacted by Total Dissolved Solids in Water
Because water quality can vary considerably between production sites, it is important to identify the qualities of water that impact the growth performance of nursery pigs.
Cold Weather Management Options
Winter weather conditions impact cattle as well as the cattle producers. Cold temperatures combined with wind creates more stress and increased management to achieve similar animal performance.
How Does Cold Stress Affect the Energy Needs of Cattle?
Most beef producers understand that when the weather gets colder their cattle need more energy for maintenance. The questions are when do cattle start experiencing cold stress and then how much more energy do they need? Both the actual temperature and the wind speed interact to determine the effective temperature.
Economic Impact of the Beef Industry on South Dakota
The beef industry in South Dakota makes a significant contribution to economic output and development in the state. As of January 1st, 2012 there were 1,610,000 beef cows in South Dakota. These cows produced 1,710,000 calves during the year and the industry produced an estimated $2,283,766,027 in gross income during 2012 (South Dakota Agriculture 2013).
Strategic Feedlot Bedding
Providing bedding is one of the time-tested strategies for dealing with winter weather. But how does bedding affect the bottom-line?
Distillers Supplementation Strategies for Grazing Yearlings
Providing a high-protein supplement to yearlings during the grazing season may increase final body weights and average daily gain compared to not providing supplement. The frequency of supplementation comes down to economic and logistical viability.
New Technology for an Old Problem
One of the last projects I was involved with as coordinator for the Lower James River Watershed Project was the installation of a deep pit monoslope barn for a feedlot operation near Alexandria, SD. A deep pit confinement barn is a manure storage system that employs slatted flooring with pit manure storage underneath.
Farm Practices That Improve Soil Health: Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems
An integrated crop-livestock system can provide an alternative management strategy that benefits producer’s income, soil health, and the environment—all while increasing production.
Targeted Feeding for Heifer Development
Heifer development starts with proper whole-herd nutrition year round. Reviewing the basics of heifer development starting with post-weaning selection and development is a good place to start.
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?