Beef Herd Health and Quality Assurance

All Beef Herd Health and Quality Assurance Content
two men viewing a laptop on the hood of a white pickup

Beef Quality Assurance

South Dakota producers have the option to receive beef quality assurance (BQA) certification.

Black beef cattle in a cattle facility.

A General Guide to Body Condition Scoring (BCS) Beef Cattle

A guide to determining body condition scores for beef cattle.

A grass forage blend grows in a central South Dakota field as Red cattle graze.

Managing Prussic Acid Risk Following Drought

Drought creates several challenges for ranchers, from reduced forage availability to declining pasture quality. It can also create concerns about forage toxicity issues resulting from excess nitrate and prussic acid accumulation.

Two producers conducting a beef ultrasound examination.

Pregnancy Diagnosis as a Management Tool Following Summer Heat Stress

Following a summer marked by heat stress, pregnancy diagnosis offers producers an opportunity to measure the true reproductive impact within their herds. Beyond identifying pregnant and open females, pregnancy checks can reveal breeding season patterns, evaluate synchronization success, assess bull performance, and guide management decisions before winter.

Producer loading up a vaccine syringe in a cattle handling facility.

Livestock Vaccine Care and Management

As weaning season approaches, it is important to remember that a successful vaccination program begins long before a needle ever enters a calf. Understanding how to correctly store, transport, mix, and administer vaccines is critical to maximizing immunity and protecting the performance of weaned calves.

Two black beef cows and one black-and-white beef cow in the foreground.

SDSU Extension offers Beef Quality Assurance training in Rapid City in September

September 09, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is offering a Beef Quality Assurance training course on Sept. 29, 2026, in Rapid City.

herd of beef cattle grazing in a pasture

Beef

Home to more than 1 million head of cattle, South Dakota’s producers can rely on SDSU Extension for research-based information, best management practices and resources to support healthy and profitable herds.

Microscope analyzing a slide.

How the Veterinary Lab Diagnoses Anthrax in a Beef Herd

Anthrax is a serious disease of cattle that pops up somewhere almost every year in South Dakota. It’s caused by a bacteria that survives as a very tough spore form in the soil. Knowing whether a death on pasture has been caused by anthrax is important for several reasons.

Black beef cow in the foreground of a pasture with a large herd of black cattle.

What This Summer's Heat Could Mean for Pregnancy Rates

Heat stress may be temporary, but its effects on reproduction can persist for months. Understanding those impacts helps producers evaluate breeding outcomes and prepare for future weather challenges.

Beef calf standing in a dry pasture.

Resources for Early Weaning Beef Calves

Early weaning calves is one way to decrease nutrient demands of the cow herd and extend grazing days during adverse weather conditions. Learn some important management strategies to consider before weaning younger calves.