Beef Herd Health and Quality Assurance

All Beef Herd Health and Quality Assurance Content

Urea supplement in a feed scoop.

Considerations of Urea Use in Cattle Rations

In beef cattle nutrition, it is important to understand how protein is used along with the various protein sources available for diets. Urea is an example of a non-protein nitrogen source that can be used in diets in certain situations.

Beef carcass prepped for evaluation in a meat lab.

Growth Promotant Technologies: Impact on Beef Production and Meat Quality - Research

A study conducted by SDSU researchers evaluated the impact additive combinations of growth-promotant technologies can have on beef carcass characteristics and tenderness.

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.

Red angus cattle gathered in a feedlot in winter.

Livestock

South Dakota is home to a dynamic livestock industry.

A young man collecting a water sample from a pond using a water dipper.

Performing a Field Test for Livestock Water Quality

Learn how to use some simple, readily available tools that can help analyze the quality of your livestock water sources right in the field.

Group of bulls in a pen with winter bedding.

Winter Management of Herd Bulls

Proactive winter bull management can positively impact reproductive performance in the upcoming breeding season. Learn some expert tips for getting herd bulls prepared for the colder months ahead.

Two black cattle being isolated in a pen.

Cull Cows and Trichomoniasis

With increasing amounts of cows being sold at the sale barn with reproductive years left, there are some precautions to be aware of prior to bringing females home to re-breed.

Mother cow licking newborn calf in a pasture.

Calving Distribution Affects Herd Health

When the calving season is consolidated, nutritional requirements are more synchronous across the herd, and these benefits extend beyond improved feed management.

Cattle using a fabricated windbreak in north western South Dakota.

Guidelines for Livestock Windbreaks

Livestock grazing open crop residue fields or large pastures can be left exposed during extreme bouts of cold. Ensuring that cattle and any other livestock being pastured in exposed areas have adequate access to shelter to escape the wind and cold is especially important.

A female food scientist in a white lab coat and blue gloves conducting a test on a food sample.

Looking for Foodborne Germs and Their Resistance to Antibiotics

How often do the meat products we buy in the store contain germs that might cause illness in people? Can we learn anything about antibiotic resistance with that information? Those are just two of the questions that SDSU is examining as part of their work with the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS).