Beef Industry and General Management

All Beef Industry and General Management Content

An orange plastic hoop placed around a portion of tall grass on a range to provide a measurement.

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure: Range Record Keeping

Range record keeping helps detect and demonstrate landscape changes that have a direct impact on your ability to maintain or grow your herd.

Red angus cattle gathered in a feedlot in winter.

Livestock

South Dakota is home to a dynamic livestock industry.

A group of cattle grazing in fall pasture.

Grazing in the Shoulder Season

There has been an increasing push towards lengthening the grazing season in order to feed less hay, and with good reason. Winter feed is often one of the most expensive components of the cow-calf year.

A rancher sitting at a laptop near a cattle pen.

Simplifying the Replacement Heifer Dilemma: To Buy or To Raise?

Purchasing or raising replacement females represents a significant investment for cow/calf operations and the impact may be felt for years after.

A black calf nursing from a black and white cow with mixed cattle in the background.

Implanting Nursing Calves

Implanting nursing calves has consistently shown to be an effective way to post greater calf weights at weaning time. In fact, implanting has the greatest return on investment of any other technology, which ultimately makes the decision of which implant to use of lesser importance than the decision to implant.

I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course to Focus on Animal Health and Carcass Traits

October 15, 2021

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 as part of the pre-educational events for the Central Plains Dairy Expo.

I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course to be Held Online March 24 Due to COVID-19

October 15, 2021

The I-29 Moo University Collaboration will host the annual Dairy Beef Short Course online on March 24.

Several wrapped bales of hay lined up near a barn.

Importance of Proper Forage Sampling

As dairymen and livestock caretakers, we are trying to optimize the performance of our livestock, whether it is producing milk or meat. Without knowing the quality of the feedstuff or forage we are feeding, it becomes difficult to balance a ration to ensure the animal is receiving the proper amounts of needed nutrients.

Male and female rancher reviewing clipboard in a cattle barn.

COVID-19 Tips for Farms and Ranches

Continuing to keep employees and family members healthy through the COVID-19 pandemic will require extra effort as you enter the busy time of fall harvest.

Dutch Dakota Dairy at Lake Preston South Dakota is inundated with snow after a recent blizzard that has made farm facility access very difficult due to extreme snow depth. Courtesy: Truus Schukking

Available Disaster Resources Given Recent Weather Events

Given the recent havoc endured by producers in the upper mid-west by the spring blizzard or even prior flooding we are aware that many producers have incurred losses. There are several programs available through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to help provide assistance.