Monthly Cattle Prices and Basis Levels
Effective marketing and risk management techniques often rely on sound benchmarks. Those marketing cattle need reasonable metrics to evaluate received and expected prices.
Beef Publications
All Beef Publications Content
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) in South Dakota 4-H resources
About YQCA – the national program
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21 with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. The YQCA program is an annual certification created for youth producing and/or showing beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, meat goats, dairy goats, swine, poultry, and rabbits. The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows, and is appropriate for youth learning levels.
Basics of Body Condition Scoring (BCS)
Fact sheet about the basics of body condition scoring for cattle.
Influence of Body Condition on Reproductive Performance of Beef Cows
Fact sheet about understanding effects of body condition score on reproductive performance.
The Calving Distribution Calculator
Excel calculator for calving distribution
Using Estrous Synchronization in Natural-Service Breeding Situations
Estrous synchronization is typically associated with artificial insemination (AI) programs, and is therefore often viewed as impractical or impossible to use within natural-service herds.
Beef Management & Reproduction Report Card
SDSU Extension tool for producers to track the critical management factors that affect reproductive success in beef cattle.
Multispecies Grazing: Benefits of Sheep Integration on Rangelands
Fact sheet about diversifying your operation to benefit your rangeland.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Serving Bison and Beef in USDA Child Nutrition Programs in South Dakota
This FAQ document provides responses to commonly asked questions about serving beef and bison in South Dakota Child Nutrition Program (CNP) meals and snacks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Forage Nitrate Toxicity in Ruminant Livestock
A fact sheet to address frequently asked questions about forage nitrate toxicity in ruminant livestock.