Beef Publications
All Beef Publications Content
Livestock Vaccines: How They Work and How to Ensure They Do Their Job
Fact sheet about vaccine basics and tips to maintain vaccine viability for cattle producers.
Bull Nutrition
This publication focuses on nutrient requirements for developing bulls, feeding programs to “let down” overconditioned bulls, and feeding during the period between breeding seasons.
Financial Measures for South Dakota Farms
Farm and ranch businesses have a sizeable investment in equipment, buildings, land, and livestock. These investments require their owners and managers to remain knowledgeable about the financial condition of their business. The information to calculate measures of financial performance can be found in their farm record books or accounting system.
South Dakota Odor Footprint Tool
Two-part fact sheets explaining the South Dakota Odor Footprint Tool. Part I: Principles and Tools and Part II: Examples.
Optical Dust Meters May Misestimate Dust Concentrations in Animal Barns
Fact sheet aiming to address the measurement bias issue associated with optical dust meters.
Strategic and Scenario Planning in Ranching: Managing Risk in Dynamic Times
A changing marketplace, price volatility, labor availability, record high feeder calf prices, the effects of the ethanol industry: How will your ranch operation adapt?
Using Feedlot Manure as a Crop Nutrient Source
Factsheet that reviews the steps to obtain a manure application rate based on crop need, soil and manure testing.
Range Improvements, Grazing Systems and Net Present Value, What is the Right Balance?
As farms and ranches across South Dakota continue to endure increasing costs of production while receiving less cash for grain and livestock marketed; ranch managers must be extra diligent when implementing new range improvements and grazing systems on their ranches.
An identification guide to common Dung Beetles of South Dakota
A guide of common dung beetles of South Dakota.
Pre-weaning Pneumonia in South Dakota Beef Herd: A Persistent Problem, Suddenly Gone
This case report describes a southeastern South Dakota cow-calf herd’s experiences with pre-weaning pneumonia. Unlike many beef herds that experience pneumonia in calves on pasture, this herd’s problems were consistent year after year: widespread calf illness was documented in each of 6 consecutive summers. Anecdotally at least, the occurrence of pre-weaning pneumonia in beef herds is more likely to be sporadic and unpredictable from year to year. This herd’s persistent problems were followed by a year in which, after a change in calf vaccination protocol (informed by herd diagnostics), very little pre-weaning pneumonia was observed.