Drought: Livestock

All Drought: Livestock Content
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.

Drought-stressed cornfield.

Valuing Drought-Stressed Corn Silage

Salvaging failed crops as silage for livestock can be a “win-win” for both crop growers and livestock owners. Learn how you can use data to improve the odds of finding a value that is fair to both parties.

Group of beef calves in a pen.

Managing Earlier Weaned Calves

Weaning calves at an earlier-than-normal age is a proven strategy to reduce grass demands by 25% or more during drought conditions. Learn some key management considerations for getting started.

Small group of cattle grazing a vast, well-managed rangeland.

Holistic Ranch Management Helps With Economic and Climate Resilience

Holistic ranch management offers ways to think about ranching as part of a diverse ecological system. Learn how two South Dakota operations have leveraged it to generate multiple income streams from shared resources.

Producer reviewing an aid application with a USDA FSA agent.

Livestock Loss Assistance Available

Has your operation experienced a sudden catastrophic loss of livestock due to weather? Financial assistance may be available through the USDA Livestock Indemnity Program.

Mother cow with calf in a dry, drought-stressed rangeland.

Planning for Breeding Season in Dry Conditions

Drier-than-normal conditions present added stress to producers and their herds in preparation for breeding season. During this critical period, producers should focus on making sound management decisions to maintain performance and profitability.

Dry, winter rangeland with minimal snow cover.

Can You Break the Hydro-illogical Cycle?

Regardless of the time of year, it is critical to start thinking about the next drought before we are in it. Learn some key strategies for breaking the Hydro-Illogical Cycle by leveraging drought motioning resources and creating a plan for your operation.

From left: Meadow deathcamas in a South Dakota prairie rangeland. Silvery Lupine in a rangeland in South Dakota.

Poisonous Plants on Rangelands: Deathcamas and Lupine

With prolonged drought conditions throughout many areas of South Dakota, there is an increase of invasive weeds and poisonous plants on rangelands. Identification of poisonous plants is crucial to ensure livestock production is not compromised.

Two poisonous rangeland plants. Left: Woolly Locoweed. Right: Lambert Crazyweed (Purple Locoweed).

Poisonous Plants on Rangelands: Locoweed and Crazyweed

Locoweed and crazyweed are found throughout South Dakota rangelands, and both can cause livestock poisoning.The names locoweed and crazyweed are often used interchangeably. However, there are notable differences between the species.

Producers surveying a rangeland site.

Five Range Management Principles: #1 Adaptive Management

Adaptive management is a process that livestock producers can incorporate into their operation to increase operation flexibility and adjust to changing conditions.