Content by Warren Rusche

A black calf with a red ear tag and grain crumbs on its nose looks at the camera, as other calves feed around it

SDSU Extension to host webinar on backgrounding calves

December 15, 2023

Backgrounding Fundamentals is from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. CST/11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT on Jan. 10, 17 and 24, 2024.

Black angus cattle in a feedlot.

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

It is well documented that growth promotant technologies can increase pounds of beef produced while reducing input costs and resource use. But what impacts do these technologies have on beef production and meat quality?

A group of weaned calves

SDSU Extension Calf Value Discovery program registration open

September 21, 2023

Cow/calf producers can gain valuable information to improve their operations by participating in the South Dakota State University Extension’s Calf Value Discovery program, which is now accepting entries for 2023-2024.

Silage pile covered with tarp and weighted down with tires.

Silage Covering and Harvest Management to Maximize Feed Value

Covering silage piles is critically important to control nutrient loss in silage, but what covering strategies result in the best-quality feed? Learn what a recent SDSU Extension research project found out.

Pile of chopped silage in front of a tractor.

Does Kernel Processing Silage Pay for Growing and Finishing Beef Cattle?

Kernel processing involves passing harvested silage through a set of rollers mounted on the chopper. But does this extra step result in improved efficiency and reduced costs of gain?

Mixed cattle eating at a feedbunk.

How Much Silage Can I Feed To Finishing Cattle?

What effect does feeding increased amounts of corn silage have on beef cattle performance and system-wide efficiency? See what a set of recent SDSU Extension research experiments found out.

Black angus cattle eating from a feed bunk.

Feeding Hybrid Rye Grain to Cattle

Feedlot researchers at SDSU were approached to evaluate the potential for hybrid rye to be used in cattle finishing diets. See what they found in terms of cattle performance and feed efficiency.

Group of black cattle at a feed bunk.

Comparing Soybean Meal to Distillers Grains for Finishing Cattle

Do different protein sources lead to significant performance differences in finishing cattle? The results of a recent experiment at the SDSU Southeast Research Farm offer cattle feeders some encouraging findings.

SDSU Extension encourages attending SD Cattlemen’s feedlot tours on July 20

June 27, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension is inviting cattle producers, allied industry professionals or anyone interested in feeding cattle to attend the annual South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council feedlot tour on July 20 near Baltic, South Dakota.

Young wheat plants showing early symptoms of drought stress.

Salvaging Drought-Stressed Small Grains

South Dakota producers often must consider whether to abandon plans to harvest small grain as a cash crop and pivot to harvesting as forage. Learn some factors to keep in mind when evaluating salvage options.