Cattle HQ

Managing Nitrates

In this episode of The Grazing Toolbox, Kim Ricardo, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, Robin Salverson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist and Parker Witt, SDSU Extension Crop-Livestock Systems Field Specialist discuss current climate conditions and how they may influence forage and feed management decisions. Key topics include:

• Conditions that contribute to nitrate accumulation in forages
• When and why forages should be tested for nitrates
• Strategies for safely feeding high-nitrate forages and feedstuffs
• Grazing management considerations related to nitrate risk
• SDSU Extension Rapid Nitrate Test Strip Services

For additional information about nitrate management or SDSU Extension nitrate testing services, please contact an SDSU Extension Specialist.

Multi-Species Grazing and Integrated Livestock Systems

In this episode of Grazing Toolbox, we visited with Jaelyn Whaley and Dave Ollila to discuss multi-species livestock integration and how sheep and cattle can work together to improve grazing management, forage utilization, and overall ranch resilience. Drawing from both Extension and producer perspectives, the conversation explores the opportunities, challenges, and practical considerations involved in incorporating sheep into grazing systems.

Highlights include:

• Guest backgrounds, grazing operations, and the landscapes that shaped their management approaches
• Key management differences between sheep and cattle, and why the species complement one another
• Native range versus planted pastures, interseeding opportunities, and annual forage utilization
• Tandem grazing strategies and considerations for grazing livestock together or separately
• Weed management, selective grazing behavior, and plant community responses in multi-species systems
• Water development, fencing infrastructure, and parasite management considerations
• Drought resilience through forage diversity, carrying capacity adjustments, and enterprise flexibility
• Lambing systems, labor requirements, and predator management strategies
• Wool markets, processing challenges, and opportunities for enterprise stacking
• Soil Health Coalition initiatives and practical first steps for producers interested in integrated livestock systems
• The economics of regenerative grazing practices, including where returns are delayed, what investments paid off quickest, and lessons learned from practices that fell short of expectations

For more information on grazing management, sheep production, and integrated livestock systems, please contact an SDSU Extension specialist.

Drought Planning Resources

This episode of Cattle HQ focuses on taking stock of current growing conditions and making key operational adjustments to manage the cattle herd and forage resources in challenging weather conditions including drought-stricken areas of the Midwest.     

Listen to this episode to learn more about: 

• Adjusting stocking rates based on forage production.
• Emergency funding resources to help with feed, water and transportation expenses.
• How and where to test hay and water quality.
• Considerations for maintaining herd size such as drylotting pairs and early weaning.

Visit the SDSU Extension website to learn more.    

It’s time for Breeding Soundness Exams

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, we discuss how to test bulls for fertility with Dr. Russ Daly, SDSU Extension Veterinarian. This includes looking at both physical attributes and semen quality so bulls can breed cows successfully. Listen to learn more about:

• What is involved in breeding soundness exams
• The best time to semen test bulls and when to retest if necessary
• Setting bulls up for breeding with adequate nutrition and health management
• Acclimation of new bulls to the herd and biosecurity

Launching the Grazing Toolbox episodes!

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, we are launching the Grazing Toolbox and visiting with the curators Parker Witt and Kim Ricoardo to highlight this grazing series.

Take a listen to learn more!

• Grazing Toolbox episodes will share stories from producers doing new grazing practices in a variety of systems and expand on their trials and successes.
• How to get started evaluating current and new forage & grazing resources.
• Setting production goals and where annual forages fit into a perennial or cropping system.
• Matching requirements of animals to forage resources and how multispecies grazing can benefit grazing systems.
• More episodes coming monthly will be tagged with title: Grazing Toolbox.

Parker Witt is a Crop-Livestock Systems Field Specialist and Kim Ricardo is a Forage Field Specialist with SDSU Extension.

Visit the SDSU Extension website to learn more.   

Mooving the Calving Season

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow Calf Field Specialist visited with Pete Bauman about how to manage moving the calving season from March to May to reduce input costs and calve on grass. Highlights include:

• Matching nutrient resources of cows to grass production
• Structuring a new calving pasture
• Infrastructure utilization and labor changes
• Breeding season heat mitigation

For more information on calving season, please contact an SDSU Extension specialist.

Cattle Market Update

In this episode of Cattle HQ, we visited with Matt Diersen, SDSU Extension Risk/Business Management Specialist about the most recent cattle on feed report that was released in the middle of February. Highlights include:

• Cattle supply and higher carcass weights
• How total cattle outside of feedlots is calculated
• Beef x dairy impact on the cattle feed supply
• The basics of Livestock Risk Protection

For more information on cattle marketing, please contact an SDSU Extension specialist.

Calving Season Update

This episode of Cattle HQ focuses setting up the cow herd and the ranch to have a successful calving season.    

Listen to this episode to learn more from Taylor Grussing about: 

• Colostrum development and why calves need to consume colostrum soon after birth.    
• Colostrum sources, if the dam’s colostrum is not enough.
• The 3 stages of calving and when to intervene to minimize stress on the calf and cow.
• Proper handling and positioning of a calf after an assisted birth.
• Myth buster on nutrition and large birthweight calves.

Taylor Grussing is a Cow Calf Field Specialist with SDSU Extension.  

Visit the SDSU Extension website to learn more.    

How to use the Livestock Stress Tool

On today’s episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, Cow/Calf Field Specialist visits with Dr. Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Feedlot Specialist about the Livestock Stress tool he helped develop which is available on the SD Mesonet website. This tool gives a cattle comfort index including climate, windchill and temperature data to document from mild to extreme stress (cold and heat) that animals may experience over a 48 hour period. Take a listen to learn about these metrics and practical uses for the tool by cattlemen across the state.

New Year Weather Outlook

During this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow Calf Field Specialists sits down with Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist to share an outlook on winter weather. Climate predictions may help cattlemen set up shelters and prepare for calving season sooner than later.

Listen to this episode to learn more about:

• Climate patterns
• Temperature and precipitation outlook for calving season
• Tools for cattlemen to monitor weather

For more information on preparing beef cattle for winter weather, visit the Beef page on Extension.sdstate.edu.