Cattle HQ

Unpacking BQA Training

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Addie Womack, a Livestock Production and Stewardship Field Specialist, from SDSU Extension. Addie also is South Dakota’s Beef Quality Assurance, BQA, coordinator.

During this episode, we will discuss all things BQA and programs that Addie is working on developing in her position. Beef quality assurance certification can be required for cattle producers for a variety of reasons, but becoming certified is painless and easy. In-person trainings are available across South Dakota for producers to attend to gain their 3-year BQA certification. Reach out to Addie if you have any questions about BQA or livestock production/stewardship practices.

Effective Cull Cow Management for Herd Success

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Heather Gessner from SDSU Extension. Heather is a Livestock Business Management Field Specialist. She primarily works with farm and ranch families on farm management issues including but not limited to: livestock budgets and marketing, risk management, estate planning, and farm transitions and whole farm business planning.

Proper management of cull cows is paramount to fully utilizing this source of income on an operation. Madison and Heather discuss the seasonality of the cull cow market, yellow versus white fat, and management choices or thoughts when it comes to cull cows.

Beef: Its for School Lunch

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Anna Tvedt, a Nutrition Field Specialist, from SDSU Extension and Dr. Mendel Miller, the South Dakota Assistant State Veterinarian.

During this episode, this trio will discuss a program named Beef to School which is a spin off the Farm to School national program. Many local South Dakota schools are serving South Dakota raised beef in their lunchrooms, but how can producers become involved? How can we increase the number of schools serving local beef? Anna speaks to the Beef to School program while Dr. Miller brings in important thoughts about inspection and locker considerations.

Mental Health in the Agriculture Field

On this episode of Cattle HQ, Addie Womack chats with Andrea Bjornestad from SDSU Extension to discuss mental health in the agriculture field. Andrea is an Associate Professor and the SDSU Extension Mental Health Specialist based on campus in Brookings.

In this episode the topics listed below were part of the discussion:

• Stressors in the agriculture industry
• Figuring out what healthy coping mechanisms work for you
• Opening the conversation and available resources
• Finally remembering the joys that come with working in production agriculture

For more information on the topics we talk about in this episode, contact Andrea.

Stalk to Stock: Grazing Corn Residue

During this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist. Heather primarily works with farm and ranch families on farm management issues including but not limited to: livestock budgets and marketing, risk management, estate planning, and farm transitions and whole farm business planning.

Combines have been hard at work in the fields, leaving behind fields of corn residue. Producers can utilize these leftovers as a feed source for their cattle and livestock as the weather cools down. Heather and Madison discuss considerations for grazing corn residue, baling corn stalks, water sources, and rental agreements in this episode.

Extending the Grazing Season with Cattle Producer Levi Swanson

During this episode of CattleHQ, Robin Salverson and Madison Kovarna sit down with cattle producer, Levi Swanson will talk about his experience with extending the grazing season. 

• Learn more about strip grazing corn stalks.
• Learn what motivated Levi to change his management.
• Learn what is in the future for Levi.  

Passing on Your Legacy

During this episode of CattleHQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Heather Gessner from SDSU Extension.

In this episode the topics listed below were part of the discussion:

• Estate planning for both the young and old
• Conversations that need to occur
• Sustaining the Legacy

Heather has dedicated much of her career to developing a program named Sustaining the Legacy. The locations for this series of programs include Rapid City, Pierre, Watertown, Aberdeen, and Mitchell. Registration for each series of classes closes two weeks prior to the first session. Registration links can be found on the events page on the SDSU Extension website. Starting dates for each location are listed below.

• Rapid City – November 12, 19, and 26, 2024
• Pierre – December 3, 10, and 1, 2024
• Watertown – January 7, 14, and 21, 2025
• Aberdeen – February 4, 11, and 18, 2025
• Mitchell – March 11, 18, and 25, 2025

For further information on the topics discussed in this episode or for a more in-depth explanation about Sustaining the Legacy, contact Heather Gessner.

 

Heather Gessner

SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist

Heather.Gessner@sdstate.edu

Blooming Prairies: Embracing Plant Variety

During this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Kaylee Wheeler from South Dakota State University Extension and Rae Powers from the Xerces Society to discuss native forbs and variety on South Dakota rangelands.

Kaylee Wheeler is a Range Field Specialist with SDSU Extension based in the Pierre Regional Center and has a deep passion for South Dakota rangeland and grazing livestock systems. Rae Powers is a Pollinator Conservation Specialist with the Xerces Society and an NRCS Partner Biologist. She works with landowners to create pollinator habitats and focuses on the function and variety of mixed-grass prairies.  

In this episode the topics listed below were part of the discussion:

• Xerces Society’s role in early understanding of nutritional values of rangeland plants
• Results from native plant studies for livestock nutrition on the landscape
• Variety in rangeland plant communities

For further information on information discussed in this episode or for a more in-depth explanation of mentioned research project results, contact Kaylee or Rae.

 

Kaylee Wheeler

SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist

Kaylee.Wheeler@sdstate.edu

 

RaeAnn Powers

Pollinator Conservation Specialist

NRCS Partner Biologist

Nebraska and South Dakota

raeann.powers@xerces.org

The Research and Impact of Uterine Microbiome on Livestock Fertility

During this episode of Cattle HQ, Robin Salverson learns from Dr. Rebecca Poole about the cutting edge research around the uterine microbiome and the potential impact on fertility.  Join us during this episode to learn more about: 

• What is a microbiome?
• Current and future uterine microbiome research and impact on fertility.
• How do the tools we have on farm/ranch (i.e. estrous synchronization) potentially impact uterine biome?

Dr. Rebecca Poole is an assistant professor with Texas A&M focusing her research around the long-term goal of optimizing fertility in livestock. 

Blooming Prairies: Native Forb Research

In this episode of Cattle HQ, Madison Kovarna sits down with Kaylee Wheeler from South Dakota State University Extension to discuss research efforts focused around native forbs on South Dakota rangelands.

Kaylee Wheeler is a Range Field Specialist with SDSU Extension based in the Pierre Regional Center and has a deep passion for South Dakota rangeland and grazing livestock system. Wheeler, SDSU Extension staff, and industry partners are working on a multi-organizational research project that aims to understand nutritional values of native forbs on South Dakota rangelands.

In this episode Kaylee and Madison covered:

• What is this native forb research project?
• Why is this research being conducted?
• Importance of native forbs to the landscape and livestock