“I used to raise a lot of heifers just because it was cheap to raise them and if one didn’t work out, there were others to replace her,” Souza says. “That doesn’t work anymore. You have to be very intentional with the heifers you choose to raise.”

The American Simmental Association presented the Golden Book Award to Hart Simmentals of Frederick, South Dakota, at the ASA’s Fall Focus event Aug. 26 in Denver. Recipients of the Golden Book Award are recognized for being lifelong promoters of the Simmental breed.

“Male sexed semen is an opportunity to capture value,” said Kansas State University's Ken Odde, who also helps manage a family cow-calf ranch in South Dakota. “The opportunity’s greater when the price spread between steers and heifers is significant.”

There was something for everyone at Central Plains Dairy Expo March 28-30 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. More than 4,000 dairy producers and industry allies attended the event, representing 32 states and four countries, including Canada, France and Ireland.

Akaushi cattle.
A head-scratcher, isn’t it? Pronounced A-KOO-SHI, these red-hided Japanese cattle – nicknamed the “Emperor’s Breed” – were introduced to the U.S. beef industry in the early 1990s and have started inching their way into the dairy scene, starting with MoDak Dairy in Goodwin, South Dakota.