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A black steer stands over a cement feedbunk, with gold-colored dried distillers grain crumbs on his nose.
Photo Credit:
Karl Hoppe
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Livestock and Big Iron

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With fall arriving soon, some big events will happen – like BIG IRON! Big Iron is North Dakota’s version of a large farm show. When I was growing up in Iowa, there was (and still is) the Farm Progress Show. Big events, with lots of industry, show-casing their wares at display booths.

In North Dakota, we like things Big. Big tractors, Big implements, Big combines, Big shows – Big Iron!

We raise Big cattle in North Dakota. So…Big Iron will have items for cattle producers, too.

While a new loader tractor is on every cattleman’s mind, cattle handling equipment will also be at Big Iron. Cattle equipment displays will be in the livestock barn.

In addition to equipment and implements, a series of livestock seminars will be provided at Big Iron, in the N Building with the livestock equipment.

NDSU Extension livestock specialists will be speaking:

  • On Tuesday, September 9:
    • 11 a.m. Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension livestock specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center, will discuss exploring the value of a cow herd through feeding calves to finish.
    • 2 p.m. Jake Galbreath, DVM, NDSU Extension veterinarian, will provide an update on livestock diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
  • On Wednesday, September 10:
    • 11 a.m. Lacey Quail, NDSU Extension livestock management specialist at the North Center Research Extension Center, will speak on the economics of early pregnancy testing heifers.
    • 2 p.m. Jon Biermacher, NDSU Extension livestock development specialist, will provide a 2025 update on livestock developments in North Dakota.

All presentations will include a question-and-answer session.

Upcoming events include the Dakota Feeder Calf Show on October 18 in Turtle Lake, ND. Producers may consign groups of 3 or 4 head of 500-700 pound steer calves to the DFCS. Calves will then be fed to finish at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center. For more information about the consigning calves, contact Karl Hoppe 701-650-8810 or call the Center at 701-652-2951.

Karl Hoppe, Ph. D.
Karl.Hoppe@ndsu.edu
Extension Livestock Systems Specialist