South Dakota Ranchers Use Technology to Improve Calving

By Scout Nelson

Calving season in South Dakota once meant constant outdoor checks, but now ranchers like Steve Easton and the Erdmann family rely on technology to manage births more safely and efficiently.

Easton uses eight cameras connected to a smartphone app, letting him monitor pregnant cows from his kitchen table, even during snowstorms. This setup helps him spot issues early, like a calf in distress, and respond quickly.

Across the state near Leola, Anne Jo Erdmann and her family run a fourth-generation ranch with about 1,000 cattle. For them, calving is a family effort. They prepare carefully, using artificial insemination (AI) and ultrasound to ensure successful pregnancies.

Their prized cow, Queen of Wetonka, was bred using AI with a bull named Spectrum, chosen for its calm temperament and strong genetics. The semen is selected from online profiles filled with data like birth weight and beef quality.

After insemination, a traveling vet uses special glasses with ultrasound to check for pregnancy. Once a cow is near labor, she’s moved to a barn equipped with cameras, which allows the family to monitor the birth remotely.

The cameras offer freedom and peace of mind. They also reduce stress on the animals and can save calves that need help during delivery.

The Erdmanns also use hormone shots and IUD removal to sync the cows’ cycles. If AI doesn’t work, cleanup bulls are introduced to help complete the breeding process.

If cows like Lovey, Queen’s calm daughter, become good mothers, they can stay as breeders for many years. But with high beef prices, even one failed pregnancy can shift their role.

Photo Credit: cattle-eating-in-pen-istock