You could try backing up the SSP database via SQL and restoring to your
production farm. Use the 'restore SSP' function in Central Admin
afterwards. I have never tested this, but it might work. I bet it isn't
supported.

The supported method would be to backup the SSP from Dev and Restore to
Prod using the native tools. Would this work? Interesting scenario and I
have been asked the same question many times recently. Let me know if
you get it to work. I might be willing to lab this next week if you
don't find a solution first.

I had tried restoring the SSP database from production into my dev
environment. Then I tried "Add a content database" and connect it to my
dev farm  SSP application. I had problems which I don't have documented.
I eventually just created a SSP2 in dev and deleted my screwed up
attempt. In my situation I was going from Production to Dev. If I get
some time I'll experiment some more.