Beef Cattle Housing and Equipment Chapter 18

Objectives Describe the steps in planning for facilities and equipment for beef enterprises Describe the facilities and equipment required for beef enterprises

Planning for Facilities and Equipment Careful planning is important for success Facilities and equipment vary with each farm Careful planning can Make cattle handling easier Help to save labor Make facilities safe for operators and cattle

Planning for Facilities and Equipment (cont.) Number of Cattle Must be determined early on Number based on many factors including Availability of feed Availability of labor Availability of housing and equipment

Planning for Facilities and Equipment (cont.) Space Requirements Facilities are based on the number of cattle Only build what is necessary for current operation Plan for future expansion

Planning for Facilities and Equipment (cont.) Kind of Facilities Depends on the type of beef enterprise Facilities can be classified as one of the following Confinement Open barn and feedlot Open feedlot Feeding barn and lot

Planning for Facilities and Equipment (cont.) Location of Facility/Environmental Factors Easy access to good roads Plan for easy movement of cattle Direction of prevailing winds must be considered Runoff must be controlled Must be well-drained

Planning for Facilities and Equipment (cont.) Feed Storage and Handling Vary from simple, manual systems to complex, automated System must allow for expansion Must have an adequate power supply

Planning for Facilities and Equipment (cont.) Amount of Land Varies with the size of the operation There must be enough space for Lots Alleys Storage Roadways Allow for future expansion

Planning for Facilities and Equipment (cont.) Money, Labor, and Opportunity for Expansion The amount of money available determines size and kind of facility The system type determines the amount of labor Amount of automation affects labor requirement

Cow Herd Facilities Generally require the simplest facilities Cows can be on pasture in spring and fall Need minimum shelter in the winter Separate feedlot areas needed for different cattle A corral with essential features is needed A good water supply is needed

Feedlots Confinement Barns Cold confinement Open on one side, away from prevailing winds Temperature is the same as outside temperature Pole-type building or open-span construction Requires less labor than other feed facilities Large number of advantages

Feedlots (cont.) Confinement Barns (cont.) Warm confinement Closed building Kept warmer than outside temperatures Most expensive type of barn Not recommended for cattle-feeding systems

Feedlots (cont.) Confinement Barns (cont.) Three common floor systems Solid bedded Slotted Solid flushing Have wall heights of 12 to 16 feet Feed bunks, waterers placed properly Movement of manure should be considered

Feedlots (cont.) Open Feedlots Have no buildings Protected by windbreak fence, sunshades Usually not paved Dirt mounds are used to keep cattle out of mud Require more land Good drainage and runoff are important

Feedlots (cont.) Open Barn and Feedlot Protection is provided by a open-front barn Feeding done in an open lot Facility common in the Midwest This facility is adapted to smaller feedlots Usually not paved Cattle-handling facilities are part of this facility

Feedlots (cont.) Feeding Barn and Lot Very similar to the open barn and feedlot Primary difference is feed bunks are located inside the barn Feed and cattle are both protected from the weather

Corrals Provide several advantages Corrals should consist of Sorting, holding, and crowding pens Working chute Headgates Tilting table and dipping vat Loading chute

Corrals (cont.)

Corrals (cont.)

Feeding Facilities Feed Storage and Processing Silos Upright silos: gas-tight and conventional types Horizontal silos: include trench, bunker, and stack type Sealed silos Hay can be stored in bales Can be fed with a hay self-feeder

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Storage and Processing (cont.)

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Storage and Processing (cont.)

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Storage and Processing (cont.) Auger, elevators, and other conveying equipment are used for easy handling of grain

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Storage and Processing (cont.) Portable mixer Grinders used for processing grain, roughage Electric blender-grinder Concentrates can be measured, ground, and mixed Does not handle roughage

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Storage and Processing (cont.) Electric batch mill Accurate control over ration formulation Hay mills and tub grinders Process roughages Feed centers may be located in an area away from the feedlot and transported

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Bunks Kinds of feed bunks used for feeding Portable lot bunks Fence-line bunks Mechanical bunks Covered bunks

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Bunks (cont.) Portable lot bunks Made of wood Less expensive than other bunks Fourteen feet in length Three to five feet wide Flat-bottomed and V-shaped bottoms are used

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Bunks (cont.) Mechanical bunks Require a huge capital investment Two types – auger, chain-slat conveyor All bunks require wiring, electric motors, and electric controls Wide, as cattle eat from both sides

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Bunks (cont.) Fence-line bunks Well adapted to large feedlots Made of wood or concrete Usually wider at the top than the bottom Some designed with roof for weather protection

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Bunks (cont.)

Feeding Facilities (cont.) Feed Bunks (cont.) Covered bunks Have a covered roof Provide protection for mechanical feeding equipment and shade for cattle In north, placed so sun can reach bunk for thawing

Other Equipment Cattle gain better with good, fresh, clean water Automatic waterers may be used Concrete water troughs also used Frost-free hydrants can be used to supply water to a trough

Other Equipment (cont.) Commercial mineral feeders Weather vane Sunshades Can lower temperatures by 10 degrees Back rubbers Creep feeders, self-feeders, calf shelters

Other Equipment (cont.) Cattleguard Allows equipment to be driven into an area so the operator does not have to stop More expensive than traditional gates Don’t use if trespassing, vandalism is problem Most cattle are afraid to cross Bos indicus cattle less afraid to jump guard

Other Equipment (cont.)