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Beef Feedlot Facilities: Housing & Management

Explore different types of feedlot buildings and housing options for cattle to ensure their well-being and productivity. Learn about various structures, ventilation, feeding systems, and waste management practices for efficient cattle management.

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Beef Feedlot Facilities: Housing & Management

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  1. BEEF FEEDLOT FACILITIES By David R. Hawkins Michigan State University

  2. Basic Animal Requirements • Fresh Air • Fresh Feed and Water • Protection from Extremes (Heat or Cold) • Windbreak • Sun Shade • Reasonably Dry Place to Lie Down

  3. Why Feedlot Buildings? • Land Utilization • Labor Utilization • Large Inventory of Cattle to Manage • Mechanization of Feeding Systems • Manure Nutrient Management • Keep Cattle Clean • Dressing % and Hide Discounts

  4. TYPES OF HOUSING • Dirt Lot - No Shelter • Conventional - Bedded Manure Pack • Solid Floor Confinement • Slotted Floor Confinement • Deep Pit • Flush Flume with Lagoon

  5. DIRT LOT • Most common in western U.S. where annual rainfall is less than 25 in. • Northern regions may include windbreaks. • Pens usually contain 100 to 200 cattle • 1000 sqft/hd if level & no mounds • 400 sqft/hd + 25 sqft/hd on mounds, if level • 150 sqft/hd +25sqft/hd on mounds, if well drained

  6. DIRT LOT (continued) • About 20% of Michigan feedlots are of this type. • Very few of these will be of this type in the future due to environmental concerns • Easy to expand area • Usually have fenceline feedbunks • Cost is about $50 to $100/hd. capacity

  7. CONVENTIONAL • Cattle have access to shelter + outside lot • Inside area is bedded (2 to 3 lb. of straw/hd daily. Manure pack accumulates. • Outside lot is scraped weekly and manure pack is removed 2 to 4 times per year. • Most smaller midwestern feedlots are of this type. 43% of Michigan feedlots.

  8. CONVENTIONAL (cont.) • 20 sqft. inside + 30 sqft. Outside • Cost of construction is about $ 150/head of capacity. • Can have fenceline feedbunk or other mechanized delivery system.

  9. SOLID FLOOR CONFINEMENT • Cattle are confined to a building with 100 to 200 head per pen. 26% of Michigan feedlots • Manure scrape/manure pack - scrape concrete near feedbunk + manure pack • Solid floor scrape - no bedding, clean weekly • Sloping floor with gutter cleaner • Requires about 30 sqft/hd. • Cost about $ 175 to $ 200/hd capacity

  10. SLOTTED FLOOR CONFINEMENT • Highest Cost (about $350 to $400/hd capacity). 12% of Michigan feedlots. • Cattle stay cleaner and have a higher dressing percentage. • Deep Pit - manure storage under cattle. • 17 to 20 sqft./head • Clean pit 2 times per year • Low labor & Fits farming schedule

  11. SLOTTED FLOOR(continued) • Flush flume system • requires a lagoon for nutrient storage. • Storage is not under the cattle • Works well is less populated areas where cropland is nearby.

  12. System Dirt Lot Conventional Manure Scrape Slotted Floor University of Minnesota ADGDM/GAIN 2.44 6.3 2.47 6.2 2.54 6.0 2.53 6.1 (similar feed rations) FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE

  13. HANDLING FACILITIES • Essential for safety of workers and cattle. • Design can be very simple but should be able to sort cattle easily. • Curved chute with solid sides is best. • Chute width should be 26 in. wide or “V” shaped with 16 in. at floor. • Should be able to catch heads & restrain for treatment or processing.

  14. SICK PENS & ISOLATION • Need pen space for 2 to 5% of herd at any one time. • Allow 40 to 50 sqft. per head. • Should be located near handling facility but away from healthy cattle.

  15. WATER • Need source of fresh water. • One automatic waterer is usually designed to accommodate up to 40 head/day. • Need to be able to supply up to 15 gal. Of water per head per day in hot weather.

  16. FEEDER SPACE • If animals all eat at once. • 14 to 22 in. per head for calves < 600 lbs. • 22 to 26 in. per head for 600 lbs to market. • 26 to 30 in. per head for mature cows. • If feed is always available. • 4 to 6 in. for hay or silage rations • 3 to 4 in. for grain rations

  17. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT • Manure needs to be viewed as a resource to be utilized rather than as a waste product to be disposed of. • Issues include: • Collection & Storage • Transportation & Application • Odor • Record Keeping

  18. PRIMARY NUTRIENTS • Nitrogen (N) • Phosphorous (P2O5) • Potassium (K2O) • Other Micro-nutrients • Organic Matter

  19. NUTRIENT MGT. ISSUES • Analyzing feeds and balancing rations will prevent feeding nutrients in excess of animal requirements. • Soil test results will assist in planning application of manure. • Michigan is a “Phosphorous” based state. • Michigan has a “Right to Farm” law which protects well managed farms from law suits.

  20. NUTRIENT MGT. ISSUES • GAAMP’S = Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices • CNMP’S = Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans • Accounts for production and application of nutrients. • Accounts for crop utilization of nutrients. • Record keeping is essential.

  21. MANURE RECORD KEEPING • Type • Consistency • Volume • Location • Time in storage • Time and location of application • Soil test results

  22. FUTURE ISSUES • Concentrated Animal Feeding Units will be required to have permits. • New facilities will be required to meet local zoning and setback distances in site plans. • Odor is being monitored and “modeled” by agricultural engineers. • Drainage and runoff must be controlled.

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