Beef Cattle Facilities
BSE 2294
Animal Structures and
Environment
Dr. Susan Wood Gay
Beef cattle facilities should provide
an optimum environment for good
productivity.
Rapid growth
Efficient feed conversion
Good health
Reasonable comfort
Animal and handler safety
Hereford-Angus cross.
Successful beef operations vary from
a few animals on a small farm to
thousands of animals in a feedlot.
Small operations
Integration of feed production, feed
use, manure management, and
labor distribution
Large operations
Economy of scale
Large feedlot in west Texas.
Beef feeding systems may be classified
into two basic types: an open lot
system or a barn and lot system.
Open lot system
Moderate annual precipitation
Mild climate
Barn and lot system
Cold, humid climates
Open lot systems in the western US.
Open lots with limited shelter for
feeding and resting are sufficient for
areas with moderate precipitation.
Feed bunks
Drainage
Mounds
Good yard drainage and drying is
essential for animal health and comfort.
Drainage
4 - 6% slope
Intercept runoff in settling basin
Vegetative filter strip
Drying
Southern slope
Maximum sunshine
Muddy feedlot in South Dakota.
Runoff from open lots should be
collected in a holding pond and clean
water should be diverted away.
Diversion drainage
Settling
basin
Diversion terrace
Holding
pond
Earthen mounds in the lot provide a dry
resting area under most weather
conditions.
Construction
Push earth from sides of yard
toward the centerline
Mound
Stabilize
Work chopped straw, bedded
manure, or agricultural lime into
the surface
Lot
Feed bunk
Top view of open lot with earthen mound.
Results
1/3 of yard remains firm enough
for resting in all weather
A paved strip along the feed and
watering areas keeps the animals out
of the mud at least part of the time.
Construction
Concrete slab
1/12 slope away from the bunk
Low step in front of feedbunk
10 to 12 ft
Manure management
Manure is worked toward edge as
animals move around
“Self-cleaning”
5½ in
Cross-section of bunk apron.
Open lots can be paved if the yard is
limited in space or has poor drainage.
Space
Area per animal is 10 - 20% of that
for unpaved yards
Management
Runoff facilities are important
Manure must be scraped more
often
Paved feedlot in Iowa.
Feeding is often done in fenceline bunks
supplied from mixer wagons or trucks
driven along the alleys between lots.
Barn and lot systems are used in in cold
humid climates.
Mounds
Drainage
Covered
feed bunks
Counter-sloped confinement facilities
are popular on beef operations in the
eastern US.
Resting area faces south
Feeding apron faces afternoon sun
to reduce ice accumulation
Facilities are “self-cleaning”
Bedding is not used
The counter-sloped facility consists of
the following components:
Feeding apron
Slatted collection channel
Resting area
Cattle alley
Waterers
Slurry transfer
The counter-sloped facility consists of
the following components:
Feeding apron
Resting area
Access alley
Slatted alley
Slurry
Precast bunk
The feeding apron consists of a
concrete slab that slopes away from
the feed bunk.
Slope
1/12 away from feed bunk
Width
8 feet
1/12
slope
Concrete
Broom finish in direction of
drainage
8 ft
Slatted collection channels collect and
transfer manure to a slurry storage.
Channel cover
Precast 4 ft by 8 ft gang slats
6½ inch slat width
1 ½ inch slot width
Slatted alley
Channel dimensions
120 ft long
4 ft depth
Management
Pre-charge channel with water to
establish slurry flow
8 ft
The resting area provides animals with
shelter from cold winter wind and
precipitation.
Concrete floor
1/12 slope away from facility
Broom finish
Width
20 ft
20 feet
1/12 slope
The cattle alley is located along the
rear of the facility.
Gravel floor
Low slope away from facility
Width
8 to 12 feet
8 to 12 ft
Economical beef production requires
efficient handling of high quality feed.
Portable bunks
Fenceline bunks
Mechanical bunks
Cattle feeding from a fenceline bunk.
Portable feed bunks can be easily
moved between pastures or lots.
Cattle access
Both sides
Feed
Loose hay
Rectangular or large round bales
Silage or haylage
Feed handling
Front end loader
Cattle feeding on loose hay in
portable bunk.
Fenceline bunks work well with open
lot systems.
Cattle access
One side
Feed
Ground, dry hay
Silage or haylage
Grain or pellets
Feed handling
Front end loader
Unloader wagon
Mechanical bunks are expensive, but
require little labor.
Cattle access
Both sides
Feed
Ground, dry hay
Silage or haylage
Grain or pellets
Feed handling
Upright silos with conveyor
Water is an essential ingredient for
cattle.
Daily water need
8 – 12 gal/hd (average weather)
20 – 25 gal/hd (hot weather)
Waterer space
25 hd/waterer
Every beef operation must have
facilities for handling animals.
Sorting
Treatment
Weighing
Loading
Unloading
The layout for cattle handling facilities
vary with herd size.
Basic handling facilities should have
the following:
Crowding pen
Working chute
Squeeze chute
Loading chute
A crowding pen is where animals are
forced into a working chute.
Sorting pens
Crowding pen
Squeeze chute
Working chute
A working chute is where animals can
be treated individually or sorted and
directed to a desired location.
A squeeze chute is where an animal
can be immobilized for special
treatment.
A loading chute is for loading and
unloading stock trucks and trailers.