SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
FACILITIES
Beef Unit: The Shone Farm Beef Unit consists of:
a. 6 interior Holding/Sorting Pens enclosed with pipe panels within the Porter Barn.
b. 4 exterior Holding/Sorting Pens enclosed with pipe panels that are each approximately ¼
under cover and ¾ without cover and attached to the Porter Barn.
c. Sweep Tub, Chute Alley and Squeeze Chute, Calf Chute and Squeeze Chute/Turn Table.
d. 5 concrete Feed Bunkers.
The Pens are used for:
a. Sorting
b. temporary holding (less than a full day) while vaccinating, deworming, castrating, exhibition,
judging clinics and contests
c. short term holding (1 - 2 days) for cattle leaving the facility or observation
d. moderate term holding (3 – 7 days) for cattle new to Shone Farm, quarantine, illness or
injury and observation
e. long term holding (8+ days) for injured or ill cattle
When occupied, pens are cleaned once per day. Cattle are rotated to a clean and dry pen at least
every 2 days as muddy and/or wet pens are detrimental to the cattle’s well-being.
Any pens containing calves housed short term, or longer, have straw spread out on the floor and
the straw should be replaced every day after cleaning.
Manure and soiled straw and hay shall be hauled away and disposed of in the compost piles in
the garden.
Cattle in pens are provided adequate clean water and fed at least twice per day according to their
weight and physical demands (maintenance, breeding, pregnant, lactating, weaning).
When possible, cattle housed in the pens for moderate term, or longer, should have a pen mate or
another bovine penned nearby.
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SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
FACILITIES - continued
Beef Unit Alley: The Shone Farm Beef Unit Alley consists of 3 sections separated by 2 gates to
hold cattle in groups while sorting and/or moving into the sweep tub. There are gates on either end
of the alley for cattle to enter and exit at one end and trailer loading at the other end.
In addition, there are 3 gates on the Porter Barn side of the alley used to move the cattle into the
Pipe Panel Pens, Feed Bunkers and Sweep Tub. There is also a narrow chute-like opening on the
Porter Barn side of the alley used for cattle to exit the Pipe Panel Pens.
Cattle shall be moved through the alley in as quiet and calm manner as possible using appropriate
herding tools [see “Behavior” and “Management Practices (General)”].
Patience is paramount in moving the cattle through the alley and they should be allowed to move
forward and methodically as they feel safe and secure.
The amount of pressure used to move the cattle shall be only that which is necessary. A scale of
1 – 10 (1 being minimum amount of pressure and 10 being maximum amount of pressure) shall be
considered when moving cattle. Handlers shall start with “1” and move up the scale in order to
obtain desired results. Pressure should be released immediately as cattle comply and move in the
desired direction and manner. Handlers shall not “nag” cattle by constantly yelling at them, rattling
paddles or hitting them once the cattle are complying and moving in the desired direction. Handlers
should walk quietly behind them outside of kicking distance.
Moving small groups (approximately 5) of cattle at a time into the Sweep Tub has the best results
and never shall cattle be packed into the Sweep Tub so that the cattle cannot move freely and
forward into the chute. Cattle move best in a wide circular or sweeping pattern, therefore, handlers
should avoid forcing them to turn in small spaces or circles.
Feed Bunkers: The Beef Unit consists of 5 concrete Feed Bunkers equipped with pipe head
dividers to allow each animal to comfortably have their own eating area. The Feed Bunker area has
a dirt floor that slopes away from the Bunkers.
Feed Bunkers are used to feed the cattle hay when the pastures are unavailable and cattle shall
be brought up or allowed access to the Feed Bunkers from the Pastures at least 2 times per day to
eat.
Cattle are not to be housed in the Feed Bunker Alley, therefore, the cleaning may be done by
tractor as needed and as determined by the Farm Manager or Livestock Technician.
Using a tractor, a thorough cleaning of the Feed Bunker Alley shall be done after the Feed
Bunkers are no longer in use.
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SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
FACILITIES – continued
Pastures: Although cattle in confinement have minimum space requirements, the amount of land
needed for cattle to graze on varies considerably based on several physical factors including, but
not limited to amount and type of forage, slope, water access, supplements, type of cattle (cows:
maintenance, pregnant, lactating, weaning), calves, bulls and the extend of grazing desired.
Shone Farm has 2 irrigated pastures, 2 dry pastures (that grow grass in the wet seasons) and 3
dry smaller pastures used on a temporary basis.
Cattle are moved to different pastures based on pasture condition, cattle body condition and
nutritional needs (maintenance, pregnant and trimester, lactation, weaning, weaned calves, bulls,
steers).
Cattle are supplemented with, but not limited to: Orchard Grass Hay; Alfalfa Hay; Iodized Salt
Blocks; Lick Tubs when needed.
Fencing: Fence statutes are in place to protect livestock, people and property from damage or
injury that can be caused by livestock. There are two forms of these laws: Open Range and
Closed Range. Local county governments in California determine whether the range will be “open”
or “closed” however, most California counties have closed range laws.
Closed Range (Fence In): It is the responsibility of the cattle owner to keep their animals contained
and enclosed, however, if the cattle break through a fence, the degree of liability of the owner is
usually based on normal husbandry practices and if the owner used a “lawful fence”. California
Food and Agricultural Code section 17121 describes a “Lawful Fence” as “any fence which is good,
strong, substantial and sufficient to prevent the ingress and egress of livestock. No wire fence is a
good and substantial fence within the meaning of this article unless it has three tightly stretched
barbed wires securely fastened to posts of reasonable strength, firmly set in the ground not more
than one rod apart, one of which wires shall be at least four feet above the surface of the ground.
Any kind of wire or other fence of height, strength and capacity equal to or greater than the wire
fence herein described is a good and substantial fence within the meaning of this article. The term
’lawful fence’ includes cattle guards of such width, depth, rail spacing and construction as will
effectively turn livestock.”
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SHONE FARM BEEF CATTLE GUIDELINES
FACILITIES - continued
Fences at Shone Farm consist of three different types: 3’ – 4’ Field Fencing with 2 – 3 strands of
barbed wire stretched above the Field Fencing, Board Fencing and Board Fencing covered with 1”
x 2” Non-Climb wire. All perimeter fences shall be “Lawful Fences” while interior fences may be of
lower standard.
Water Availability: Cattle should always have access to clean, fresh water and it must be
available in sufficient quality and quantity for cattle to drink as they need or want to, without
competition.
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