When designing beef cattle facilities, you must provide the
required space, shelter, feed, water, waste management and
livestock handling features, adapt them to the natural features
of the site, and organize them for efficient and easy operation.
Cow-calf herds may graze on range or pasture during summer months
but need some protection in the winter. Feeder cattle are usually
penned in relatively confined areas. Cattle suffer more from mud,
wet weather and cold winter winds than from low temperatures
alone. Windbreaks and open-front sheds, when properly laid out,
can give adequate protection. For winter and early spring
calving, a dry, draft-free area is desirable. Plans in this
series show various proven components for making efficient beef
cattle facilities.
Construct buildings and pens for beef cattle on a well-drained
site. An ideal location is a south-facing slope on well-drained
soil, near an adequate water supply but away from streams and
population centers. Natural shelter provided by trees is also
desirable.
Where existing slopes are insufficient to provide good drainage (less than 1:25), move fill to increase effective slope and to build earth mounds. Shape pens so that drainage is away from resting, feeding and watering areas. Slope barn roofs away from the pens, or provide eave troughs to carry water away from the pens.
In heavy traffic areas such as around feeders and waterers,
concrete paving will prevent the formation of mud holes. In
higher rainfall areas (over 500 mm (20 in.) annually) the entire
pen can be paved.
In areas subject to cold winter winds where natural shelter is insufficient, porous windbreak fences (20% open) give the best protection. In regions of heavy snow accumulation, erect a snow-fence about 45 m (150 ft) upwind from the windbreak fence, and leave enough space between the fences for a snow trap.
Protection of the resting area from rain and snow can be
provided by an open-end barn, or an open-front shed with a roof
that slopes away from the opening. In most areas these openings
should face south for protection from winter winds and to get the
most benefit from the winter sun.
Buildings for beef cattle must be adequately ventilated to
prevent the accumulation of heat and moisture. Eave and ridge
openings are recommended for air movement in open-front buildings.
If the same buildings are to be used as summer sunshades, provide
hinged panels, retractable curtains or large doors in the back
wall.
Feeders should be placed high enough so that lot drainage is
away from the feeding area. Concrete aprons are recommended along
the feeder; they should be at least as wide as the scraper and
wheels of the tractor used for scraping, and sloped 1:10 away
from the bunks. With less slope on the apron, build a step 100 to
150 mm high and 300 to 400 mm wide (4 to 6 in. high and 12 to 16
in. wide) next to the bunk. If possible, run bunks in a north-south
direction to reduce build-up of frozen manure.
Runoff from cattle lots and manure storage areas must not be
permitted to enter any watercourse. Diversion dykes or ditches
may be needed to prevent "clean" runoff from
surrounding fields and roadways from entering the cattle lots.
Also, settling and retention basins are usually required to trap
and hold runoff from the lots during spring thaw and heavy rains.
Included with this plan are data tables summarizing:
Beef Cattle Housing and
Equipment Leaflet (Metric)
Beef Cattle Housing and
Equipment Leaflet (Imperial)
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