How to Design Facilities For Raising Beef Cattle Successfully

Visit successful cattle feeding operations to help determine what facilities are needed, such as a handling chute and head gate to properly restrain animals when they are vaccinated, implanted, or treated in a health program.Various materials can be used for feedlot fences, including boards, wire panels, high-tensile wire, and steel cables. Barbed wire is not recommended. A 7- or 9-wire hightensile fence is one of the most economical barriers. Another effective fence is a combination of high-tensile wire (which can be electrified) with three or four 2-by-6-inch planks spaced between the wires.

Housing for feeder cattle does not have to be extensive or weather tight-open-sided sheds and more completely enclosed structures are equally effective. Younger cattle require more shelter than older cattle, especially for protection from winter winds. All facilities should be designed for the number of cattle fed and include a good manure management program.Most feedlots use concrete feed bunks that allow cattle to feed from one or both sides, although feed bunks of treated lumber also can be used. Feed can be delivered through a mixer wagon, conveyor with a belt or chain, or a bucket loader.

To reduce mud, use concrete pads for areas around feed bunks. Mounds that are 3 to 5 feet high offer cattle relatively dry ground to rest on. The feedlot area should be well drained with topsoil removed to expose clay or other fairly impervious surface. Whether the feedlot surface is dirt, clay, concrete, or other material, it should be cleaned periodically. Design the facilities to prevent manure runoff into steams or other waterways. Retention lagoons and diversion ditches should be planned with the advice and approval of regulatory agencies.

For many cattle farmers, raising cattle, particularly grass-feeding cattle, has proven to be the most cost effective and beneficial way of making money since these cows thrive on grass, a very vital resource that you can find in most areas where cattle farming is rampant. Grass-fed cattle are also beneficial to the consumers since these cows have the most nutrients, aren't fed growth hormones, and are normally stress-free in life. If you're planning on raising cattle such as these, you can do so in many different ways. The two most popular would be to either start with a small number of high quality cows and a high quality bull herd to raise and breed the stock or a number of high quality calves to feed and raise until the calves reach a certain amount of weight.

Raising beef cattle can improve quality of life and provide great satisfaction and responsibility for families. Explore your options and then decide. If you would like more tips on building facilities and learn how to raise cattle and cattle feeding , please visit: www.howtoraisecattle.com