Module 2. Feedlot design 13
Function
Cattle need a constant supply of good-quality, clean and cool drinking water.
Design features
Construction materials
Concrete is strongest and most durable. Steel can rust and plastic can be damaged by cattle and machinery.
Trough length
Provide 50cm of accessible trough length per animal.
Water supply pipes
Reticulation systems should be able to deliver 5–6 litreshead hour with pipes shielded from direct sunlight to keep water
cool. Pipes should be protected from damage by cattle and machinery, particularly if vulnerable materials such as PVC are
used.
Water level control in troughs
Troughs should have some form of water level control to minimise water waste through overlow. Float valves are
recommended but must be protected from damage by cattle and machinery.
Location in pen and cattle access
Troughs should be in-line with the side fences positions A or C in Figure 6. Troughs on the back fence D can block drainage
and cause manure to build up. A trough positioned within the pen B will allow access from both sides, provided it does
not hinder cleaning of the pen. All troughs should be easy to clean around and should not have any areas where manure can
collect. A neck rail above the centre will prevent cattle climbing into the water.
Cleaning
Water troughs need to be cleaned regularly with any dirty water discharged from the pens. Troughs should have a lushing outlet
with a plug that can be removed to drain the water rapidly. Access should be allowed for brush cleaning.
External shape
Troughs should been enclosed underneath with vertical sides to prevent manure building up underneath.
Emergency supply
Cattle must have constant access to water. An on-site gravity- fed emergency supply usually a large elevated tank should be
provided in case a pump or pipeline breaks down.
5. Water troughs and water supply
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14 Module 2. Feedlot design
Sample plans
Figure 5 – Typical water trough details
Figure 6 – Optional locations for water troughs.
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Module 2. Feedlot design 15
Practical examples Good features
Poor features
A well-protected loat valve. An exposed loat valve can be easily damaged.
Water trough located in dividing fence allows manure to be washed from pens.
A water trough across the bottom fence holds manure in the pen.
Good loat protection, enclosed sides, overlow pipe and brush for cleaning.
Manure can accumulate under an open water trough support.
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16 Module 2. Feedlot design
6. Cattle lanes and fencing
Function
Fenced lanes allow cattle to be moved safely around the feedlot in all weather conditions, and with minimal disruption to other
feedlot operations.
Design features
Location
Cattle lanes should run along the bottom end of feedlot pens. These lanes allow cattle to be moved into pens through gates
which open into the laneway. Cattle lanes should not cross any roads since moving cattle could disrupt feeding and cleaning
operations. If the spacing of the sheds allows, cattle lanes can be shared by a row of pens on either side Figure 7.
Width
Lanes should be 4–5m wide to allow free movement of cattle herds and machinery.
Surface
Concreting the lanes allows cattle to be moved around the feedlot in any weather conditions. A grooved pattern on the
surface will prevent cattle slipping.
Slope
Cattle lanes should have a slope of 0.5–1 to help drainage.
Intersections and corners
Changes of direction should be as open and smooth as possible to help cattle low but cattle should move in straight lines as
much as possible.
Fencing
Fences should include a large-diameter steel top rail and a steel belly rail with pipe or steel cable for intermediate horizontal
restraints. The overall height of fences should have a determined by the types of cattle being fed. Fences should have a minimum
overall height of 1.5m high while 1.8m for large Bos indicus breeds.
Posts
Posts can be made from wood or steel tube set into concrete at least 900mm below ground level and spaced no more than 2.5
m apart. The tops of steel posts should sealed to prevent rain water entering while the bottoms should be encased in concrete
to prevent corrosion.
Gates
Gates must be at least as long as the lane is wide, and must be able to be latched open as well as latched closed.
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Module 2. Feedlot design 17
Sample plans
Figure 7 – Typical plan view of feedlot pen.
Figure 8 – Typical fencing for feedlot pens and cattle lanes
Practical examples
Good features Poor features
Sturdy fencing, concrete protection for post bases and concreted cattle lane which could be
grooved to reduce slipping. Flimsy, poorly maintained fencing, and bogging
due to poor lane drainage. Cattle would baulk at using this.
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18 Module 2. Feedlot design
Function
The risk of cattle in the feedlot contracting or transmitting disease or sickness must be minimised.
Design features
Isolation
Animal receival and dispatch facilities, feed receival areas and hospital pens should be separated from the main feedlot
complex to prevent any potential infections spreading through the larger herd. Sick cattle should be isolated from the main
feeding complex as much as practically possible.
Public access restrictions
Only feedlot vehicles and staff should be allowed in the feedlot. External trafic and people should be restricted to ofice facilities,
feed receival areas and cattle dispatch and receival facilities.
Feedlot hygiene
Good hygiene is important to preventing disease spreading around a feedlot. Machinery should be kept clean and free
of dust, mud and manure. Feeding equipment must be kept separate from that used to handle waste products. Drainage
around the feedlot must be carefully maintained to prevent water lying in puddles for extended periods and causing bogging.
Quarantinehospital pens
Speciic pens should be provided near the cattle receival and dispatch facilities to temporarily quarantine cattle before
introduction to the feedlot. These pens can also be used as hospital pens to separate sick animals from the main herd in the feedlot.
The pens must be at least partially covered to provide protection for cattle from rain and sun, and feed and water troughs should
be larger than in normal feedlot pens to reduce stress on animals.
Practical examples
Perimeter fence prevents unauthorised access to the feedlot and keeps straying stock in.
Security checkpoint allows control of vehicle and visitor entry to the feedlot.
7. Bio-security and quarantine
