Alberta Feedlot Management Guide: Facilities and Environment

Feedlot Site Selection
A series of steps to follow to determine site suitability when planning and building a feedlot operation. The development of a plan should include balancing economic forces affecting an operation with consideration of the issues of environmental protection, animal welfare, food safety and other stakeholder concerns. When evaluating potential sites it is important to address the requirements of provincial and municipal governments, and the concerns of local stakeholders such as neighbors and communities. An evaluation should also include an assessment of the site’s ability to meet the geographical, physical and regulatory requirements of such a development.

Feedlot Water Supply
A look at the importance of assessing the groundwater potential including quantity and quality of the water supply for a feedlot operation. Wells or dugouts, both of which require a license for their use as a water source, supply most of the water for Alberta operations. Water quality should be assessed under three main categories: mineral content, aesthetic qualities (taste and odour), and biological parameters which control microbiological quality. A producer should maintain a quality water supply by minimizing the risk of manure contamination which will affect taste, odour and health issues.

Protecting Surface and Groundwater Quality
A set of practical suggestions to assist in preventing the contamination of surface and groundwater from feedlot manure. A short explanation detailing the different ways that surface water can be impacted by feedlot runoff is followed by a list, with diagrams, of methods to control runoff and protect waterways. Seepage of manure nutrients through soil moisture can cause pollution of shallow groundwater. Such factors as the permeability of the soil, water table depth, direction of groundwater flow and precipitation will influence the feedlot design to minimize percolation through the soil. Also, proper construction of wells and utilization of nutrients through crop production will help minimize the risk of groundwater contamination.

Feedlot Layouts
A review of the different types of feedlot layouts, with diagrams and an assessment of their functionality under different conditions. Design principles are offered with some general guidelines for feedlot planning. Plans are offered for flat or sloped sites with block layout or contour lots, and for alternate pie shaped lots.

Feeding Pen Design
A brief guide, including tables and plans, for the design of feeding pens for backgrounding and feedlot facilities. Practical directions are included for the calculation of space needed for pens and feed bunks, for appropriate fencing and gates, for lighting requirements and for overall layout of the pens. The Article stresses the importance of good facilities for animal welfare and optimal productivity, and how feeding pen design can vary according to the size of cattle, how they are being fed and annual precipitation.

Feedlot Water Systems
A discussion on the water requirements of cattle and how a feedlot watering system should be well designed to ensure its capability of delivering an acceptable quantity of water. Components of the two basic types of watering systems used in Alberta are described along with the dimensions and capacity needed for the size of the feedlot. A set of diagrams illustrating the layout for each system is included. Also included is list of considerations for the selection of livestock waterers and their location within the pen, along with the choice of electrically heated or energy free waterers.

Feeding Systems
A variety of options for the mixing and delivery of feed depending on the size of the feedlot operation. A total mixed ration is made up of four components: energy, roughage, supplements and additives. Components of a feeding system are to feed storage areas for grain and silage; a feed batching and mixing area and equipment to deliver the feed to the pens. Tables and diagrams show calculations for the recommended amount of feed per day in a ration; the cost of various storage and production options and the layout of a feed preparation centre for a large feedlot.

Fencing and Corral Cost
An estimate of feedlot building costs for corrals and pens based on 1999-2000 prices. Estimates are calculated based on the cost of materials such as lumber, concrete and equipment, and do not take into account the costs of labor which are variable from year to year. A set of tables provides estimated costs based on the size of the feeding pen, coral or fencing.

Pen and Runoff Management
A discussion covering the construction and design of feedlot pen surfaces and drainage systems to support healthy conditions for cattle with minimum impact on the surrounding environment. Water and Waste movement in feeding pens is controlled by the water holding ability of the manure pack, the impermeable soil/manure layer sealing the feeding pen, and the slope and drainage patterns of the pens, drains and catch basins. Directions and diagrams are included for the appropriate construction and maintenance of pen surfaces, feedlot drainage and runoff management systems. Tables and maps supply the expected runoff events for specific areas of Alberta.

Utilization of Feedlot Manure
A summary of the most effective ways of utilizing feedlot manure as a nutrient source for crops. It is important that soil and manure nutrient status be monitored by regular soil testing and followed by a nutrient management plan as the uptake of available nitrogen and phosphorus differ causing a possible buildup of one nutrient if another is used as the standard. The Ratios of the major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) found in beef manure is not the same as that required by different crops; as a result application rates depend on such variables as soil nutrient status, climatic conditions, salt buildup and time of application. Beef manure can be successfully applied to forages and reduced tillage systems, however an assessment of runoff impacts of surface water needs to be made. Sample calculations are supplied for determining the economic value of beef manure when used as a nutrient source.

Composting Animal Manures
An examination of the advantages and drawbacks of composting feedlot manure with an explanation and illustrations of the composting process. Benefits of composting animal manure include improved manure handling, improved land spreading, a lower potential risk of contamination of water, fewer nuisance complaints and the destruction of most weed seeds and pathogens. Drawbacks to composting include cost, management and time commitments, potential odour, site requirements, potential loss of nitrogen and the slow release of nutrients from the final product. A breakdown of the composting process is given together with a list of optimum growth conditions necessary for the organisms to sustain a rapid compositing process.

Horse Facilities for Feedlots
Descriptions and plans for the design and building of facilities for horses used in feedlots for pen checking and cattle handling. Guidelines are provided for designing barns that provide adequate space for the horses, well designed pens or stalls, and a good heating and ventilation system.

Cattle Handling
A look at cattle behaviour patterns and how certain handling techniques and corral layouts influence successful, stress free handling and processing in feedlots. An understanding of cattle physiology and responses to different stressors will dictate handling techniques that encourage the cattle to respond in a desired manner. Components of a corral include the crowding, treatment and loading areas, which must be combined into a working unit that permits the smooth flow of cattle and provides convenient access for cattle handlers. Diagrams are included showing the layout and dimensions for each component, and how they successfully work with cattle behaviour to allow efficient processing and movement.