Low Cost Facilities

• The Entire system– Designed for 20 cows– Materials

-Railroad ties-Cattle Panels-pine slab wood

-2x12’s-2x10’s

Total Cost ==$325

LOW COST FACILITIES

• Head Gate– Made of Wood

– Stanchion design

– Swings Open to Release cattle

– Cost $25

– Good for small herds

– In use for 4 years

LOW COST FACILITIES

• Corral– Use barn as one side

– Holding area

– Opens to chute area

– Gate swings to crowd

– Solid gate avoids being kicked

Low Cost Facilities

• Crowding Area– Gate swings in

– Using barn as wall

– Sides are lined with wood, 1 inch pine

– Cattle Panels provide strength

Low Cost Facilities

• Cows Eye View– Area Narrows to chute

– Solid wall and fence

– Cows move forward to opening

Low Cost Facilities

• Cows Eye View– Wall made of Cattle

Panels– Lined with trimmed

slab lumber-no true dimensions

– 6’ high fence– Gaps allow some air

movement to prevent snow buildup and prevent overheating

Wintering Needs

• Windbreaks Provide Protection from Winter Winds

• Important for Young Animals

• Important for Cows Nursing

• Reduce wind speed and lower the wind chill

• Reduce feed needs

• Reduce noise and livestock odor

Wintering Needs

• Critical temperature– Coat Description Critical Temperature

• Summer or Wet 59 Degrees

• Fall coat 45 Degrees

• Winter Coat 32 Degrees

• Heavy Winter Coat 18 Degrees

Wintering Heifers

• Feedlot Design with Windbreak (750 lb)– Lot area paved-45 square feet/head– Earth lot-250 square feet/head– Bedded Mound Area-30 square feet/head

Wind Chill Chart

Wintering Needs

• Feedlot with Shed for 750 lb heifers– Paved outside lot area-45 square feet/head– Earth outside lot area-250 square feet/head– Shed area-20 square feet/head– Shed minimum clearance height-10 feet

Wintering Heifers

• Windbreaks Provide Protection from Winter Winds

• Important for Young Animals

• Important for Dairy Breeds

•

Wintering Heifers

• Windbreaks Provide Protection from Winter Winds

• Important for Young Animals

• Important for Dairy Breeds

• Reduce wind speed and lower the wind chill

Round Bales Make Excellent Windbreaks

Wintering Needs

• Increased Maintenance Energy Requirements– For heifers in winter coat each degree below critical

temperature requires 1.2% increase per degree

– For heifer in heavy winter coat each degree below critical temperature requires 0.7% increase per degree

Wintering Needs

• Dec 11th the temperature was zero degrees with a 30 mph wind so the wind chill was –49 degrees

This is 57 degree below critical temperature (49+18) for heifer in heavy winter coat we need to increase energy for Maintenance by 40% (57 x .7=39.9)

Constructed Windbreak

Multiple Pens off Crowding Alley

Wooden Head gate

Self Catching Head gates

Wintering Heifers

• When calculating windbreak protection use 10X the height of the wind break to determine areas of excellent wind protection– 30 foot high trees – 300 feet of protection– 10 foot high fence – 100 feet of protection

Economy Model

Crowding Alley with Adequate Length

Corral

Cadillac Version