Confinement feeding cattle has become a more frequently used strategy by producers as the drought continues to impact eastern Australia. Confinement feeding offers a number of advantages for producers who have made the decision to continue to feed livestock.
However to be successful some preparation ahead of starting the process is essential. And once the process has started it needs to be managed and adjusted to meet the changing needs of the cattle being fed.
One of the first questions I’m often asked is “why would you do confinement feeding?” It’s a good question, and there are several strong reasons for starting the process.
“Why would you consider confinement feeding?”
From a livestock perspective, the process allows you to bring animals to a central location and fed them to their needs. This can save a lot of time and ensure rations are more suited to the stock on hand.
Another key efficiency is the reduction on energy demands for livestock. Some interesting research from NSW DPI suggests that cattle in confinement feeding programs have around 8% lower energy demands as they don’t have to expend energy search for feed and water.
Courtesy of Ben Nevis Angus - Walcha
It offers some people the opportunity to feed rations that will allow cattle to gain weight or even grow to lay down fat and so meet a market specification. With the current price for cattle, particularly those with average fatness, this is a very attractive option for many.
For other producers, confinement feeding is a strategy to adopt as water resources become more limited. Rather than a series of temporary tanks and troughs across paddocks, it can be more efficient to provide water to a central point.
And from a pastures and soil management perspective, sacrificing a smaller area to preserve ground cover over the larger part of the farm and so allow quicker pasture response when the drought does break is a well proven drought management strategy.
So in order to successfully undertake confinement feeding of cattle, what are some of the key things to consider?
The first thing is to recognize that a confinement-feeding program is a temporary process for use in drought management, or from recovery from fires and floods. This makes it very different to a feedlot. There is a clear guideline on confinement feeding in NSW from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
The Department states, “Stock containment areas are used for temporary stock management arrangements and are not intended to be used as routine farming operations. They are distinct from feedlots, restriction facilities and other permanent works or structures.”
If you are thinking you want to construct a more permanent feeding facility, this does require consent and planning approval, so before you start you should contact your council and LLS for advice.
The location where you will undertake the feeding program needs some thought. It should be a site that is relatively easily accessible to provide feed, and to move cattle out. As a general guide I would suggest”
· The site should have some slope. Around 3 – 4% slope is considered ideal
· If possible use the top of a slope
· Avoid drainage lines or areas that are likely to become boggy hollows. As soil will compact any run off rain will quickly become mud and its best not to have that in the main area of the yards
While you cant always choose your soil type, its best if you can look fro the clay loam soils. Heavy clays will become an issue in wet weather.
The other key issue around location is distance from your house and neighbours! There will be odour, dust, flies and noise, so you should consider trying to be at least 500m from anyone’s home.
Deciding on the size of the yards or paddock may not always be straightforward. It will depend on location and on the number of stock on hand. Its important to remember that high density will create problems on rainy days with bogging, while excessive numbers can cause dust that impacts stock and people.
The NSW DPI recommends that cattle should be kept at the following densities:
· Weaners: 9 to 10m2 per head
· Yearlings: 12 to 14m2 per head
· Dry cows: 15 – 25m2 per head
It’s important that no more than 250 head are kept in any one mob. And for early weaned calves it should be no more than 100 head.
“I always recommend drafting cattle into groups based on fat score, weight and frame size”
I always recommend drafting cattle into groups based on size and weight. Ideally I would have cattle drafted on fat score and weight and have a spare pen or yard on hand to draft sick animals or shy feeders off and manage those separately.
Well designed yards allow rations to be easily fed
Confinement yards can be constructed out of normal fencing wire. Most people convert small paddocks and so the standard 5 strand wire is adequate. Some people do add an electric wire to ease pressure on fencing, particularly if they use fences as part of their feeding system.
Feeding in troughs is a preferred method to reduce waste and avoid intake of soil and disease. However I know quite a few people who have chosen o feed between two fences onto the ground. Over time the ground does pack down and wastage is much lower as a result. So it may be an option to discuss as you make your plans.
What is important is to ensure sufficient space to allow animal’s access to the rations. If a daily ration is offered into troughs the following spaces are recommended to ensure easy access:
· Weaner cattle 30cm / head
· Yearling Cattle 40cm / head
· Adult Cattle 60cm / head
Horned cattle may require additional space so this needs to be considered in your planning.
Troughs can be as simple as conveyor belt, and I have seen many made this way. I’ve also seen troughs made from folded tin and from hollowed tree trunks. As long as they are accessible to stock and can be cleaned to avoid mouldy rations I think they are ok.
Troughs can be made of conveyor belt at a low cost
However troughs should be 45–60cm wide and deep enough to hold the ration with the top of the trough maximum 60cm from the ground. A trough that is 10–15cm higher at the back (outside) reduces wastage. For young stock, troughs that are too deep can cause baulking due to poor vision, while those too high can affect feed access and intake.
Finally don’t forget water. Cattle will drink up to 100 litres in summer and in hot weather this can increase by up to 80%. Cattle prefer to drink water between 16 – 180C and as water gets hotter they will drink less and this impacts their feed intake and general wellbeing.
Ideally troughs should be deep enough to keep water cool and if water is piped from a tank it should be underground to avoid excessive heat.
When a trough is sited, try and place it as far from feeders as possible. At a minimum this should be 10m. This helps reduce contamination from feed that may still be in an animal’s mouth. Another suggestion is toplace troughs along fence lines can so stock on both sides of the fence can use it.
Troughs should allow 10% of a mob access
Water troughs need to be long enough to allow at least 10% of cattle in the mob to drink at any one time allowing a minimum of 300mm space for every 10 head. For example a 3m trough can water 100 head. It’s worth working out trough size before you settle on final numbers in a pen if you only have a limited amount of water access.
There are plenty of tips and experiences people have had in using confinement feeding as a strategy. If it is something you are planning to undertake, it’s worth getting in touch and seeking some advice. Some of the tips and ideas people have can be big time savers!