Families buying groceries should understand where their food comes from and the work and consideration that goes into its production. Agricultural producers are hyper-aware that disinformation is widespread, and, well, ignorance about where food comes from still exists.

One of the ways that AGPROfessionals advocate for agriculture is through education. We know that producers are plenty busy already, so we hope you find this article useful the next time you’re confronted with disinformation about our industry or have an opportunity to educate consumers.

From Pasture to Feedlot to Dinner Table

In the beef industry, cattle spend most of their lives out on pasture. When cattle are nearing slaughter for food and other valuable resources, most spend the last several months at a feedlot or finishing yard in preparation. Another name for a finishing yard is a confined animal feeding operation or CAFO.

Animal Welfare and Environmental Protection

Feedlot (or finishing yard) management prioritizes the well-being of the animals that reside there. Producers not only ensure that the livestock have access to proper nutrition and water, maintaining weight and overall fitness, but they also effectively manage the environment. Just some of the areas they pay attention to and work to improve constantly include the ground in the pens, manure removal, and pest control. Good environmental management practices promote the health and well-being of the animals, help to reduce nuisances, and are the foundation of good land stewardship.

Engineering Plays an Important Role in Feedlot and Finishing Yard Design

Most people might be surprised to learn that feedlots and finishing yards are highly regulated with a host of requirements that must be met. This is where agricultural, civil, and environmental engineers become a valuable resource to beef producers. Engineers are involved in the layout, design, permitting, and building of feedlots and finishing yards. They create land grading plans for adequate drainage and recommend placement and sizing for ponds and lagoons to hold runoff.

Engineers and producers work closely together to ensure that the facilities they design benefit the health and well-being of the animals and comply with strict environmental regulations, which include protection of surface and groundwater, compliance with setbacks and zoning, and air quality.

Manure Management and Removal

Cattle have very efficient digestive systems. They can turn plant matter that humans are unable to digest into nutritious beef and dairy products, as well as other valuable resources we use every day. Because of this, manure is a significant byproduct of beef and dairy production. This means that management teams at feedlots and finishing yards are constantly focusing on manure management practices.

Basic manure management practices consist of routine lot harrowing, lot scraping, and alley cleaning. In between pen cleanings, manure is mounded and dried in the pens before being exported. Exporting manure and using it in other applications helps eliminate some odors associated with the manure composting process. Manure applications are required to be managed under a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) that is created by certified professionals and regulated and inspected routinely by state agencies.

Application of Manure as Fertilizer

Where feedlot and finishing yard operators also grow crops, the manure is most often used for fertilizer. In other cases, the manure is removed and trucked to another farm or ranch that is growing crops. When a farmer or rancher is growing crops or working on improving pastures for grazing animals, they will often apply soil amendments. Soil amendment options can vary, ranging from certain fertilizers, minerals, livestock manure, and more. It is essential to know that regardless of the amendment applied, the application itself and the cost of the material are significant expenses. Therefore, care is taken to ensure the right materials are used and applied at the right time.

Drainage

Feedlots and finishing yards are required to monitor drainage and stormwater runoff. There are a variety of ways in which this is managed, including the creation of aerobically designed ponds. These shallow runoff ponds are designed to capture stormwater runoff, promote evaporation, prevent seepage, and help break down the manure through an aerobic process.

Reducing Fly Habitats and Introducing Predators

Feedlots and finishing yards implement a variety of methods to control flies. Standing water, weeds, and grass are all prime habitats for fly reproduction and protection. Manure around water tanks and under fences is also a habitat for pests. This is why feedlots and finishing yards mow grass and weeds in fields and surrounding areas. Other methods to control fly breeding habitat consist of ditch burning, mowing along roadways and waterways, and grading lots, pastures, and roadways to reduce standing water. In some circumstances, flies are biologically controlled using non-stinging parasitic wasps.

Rodent Control

Rodents inhabit environments where they have easy access to a food supply and a prime habitat for breeding and living. The attraction of rodents to feedlots and finishing yards is minimized by securing commodity (food for cattle) storage and regularly cleaning and maintaining the storage areas, feed bunks, and areas around feed bunks. Site maintenance and grading are also effective deterrents for rodents.

The use of traps and other deterrents is also employed when needed. If additional pest prevention is necessary and nuisance conditions from pests and rodents persist, feedlot teams will often first try increasing the schedule of regular maintenance. If those methods are insufficient, they turn to chemical control and treatment options approved by the USDA.

It’s a Science and an Art

This short article has just touched on some of the many factors feedlot teams take into consideration every day, from facility design that impacts workflow and animal comfort to feed storage and delivery, water systems, dust and mud control, and more.

Feedlot and finishing yard management practices have been developed over the years as both an art and a science. The art of good management comes from paying attention to the performance and well-being of their animals and comes from years of experience handed down from generation to generation.

The science comes from working with livestock specialists like veterinarians and scientific researchers, and professionals like AGPROfessionals for agricultural, environmental, and civil engineering expertise.

Want More?

Would you like more information about AGPROfessionals and our services? Would you like more articles like this to help you inform others about where their food comes from and what it takes to produce it? We can help with that.

Contact AGPROfessionals today, and let’s talk!