Poor feed bunk management can reduce dry matter intake and average daily gain. It can even lead to bloat, acidosis, and liver abscesses in your cattle. Ultimately, it contributes to lost revenues and a lowered sense of well-being for the cattle.
Feedlot cattle should be fed multiple times per day. The feed bunk must be filled to an appropriate level in relation to the pen capacity. Given cattle are creatures of habit, and visit the same spot along the feed bunk each time they feed, the entire bunk should have an equal level of feed. But before the feed truck even starts its day, rigid scheduling needs to be in place.
Cattle perform best when their day-to-day activities remain consistent. That means each day they should receive their feed at the exact same time. According to the Iowa Beef Center, feed deliveries should arrive within 15 minutes of the same time every day. If you feed your cattle at 10:30, the feed truck should be no later than 10:45. Maintaining a consistent daily schedule promotes more stable ruminal fermentation, which improves cattle efficiency while reducing production costs.
Inconsistent feeding causes stress on the cattle in the pen. They can get worked up and start stampeding around the pen. When the feed finally arrives, they will all try to rush the feed bunk. The more stressed and aggressive they are, the more likely they are to injure themselves or become sick. Broken legs and digestive disorders like bloat, acidosis, and liver abscesses are all commonplace in a pen with poor feed bunk management.
The goal for a healthy, well fed, herd of beef cattle is to have one third of them standing at the feed bunk, one third heading for the bunk, and the last third showing no interest in the feed truck when it arrives.
Colorado State University developed a study to determine the best number of feed deliveries per day in terms of cattle performance and carcass traits. Delivering feed once per day showed identical results to delivering feed twice per day. Interestingly, three feed deliveries per day resulted in more feed consumption, higher daily gains, and heavier carcass weights. Feeding three times per day with each delivery consistent within 15 minutes appears to be the most ideal scenario for beef cattle.
Proper feed bunk management needs to be tracked so that deficiencies can be addressed. HerdWhistle monitors cattle feeding behaviours at the feed bunk with a sensor that detects the animal’s ear tag while it eats. The system can be used to track when fresh feed is added to the bunk. Feedlot operators can then have a visual of their feed truck driver’s consistency on a daily basis and make adjustments to their feed bunk management as needed.
