Cattle crapping in feed

beefandsleep

Member
Location
Staffordshire
As per title I am interested in any ideas or feed fence designs that prevent or reduce soiling of feed. I seem to waste more than I'm happy with due to cattle crapping or in the case of heifers, urinating in troughs. Intakes are also reduced as a result. I clean troughs daily and wondered what others did to prevent it. Pictures please [emoji846]
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
My cousin installed guard rails round water troughs so they can't back right up to the trough but can still reach over them with their head get to the water. It was part of some Johnnes reduction measures IIRC.

Something similar might work round troughs.

Was like the guard rail round a disc mower.
 

beefandsleep

Member
Location
Staffordshire
What I don't want to do is restrict access or make it awkward to feed as that will definitely reduce intakes. I am in the process of upgrading all my water troughs to small tip over ones from massive manky concrete troughs that you have to use the vaccy tank to clean. In the past when the water was unreliable and pressure was pathetic they were necessary but now I think they are detrimental to the performance of the cattle.
 

beefandsleep

Member
Location
Staffordshire
I think they might be vulnerable to getting knocked off while scraping out. I had considered putting the bowl types on the feed fences but passageways are a bit narrow and I think they would soon be hit. The ones I am looking at can be recessed into a gate panel and the cattle can only drink from the scrape passage side so keeping beds dry. I can tip them out every time I scrape out so always clean. Just what fits best really.
 
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beefandsleep

Member
Location
Staffordshire
Have you got to many in a pen? :scratchhead:

I don't think so, way more room than guidelines. But at the moment the scraped area isn't fenced off the bed, all my yards are identical to northeastfarmers as shown in his picture of a heifer in the other thread. I am looking to change this around gradually over the next few years so scraping and bedding can be a one man job as labour and age becomes more difficult. This might help as they will only be in front of the barrier when they want to feed so should be facing the right way.
 

beefandsleep

Member
Location
Staffordshire
I did think about the height but what about moving the head rail into the yard. Does anyone know of any guidelines for head rail position? It's all on floor feeding by the way. I thought dairy boys might have an idea.
 

foxbox

Member
Location
West Northants
We've just redone our feed troughs; taken away steel hanging troughs and replaced them with a concrete pad down the centre of the shed. We've also put a 4" concrete panel on the pen side of the feed barrier which has pushed animals a bit further in to the pens when they're eating. It has definitely had an effect on the cattle crapping and peeing in the feed, not eliminated it completely though. In the cow shed we've put the water troughs on concrete plinths so the animals have to step up to drink; that has stopped the crapping completely but has become a target for the contractors when mucking out :unsure:.

upload_2017-5-18_21-37-56.jpeg
 

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
We've just redone our feed troughs; taken away steel hanging troughs and replaced them with a concrete pad down the centre of the shed. We've also put a 4" concrete panel on the pen side of the feed barrier which has pushed animals a bit further in to the pens when they're eating. It has definitely had an effect on the cattle crapping and peeing in the feed, not eliminated it completely though. In the cow shed we've put the water troughs on concrete plinths so the animals have to step up to drink; that has stopped the crapping completely but has become a target for the contractors when mucking out :unsure:.

View attachment 520486
Are they all stabilisers @foxbox ?
 

beefandsleep

Member
Location
Staffordshire
Nice cattle foxbox, that's exactly how my feed fences are, maybe I'm just expecting too much. I'm always trying to do things better, it keeps the interest up. Love the idea of putting the water troughs on plinths, that could work a treat on a feed fence too as they would step back before turning. [emoji106] Probably one to think about when I build the next shed.
 

foxbox

Member
Location
West Northants
Are they all stabilisers @foxbox ?

:D Yep**




** Nope. They're Blonde sired bulls from Hereford x Friesian cows; I can't afford Stabilisers but I like to pretend I can (y).

First 13 went earlier this week; averaged 401kg dw with most grading U= or higher. If I hadn't drawn one of the bulls wrongly it'd have been even better :whistle:. Never mind, he'll add weight to the next draw...
 

S J H

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
:D Yep**




** Nope. They're Blonde sired bulls from Hereford x Friesian cows; I can't afford Stabilisers but I like to pretend I can (y).

First 13 went earlier this week; averaged 401kg dw with most grading U= or higher. If I hadn't drawn one of the bulls wrongly it'd have been even better :whistle:. Never mind, he'll add weight to the next draw...
Sorry I've got mixed up, thought you were all stabilisers (y)
 

haymaker80

Member
Location
Stafford
Love the idea of putting the water troughs on plinths, that could work a treat on a feed fence too as they would step back before turning.

We've got a plinth/step along all our feed barriers, 6 inch height and extends 12 inches from feed fence. The cattle have to put their front feet on it to reach into trough, not very often we have to shovel any crap out of trough. Will try and remember to take photo tomorrow
 

Chuckie

Member
Location
England
What I don't want to do is restrict access or make it awkward to feed as that will definitely reduce intakes. I am in the process of upgrading all my water troughs to small tip over ones from massive manky concrete troughs that you have to use the vaccy tank to clean. In the past when the water was unreliable and pressure was pathetic they were necessary but now I think they are detrimental to the performance of the cattle.

What make/type of tipping water troughs are you putting in?
 

foxbox

Member
Location
West Northants
Nice cattle foxbox, that's exactly how my feed fences are, maybe I'm just expecting too much. I'm always trying to do things better, it keeps the interest up. Love the idea of putting the water troughs on plinths, that could work a treat on a feed fence too as they would step back before turning. [emoji106] Probably one to think about when I build the next shed.

We got the idea from a Danish housing design paper although I'm sure it'll be in other places too. Paper is here, page 58 ish for drinking info.

Some ideas in this from Ireland too although I've not been through it yet. https://www.teagasc.ie/media/websit...anagement/BeefCattleHousingSeptember-2004.pdf
 

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