This year we have housed a group of yearling heifers from my brother’s herd. My brother has the remaining animals in his feedlot, enjoying the calving season that is coming to a close. We’re just helping out with this group over the winter. It’s been a fun time, but there are a few more with us this year and it has forced a feeding arrangement be made in one of the pens, that is not as successful as we had hoped.
Last year in this pen we had the herd bull and two yearlings bunking together. A one-animal feed bunk was built and we also used an old culvert section in a corner of the corral. (See the photo above) The problem is that the culvert has a section that has been turned down and that allows the animals to step into the middle of the culvert with their front feet and reach the furthest-in hay. It also allows them to step on the closest-in hay and render it inedible, even to cow standards.
It was a problem last year, but with a 2000+ pound bull in the corral pretty much doing whatever he wanted, we didn’t try to alter the ability to misuse the culvert feeding bunk. This year we have put up with it as long as we can, but no more! We are tired of the wasted hay caused by mucky feet standing on it when the cows walk into the feeder to eat.
I tried one solution a few weeks ago, but it was not successful. The cows were able to step over the obstruction, but not able to pick up their front legs high enough to back out. I realized that problem shortly after constructing this first barrier and had to rescue the stranded beast and then remove the board.
Tonight I had a little time to devote to the project and I think I may have fixed it up good. At least none of the residents of the west side pen tried to get in the culvert tonight. We’ll see how well it works, but hopefully we can save some hay. I’ll post a photo of the new contraption tomorrow night. Cross your fingers!
If this doesn’t hold up and stop them from tromping on the hay, I know what to do ….. Ketchup, anyone?
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