AGRICULTURAL
07 | Trough management in feedlots
and in summer, feed with a moisture content of up to 30% could
become mouldy, which would inhibit intake if not discovered in time.
It is therefore important for every trough to be cleaned out once a
day and to remove all feed, particularly mouldy and unappetising
feed and even stones.
With the right trough space, there is enough time for each animal
to take in the maximum feed over a 24-hour space. A decrease in
expected feed-intake is an accurate indication of stress. A handy
management tool is to do an evaluation of every trough every day. It
could be a simple 3 or 4-point scale, from clean to very little eaten,
to indicate whether the previous day's feed was insufficient and
whether there is tension/other problems in the pen.
The taste and smell of feed also has an impact on feed-intake ini-
tially. Acceptable smells can be stimulating and animals get used to
the taste within a few days. Raw materials such as silage, molasses
and citrus pulp have a significant and strong smell which can be
applied in a positive manner. Other smells such as ammonia, a burn
smell or mouldy feed will inhibit feed-intake.
Design of feeding and watering troughs
In order to apply effective trough management, a well designed
feeding trough is essential. Firstly, you need adequate trough space
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08
SENWES SCENARIO | AUTUMN 2018
of ±250mm per animal. All the animals cannot eat at the
same time and there is a specific ranking order which will
be determined within a few days. The eating behaviour and
eating patterns in a pen will also be determined within a few
days. Cattle will eat for 15 to 30 minutes per time, four to five
times a day, which means that this trough space will be more
than adequate for all the animals. Secondly, do not overfill
the trough, since feed will be wasted this way. The trough
must be able to hold at least 70% of the daily ration (second
feed) of the heaviest animals without feed being wasted. Over
weekends, with limited manpower and working hours, this
arrangement could pose challenges.
Poor drainage and hygiene around the trough could also
result in poor intake. Trampling occurs around the feeding
trough and this could result in a muddy mess for long periods
of time. Drainage should therefore lead away from the trough
and the area around the trough should have a cement floor of
at least 2,5 to 3 metres, which can be dried easily.
A water shortage has been the limiting factor for feedlots
numerous times in South Africa. Fresh water has to be avail-
able on a daily basis. The watering trough must be away from
the feeding trough, in the last third of the pen, to ensure that
animals move away from the feeding trough when they are
thirsty. Watering troughs often leak, which is a breeding ground
for parasites - this should be avoided. Animals also mess feed
in the watering trough, which makes for enough organic materi-
al to form green algae. This must be cleaned regularly.
Aspects which influence daily trough management are pen
design and hygiene. There should be adequate space for
every animal (10 – 15m2, average 12.5 m2). Space issues
cause unnecessary social stress. Dung build-up in the pen
has to be removed once and even twice a year. In wet con-
ditions the dung will become soft and uncomfortably deep
for the animals, which will decrease intake and impact eating
behaviour significantly. Cattle do not like standing in wet dung/
mud. Wet and muddy pens will inhibit feed-intake significantly.
Identification of sick animals
Part of trough management is to identify sick animals or ani-
mals which will not adjust to the specific pen on a daily basis.
General diseases which occur are usually foot related or feed
related (acidosis, bloating, watery dung), infection related
(pneumonia, foot-rot, ulcers) or physical injury. Other diseases
which are not as common and which have to be identified
timeously, can also occur. The quicker an animal is identified,
the quicker treatment can commence and the animal can
recover. Experience plays an important role in this regard.
Record-keeping
An important part of trough management is keeping a record
of daily observations of feed-intake and the welfare of ani-
mals. These figures can provide important trends, which could
improve the productivity and profitability of the feedlot.