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Researchers studying how feedlot surfaces impact cattle production, health

A new feedlot innovation center in eastern Nebraska is studying how different feedlot surfaces can impact cattle production and health.

University of Nebraska Beef Feedlot Specialist Galen Erickson says they’re following research from a Canadian feedlot comparing roller compacted concrete to traditional dirt pens.

“Obviously there’s different conditions. They actually saw a decrease in sickness or poles that they had in cattle, and also an improvement in lameness,” he says.

The Canadian study used 125 square feet per head on RCC and open lot pens. Advantages of RCC included no mud or sinking, easier cleaning and bedding opportunities and improved manure quality. Disadvantages included higher cost, cattle comfort during wet/muddy conditions and no set prescription for bedding.

Erickson tells Brownfield there is growing interest from producers for better efficiency. 

‘Every time we have wet conditions, our producers are tired of fighting with mud, and inevitably, in our open lots that have soil kind of based pens, we always get quite a bit of soil we haul out in our manure, which is a great resource. And if you haul soil out, you got to eventually haul soil back in,” he says.

Erickson says there’s still much to learn about the advantages of roller compacted concrete.

“How often should we be bedding those RCC pens? How often should we clean those pens, and how much square foot should we need per head? I think we’re all learning how to manage it, and then when conditions fit the best,” he says.

Brownfield interviewed Erickson at the Nebraska Beef Summit near Mead, Nebraska.