Loading Feed

Collecting Feed from the Loading Points

Any feedlot consists of a range of different feeding bunkers and loading points for those bunkers. Most commonly feedlots will have a range of cattle at different stages of development and health, therefore, requiring different amounts and types of feed. These different groups of cattle are normally grouped together, like by like, to ensure that each group’s specific dietary needs are met.

For instance, in most feedlots, young cattle arriving at the lot will be fed on a diet consisting of roughage only for a week or two to kick start the weight gaining process. As the cattle settle into their routine of feeding their dietary needs will change and so will the amount of feed needed in order for them to maintain a steady weight gain.

The purpose of the feedlot is to quickly and cost-effectively fattens cattle to a point where their body mass and fat content reach the levels required by the market. It is therefore very important for the feedlot operator to be able to effectively adjust feed blends and amounts, when needed, to the different groups of cattle within the different loading bunkers.

To determine the needs and dietary requirements of each feed bunker and load point most feedlots will employ a scoring system whereby the amount of feed needed as well as the blends required in each feedlot can be effectively measured and regulated. It is therefore critical that we must be able to differentiate between the different feed bunkers and feed loading points in order to ensure that the correct amount and type of feed is delivered to the correct feed bunker at the correct time.

This knowledge of the different feed bunkers and loading points within the feedlot is, therefore, a critical part of the successful operation of the feedlot and workers loading feed into the feed bunkers must therefore be fully conversant on the different locations of the different loading points.

Feedlots most commonly will have different loading points for feed destined for different bunkers. The person responsible for the collection and distribution of the feed to the bunkers must therefore be fully aware of where the food required for the specific bunkers that need to be refilled must be loaded. Where only the three main blends namely a starter blend, a growth blend and a finisher blend have used the implementation of a colour-coded system seems the best way to ensure that the correct feed goes to the correct bunkers.

When designing and developing a colour scheme the loading points containing the different feed blends should be colour coded. The same colour code should then be used on the feed bunker cards to ensure that the driver of the tractor delivering the feed to the feed bunkers can easily check and ascertain that the correct feed is going to the correct bunkers

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Guidelines for Loading Feed