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Beef Cattle Feeding in a Deep-Bedded Hoop Barn: Year Two
Animal Industry Report
  • Mark S. Honeyman, Iowa State University
  • Jay D. Harmon, Iowa State University
  • Dallas L. Maxwell, Iowa State University
  • W. Darrell Busby, Iowa State University
  • Shawn Shouse, Iowa State University
Extension Number
ASL R2281
Publication Date
2008
Topic
Beef
Summary and Implications

A three-year study evaluating the performance of yearling steers in a deep-bedded hoop barn has completed the second year. A 50 × 120 foot hoop barn was constructed at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm in the late fall of 2004. The comparison feedlot is an outside lot with shelter that includes a drive-through feed alley. Two groups of yearling steers were fed each year. The summer/fall groups were put on test in August and marketed in November. The winter/spring groups were put on test in December and marketed in two drafts in April/May. Overall the cattle performed similarly with similar carcass data for both housing systems. The information presented is for two years of a three-year study. The cattle had a lower mud score in the hoop barn, particularly for the winter/spring feeding periods. As expected the deep-bedded hoop system used more bedding than the semi-confinement lots. The bedded hoop barn required about 5 to 6 lb of cornstalk bedding per head per day that the steers were on feed.

Copyright Holder
Iowa State University
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-500
Language
en
Citation Information
Mark S. Honeyman, Jay D. Harmon, Dallas L. Maxwell, W. Darrell Busby, et al.. "Beef Cattle Feeding in a Deep-Bedded Hoop Barn: Year Two" (2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jay_harmon/90/