22 Nebraska Cattleman August 2023 feedyard is a heavily scrutinized segment of the cattle industry, and consumers often draw negative opinions when they see cattle in feedyards.” Fulton says that being BQA certified can benefit a feedyard by demonstrating commitment to animal well-being and food safety. He says it also can help assuage public concerns with antibiotic usage. “It also helps us tell the story that we judiciously use our antibiotics, and we don’t just give cattle antibiotics for the fun of it,” Fulton says. “We only use them to treat sick animals or to prevent disease from coming into the operation or feedyards.” Concrete Bunks Concrete has been used in feedbunk construction for decades and has proven to be a reliable material. Using traditional concrete has many benefits, one of which is cleanliness. The deep trough design keeps the feed away from dust and debris on the ground. It also keeps feed readily available and is easy to clean when necessary. Concrete bunks are also easy to install. When one segment cracks, it can easily be replaced with another. This material is also strong and durable. Concrete can withstand the elements and won’t rust, and it stands up against wear and tear that occurs with kicks and bumps from cattle. Johnson Concrete offers concrete bunks for fence-line feeding that are low cost and permanent. They also have options for operations that don’t offer fence-line feeding with wide bunks that allow animals to eat from both sides. While concrete is not a new innovation, it continues to be a valuable method for feeding cattle. CattleQuants Drone-Based Inspections offers cattle counting by use of their drones to collect images of feedlots and pastures. INCREASING FEEDLOT EFFICIENCY • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
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