Planning for Acitivities and Processes in Your Facility

By: Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz Production Animal Consultation

Cattle handling facilities are an integral part of the beef cattle operation. Whether you are looking to build a new facility or re-design an existing facility, one of the first steps in the process should be a thorough evaluation of the activities that will take place in the facility. Understanding the tasks to be performed from the start will reduce the need for costly changes to the facility after it has been built.

Generally, all processing facilities should accommodate basic herd work including vaccination, branding, implanting, castration, reproductive exams, identification, and weighing. Tasks such as computerized sorting and ultrasounding for pregnancy exams or to measure back fat and carcass quality may require additional planning.

Some facilities need to accommodate more specialized procedures such as hospitalization and treatment, surgery, or research enrollment. In these facilities, it may be necessary to add a wet lab room or additional room to accommodate the tools needed to accomplish the procedures. Additional table space, drop hoses with water, and drop cords located chute side; additional electrical outlets; specialized lighting; and cleaning may also be necessary.

The types of technology that need to be installed in the facility are also dictated by the schedule of activities. Such technology might include computer hardware and software for recordkeeping, water and electricity for surgical procedures, and overhead or floor-mount scales for collecting weights.

Taking into account the activities that will take place, the facility can be designed to help ensure that adequate biosecurity measures can be implemented easily. The ease of clean-up will determine whether or not it is done regularly and thoroughly!

Additionally, consider the following questions when designing shipping and receiving facilities:

• What are the space requirements for gathering and staging pens?

• Is a foot scale required?

• Is shipping and receiving verification required?

When planning shipping facilities, evaluate the size of cattle and design the facility to accommodate animals’ current size with the anticipation that animals will get bigger or maintain the size they are today.

Be sure to consult the employees who work in the facility when considering its activities and its design. These employees have first-hand experience with the day-to-day operation of the facility. Their valuable perspective might reveal issues that would otherwise be overlooked. I have been involved in many facility remodels and new designs where the employees were left out of the discussion, and I can tell you first hand if you want the facility to be successful and efficient, make sure to include your lead processor in the discussion.

The cost of remodeling and building new facilities is high. Knowing the purposes of the facility will help the designer make the facility as efficient as possible, improving the processing experience for both cattle and handlers.