Description
A metal building (dotted lines) covers this small beef processing plant in Montana. The drive-thru unloading area is also under the roof for cold weather comfort. The four holding pens and the two alleys can hold a maximum of sixty cattle. The fencing is steel pipe and rail with an 8 inch curb at the bottom of the fences to contain waste. Wash water is pushed to the cleaning access gate at the top of the page and into a waste water collection area. Fans in summer are necessary to keep the barn cool, and lighting is provided with skylights in the roof, and supplemental lights inside for nighttime use. Deep grooved concrete was used in all curved fence areas and in the holding pens. The three most important principles when designing facilities for cattle are; Solid sided fences in high use areas like the curved lane and crowd pen. Blocking vision with solid fences keeps them calm. Deep groove concrete floors also keeps cattle calm, and gives them confidence waking through the facility. Curved fences promote forward motion and make cattle think they’re going back where they came from. Curves also prevent abrupt corners or chutes that appear dead-ended.
