Feedlots:
Meat and Livestock Australia - KEY BENEFITS
- Shade can have a large impact on the body heat load experienced by cattle, by reducing solar (sun) radiation and hence slowing the rate of body heat gain.
- Shade can improve cattle comfort and productivity and increase profitability.
- Shade can be designed to maximise ventilation and afternoon shade.
See: MLA Tips and Tools, www.mla.com.au
Shades and cover at least 1.6 to 6m2
per SCU (Standard Cattle Unit).
When choosing shade structures the following points should be considered:
- Where possible structures should run north/south to allow sunlight to penetrate under the structure for drying - bogging can become an issue especially during winter months
- Structures should be placed in a well drained area
- The higher the structure off the ground the better the drying
- Ovoid very wide structures (over 12m wide), as they may be difficult to dry underneath.
- Large pens require a structure approximately 11m wide and 5.8m high, this layout allows
