A good feed bunk gives every animal enough room to eat, keeps feed clean and dry, and is managed by checking what is left each day. To design one, you need to know how many head you have, how big they are, whether they eat all at once, and how you will deliver feed. Then you record what you feed and what is left so you can adjust.
Step 1: Figure Out Bunk Space Per Head
The space needed depends on the type of cattle and how they are fed. Extension programs commonly give ranges like these, so check with your local extension office for your system:
- Feedlot cattle on full feed (always feed in the bunk): a smaller amount per head, since animals can eat at different times.
- Cattle fed once a day or limit-fed: more space per head, because everyone eats at the same time.
- Mature cows fed hay or silage at once: about 18 to 30 inches per cow, with the high end for larger cows.
- Dairy cows at a headlock bunk: roughly two feet per cow is a common guideline.
- Calves and creep feed: allow smaller space per calf, but make sure all of them can eat.
If animals are crowded, the bossy cattle eat first and the shy ones lose weight. When in doubt, give more room.
Step 2: Choose the Bunk Style
- Fence-line bunks: Easy to fill from outside the pen, but exposed to rain and snow, which can spoil feed.
- Post-and-rail: Simple and gives cattle free movement, but allows feed to be pushed out and wasted.
- Headlocks: Reduce competition so shy animals get their share and can help cut waste, but need more careful design.
- Concrete bunks: Durable and easy to clean when built with rounded inside corners and good drainage.
Whichever style you pick, make sure the bunk is the right height for your animals, slopes to drain, and has smooth surfaces that are easy to sweep.
Step 3: Record Feed and Bunk Scores
To manage the bunk you need a record. Each day, write down:
- The date and pen number
- The number of head
- The amount of feed delivered (as-fed and dry matter if you know it)
- What was left when you checked the bunk, before the next feeding
- A bunk score. Many feedlots use a 0 to 4 scale, from a clean, empty bunk to a bunk with a lot of leftover feed.
- Any changes you made to the next day’s feed
Cattle usually eat about two to three percent of their body weight in dry matter each day, depending on age, weight and diet. Use that as a rough check, then adjust to what your own cattle do. If the bunk is empty hours before the next feeding, increase the feed. If a lot is left over, cut back and remove spoiled feed.
Common Mistakes
- Too little bunk space, which leads to fighting and uneven weights
- Letting old, wet feed build up in the bunk
- Making big feed changes in one day, which can cause digestive upset or bloat
- No water nearby. Cattle eat less if water is far from the bunk.
Bottom Line
Plan enough bunk space for the way you feed, pick a design that keeps feed dry and reduces waste, and keep daily records of feed and bunk scores. For exact feed amounts, talk with your vet or a livestock nutritionist.
Related reading: how much silage to feed cows, what Angus cattle eat and the best feed for a nursing cow.
