By Scout Nelson
Cattle handling improvements often resulted from trial and error. At the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center, this approach is being refined. Here, researchers are pairing old observations with new data to better understand and improve cattle behavior.
A newly added feature at the center is a cattle handling system designed by Daniels Manufacturing Co., a Nebraska-based company with a rich legacy in the cattle industry.
This state-of-the-art system is a game-changer for many in the field, especially for Ruth Woiwode, a renowned professor at UNL. She envisions using this facility to greatly enhance future research in cattle handling.
The research is promising due to the center's processing barn, which houses both the Daniels system and another cattle handling system donated by ArrowQuip, allowing side-by-side studies of cattle handling facilities and methods, and a special classroom for unique observation experiences.
For massive cattle operations, even minor tweaks in facility design can have a major impact on stress levels, safety, and efficiency for both cattle and handlers. And with the inclusion of the Daniels system, which has features like a double alleyway and a Bud box, the researchers can better understand cattle's natural behaviors and tendencies.
By studying these details, the Klosterman Center aims to offer insights to further enhance facility design, ultimately benefiting cattle and those who care for them.
Daniels Manufacturing, founded in 1958, has a long history of innovation and prioritizes cattle and handler well-being. The Klosterman Center collaborates with Daniels Manufacturing, reflecting their shared vision.
Danny Daniels, a significant figure, passed away recently, but his dedication to the industry remains immortalized. An inscription in his honor now adorns the Husker-red alleyway at the center.
The collaboration between research centers and industry giants like Daniels Manufacturing is ensuring that changes in cattle handling are rooted in research, care, and tradition.
Photo Credit: USDA
Categories: Nebraska, Livestock, Beef Cattle