Build a Dream Feed Center

So, you want to build a new feed center? Where does a person start without getting caught up in all the nitty gritty details? I think of it like a home project, you start with all your wants and a wish list that fulfills your finished project vision. But then money talks and you realize the flooring you like the most is 3X what you have budgeted for, so you need to look for the next best floor that you like that fits your budget. There is not a cookie-cutter answer for how to design a feeding center. It depends on what the dairy’s long-term vision is for their operation and what they are willing to budget for the project.

So where do you begin? Let’s start here on what major components of most feed centers are and don’t limit your thinking on the initial drafting/brainstorming: think big and broad.

• Distance to cows and forages along with equipment travel time considerations
• Loading area – pits are great for the operator due to better visibility when loading. Other areas to consider:
  • Back down or drive through
  • Flat surface – long enough for tractor and mixer wagon. Important for maintaining a level mixer when mixing.
  • Convenient staircase location from pit to main level
  • Wind protection if not in enclosed building
• Staging areas – Easy to access and clean out daily, especially when dealing with forages and weighbacks.
  • Weighbacks
  • Premixes
  • Forages
  • Other
• Safety considerations – don’t skimp here!
  • No blind corners
    • If unavoidable, then install convex mirrors to help traffic see what’s coming
  • Safety zones/no people zones
  • Lights on equipment and buildings
    • Most of the early morning loads happen in the dark. Give your feeders ample lighting!
  • Delivery of incoming ingredients during feeding
  • Traffic flow
• Bay storage
  • Steel-plating the front of bay walls is highly recommended to prevent concrete chipping – see picture
  • Magnetic signs that clearly identify ingredients
  • Figure the number of bays that you need in your current operation and add 2 because they always end up getting used.
  • Trash management
    • Trash bin close to bag staging area
    • Dumpster for silage plastic/other large pieces of trash
    • Daily cleanup routine
  • Liquid storage and application – majority of farms use some type of liquid product, even if it’s just water, so having a designated spot for tanks and pumps is important to include.
    • Enclosed bay next to loading area
    • Outside of loading area
    • Buried under ground
    • Delivery consideration is important here, so place tanks that trucks can come anytime of the day without interfering with feeding process
  • Automation is emerging to reduce manual labor associated with feeding. Computer systems work with the feed software to batch ingredients that are in a bin in conjunction with ingredients loaded with wheel loader. Picture of bin augers to TMR.
  • • Reduces labor needed and streamlines feeding process
    • Larger capital investment
    • Right size bin augers with type of ingredient and motor size

Another important aspect to starting a new building project is asking questions to your trusted farm advisers on what they see as ‘must-haves’ for your operation. Go on tour! Farms enjoy hosting other farmers to share learnings and building designs they have put up, so work on finding out what farms have a facility you want to learn more about. Your dairy consultant can help you with these connections and peer to peer learning. Some organizations, like GPS Dairy Consulting, host feed center tours. Lastly, work with a trusted builder that has experience building feed centers that will last and hold up to the test of time. Happy building!