There is growing interest in feeding cattle in bedded confinement buildings for a multitude of reasons including (but not limited to): performance advantages, limited space for open lots, and keeping manure dry as well as preventing feedlot run-off and reducing environmental concerns. Oftentimes these confined cattle are housed in mono-slope barns.
What Is a Monoslope Beef Barn?
This video is excerpted from a webcast presentation by Shawn Shouse, Iowa State University
Mono-slope barns, by definition have only one slope to their roof and are usually naturally ventilated. They are typically positioned to take advantage of seasonal climatic conditions. This means in the northern hemisphere the higher side would be south-facing with the lower side to the north. This allows for shade in the summer and sun exposure in the winter. In bedded units, the bedding absorbs moisture and provides a softer surface for cattle to walk and lay on.
Comparing Confinement Farms with Conventional Feedlots
| Shawn Shouse of Iowa State University compares confinement systems to open lots for beef cattle. |
While there are many advantages to mono-slope beef barns, the question that has been raised is: “What is the quality of air in these barns?”. A recent, on-going research project takes on this question.
Recommended Reading
- Beef Facilities Conference – November 21, 2013
- Monoslope Research Project
- Climate Conditions in Bedded Confinement Buildings
- Beef Feedlot Systems Manual (ISU)
- A Survey of Manure Characteristics from Bedded Confinement Buildings for Feedlot Beef Production – Progress Report (ISU)
- A Survey of Manure Characteristics from Bedded Confinement Buildings for Feedlot Beef Production – Final Report (ISU)
- Fed Cattle Performance in Open Lots and Bedded Confinements (ISU)
- Environmental Conditions in Beef Deep-Bedded Mono-Slope Facilities (ISU)
- Hoops and Mono-Slopes: What Have We Learned About Management and Performance (pp 8-17) in Feedlot Forum 2010 Proceedings (ISU)
- Errata Sheet for Hoops and Mono-Slopes: What Have We Learned About Management and Performance (ISU)
- MWPS Publication on Cattle Feeding Buildings in the Midwest (MWPS)
- Opportunities Farm Feedlot Information (SDSU)
- Opportunities Farm Update
- Technical Note on Beef and Dairy Bedded Pack Barn Planning and Design
- Spreadsheet for calculating manure storage space in bedded pack barns
- Fed Cattle Performance in Open Lots and Bedded Confinements
Webcasts
- Mono-Slope Beef Barn Design and Management Webcast
- Results of the Mono-slope Beef Barn Research Project
Inquiries about the mono-slope barns may be directed to:
— Beth Doran, Iowa State University (phone: 712-737-4230)
— Kris Kohl, Iowa State University (phone: 712-732-5056)
— Erin Cortus, South Dakota State University (phone: 605-688-5141)
— Mindy Spiehs, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (phone: 402-762-4271)
This page was developed as a part of the Monoslope Research project that was funded by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2010-85112-20510 awarded to South Dakota State University, USDA ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Iowa State University, and University of Nebraska – Lincoln from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
