Kentucky is the largest beef producing state east of the Mississippi River. It also has a lot of precipitation during the winter which makes feeding cattle a potentially muddy mess.  If a farmer could manage the mud, there could be a potential cost savings to the farmer as well as an environmental impact savings.  If the area where the cattle feed is less muddy then they have less energy needs and if the udders stay clean, calves stay healthier and have high weight gains resulting in more pounds of animals to sell. 

The Lewis County ANR agent has worked with two different beef producers, starting in March of 2021 to help make improvements on each operation. After working with both producers, a tour was set up for the Eden Shale Farm to see what had implemented for feed beef animals during the winter and what would work for each individual operation.  After the tour, design plans were looked at and given to each farmer. One design featured a covered fence line hay feeder and the other converting an existing structure to a covered large round bale feeder.  During the summer and early fall of 2021 each operation built these structures on their farm to fit in their management system.  Both farms are currently using these new facilities and have reported a savings of hay compared to the winter of 2020. Each farmer’s winter hay feeding area is now in a confined area where cows are feeding on concrete or gravel which help reduce mud and some of the issues it causes. Both farmers have reported that feeding is more enjoyable and feel their fields are in better shape when coming out of winter.