Success StoryWashington County Livestock Center Expansion



Washington County Livestock Center Expansion

Author: Joshua Jackson

Planning Unit: Biosystems & Agr Engineering

Major Program: Beef

Outcome: Initial Outcome

To address issues with cattle capacity, the Washington County Livestock Center, ~1,500 receipts per week, was planning to expand their operation with a 50 ft x 200 ft addition to their existing facility. After an on-site meeting, a plan on what they would want/need for their expansion was developed. The location, orientation, and number of waterers, gates, posts, and potential tolerances was evaluated for the proposed site. Tolerances and clearances were important as the ability to maneuver animals and equipment throughout the facility was essential. Gates must be able to swing freely and both the aisles and pens must be easily cleaned using mechanical means (skid steer) as opposed to manual labor.2D and 3D rendering were developed to optimize flow and handling characteristics for the expanded facility. A couple iterations of the design were developed until a consensus for the design was reached. The plans were implemented to allow for additional capacity and for improved functionality of the stockyards.