Started calves being fed twice a day to appetite should have 8 to 11 inches of bunk per calf. If grain is self fed, allow 3 to 4 inches of feeder trough or bunk per calf. Generally 10 inches of bunk per calf is required for self fed roughage. Feed bunks should be located to encourage calves to eat and provide convenience in feed delivery. Considerations include drainage and wind protection.
Calves prefer to eat downwind.
Drainage should be away from bunks. For small backgrounding enterprises where grain is delivered to calves by hand, bunks are often placed in the pen to provide utilize of both sides and can be moved as needed. In larger operations using feed mixing and delivery wagons or trucks, bunks typically are placed permanently on the fence line. Fence line feeding may use precast concrete bunks, wood plank bunks, or through the fence feeding on the ground or a concrete slab. Lumber used for feeding bunklines should be CCA pressure preservative treated.