There is a knack for designing a corral system that cattle will move through with ease. The partners of Woodhill Farms are waiting to build permanent corrals when they have reached their desired herd size. Before breaking ground on any new facility, McCulloh talks with other producers about their facilities and visits with building experts. This sentiment is echoed by Glenn Selk, Extension animal reproduction specialist at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. In the planning phase, producers need to look at the drainage of their land.
Many states have different waste regulations.
Selk believes the drainage of lots is tied to cattle gains. The Gardiners had the facility built so that all the outdoor pens drain to one central discharge point. Since the Gardiners AI all their 1,300 registered and commercial Angus cows, they had a need for an indoor breeding facility connected to three circular outdoor lots via gates and alleyways. Up to 1,500 females can be maintained comfortably in this facility. The three large circles are 450 feet in diameter.