Even with mud and manure buildup on the surface, the animals have a solid footing so that they do not sink in mud. In Kentucky, our recommendations are for a 4-6 in layer of No. 4 crushed limestone rock for the base material. A sand surface was also tested, but the sand tended to shift easily and did not provide as firm a footing. The dense grade material is generally available from suppliers of highway surface material, and is typically composed of aggregate no larger than 0.75 in, with mostly finer aggregate and fines. The lime surface should be sifted so that it will not have a large portion of fines.
Some fines are desirable for packing and stability, however.
Kentucky Woodford Co. Beef unit have been very successful in illustrating the effectiveness and durability of geotextile and rock pads. In contrast, by using geotextile fabrics, rock depth can be cut in half and the rock stays in place, cutting down on the repeated maintenance usually required for rock pads. Feeding pads should be 10-12 ft wide next to a bunk as a minimum depending upon the size of animals. The location of the bunk and pad should be a generally well drained area that offers good drainage away from the site, and an area where excess manure buildup can be stored if the pad is not scraped daily. For traffic surfaces, widths should be 8-12 ft.