Feed Waste Caused by Livestock Behavior (And How to Stop It)

Not all feed waste comes from pests or moisture.
Some of it comes from the animals themselves.

Understanding livestock feeding behavior can save surprising amounts of feed.

1. Cattle

Cattle waste feed by:

• rooting in troughs

• pulling hay out of rings

• trampling loose feed

• knocking over bins

Solutions:

• cone-style hay feeders

• raised troughs

• well-lit feeding areas

2. Horses

Horses waste feed when:

• they sort textured feeds

• their breath condenses in winter, moistening grain

• they knock buckets over

• they scatter hay

Solutions:

• slow-feed nets

• wall-mounted feed tubs

• rubber mats under feeding areas

3. Goats and Sheep

These species are messy by nature:

• they climb into feeders

• they knock over buckets

• they scatter grain to “pick through it”

Solutions:

• covered feeders

• raised designs

• narrow feeding slots

4. Using Cameras to Monitor Wasteful Habits

A camera helps identify which animals:

• waste the most feed

• knock things over

• sneak into areas they shouldn’t

• attract pests by leaving feed around

Barn Owl cameras reveal behavior patterns you’d never catch in daylight alone.

Watch the footage once, fix the issue forever.