Evaluation of beef cattle feedlot waste management alternatives

Alternative beef waste management systems were examined to determine minimum cost systems for effective waste disposal. Design and cost information was obtained from feedlot visits and the literature. A computer program was developed for use with a Conversational Programming System (CPS) for calculating the sizes of equipment and facilities and for estimating the facility and machinery operating and investment costs. For open feedlots, two waste management systems, solid and runoff-carried, were considered. Costs are given. Confinement buildings with slotted floors using slurry handling methods or with solid floors using solid handling methods offer a high potential for completely controlling the animal waste and abating pollution. A promising system for near optimum pollution control is a cable scraper system underneath a slotted floor for daily removal and disposal of the wastes. A manure irrigation is discussed.