Sisk Family Farm
Cattle Handling Improvements
Grant Award: $10,000
The Sisk family farm is nearly 200 years old. After previously operating as a dairy, the farm now produces beef cattle and vegetables. They sell cattle at auctions and also direct-to-consumer beef, honey, and eggs. The farm’s aging infrastructure requires upgrades and replacements to maintain productivity. Robert and Sarah will replace the fencing around the 60’x 60’ feedlot and add rough-sawn boards to limit the cattle’s view when they are brought in to be worked. They will also install gates to control cattle flow into and out of the feedlot.
The alleyway where the headgate is located is bounded on one side by a failing retaining wall. The farm plans to hire labor to remove the retaining wall, dig out the area, and add 6’x2’x2’ concrete blocks. The new wall will not only reestablish the alleyway but also reduce erosion.
A final upgrade will be reconfiguring the area moving into the holding pen. Currently, the setup requires a cow to make a 90-degree turn to face the headgate. The new entrance will be an arc that turns cattle over a distance, reducing the need to prod them.
The upgrades to the working area will improve cattle welfare, reduce agitation, and enhance farmer safety and efficiency. It will also facilitate the banding of bulls, which will result in the animals bringing a higher price at the market.
Contact the Local Extension Agent