Environmental Conditions in a Bedded Hoop Barn with Market Beef Cattle

Abstract

The objective was to document the environment of a bedded hoop barn used for feeding market beef cattle. A comparison between a bedded hoop barn and an open-front feedlot building was conducted in southwest Iowa. The hoop barn was oriented north-south on a ridge with no windbreak. In summer, temperature was relatively consistent between the structures and ambient conditions, although the north end of the hoop barn had a slightly elevated dew point temperature. A summer temperaturehumidity index showed that the hoop barn had fewer hours in “alert” category than either open front or ambient conditions. In winter, a cold stress index showed that the open-front barn provided the most shelter for the cattle with 92% of the hours classified as “no impact,” compared with the hoop barn at 77% of the hours as “no impact” and ambient at 51% of the hours as “no impact.” Both ends of the hoop barn were open, except for piled big round bales for a windbreak during winter. Bedded hoop barns offer a viable alternative for feeding beef cattle.