The expression "spring cleaning" conjures images of spotless households, but it can apply to cattle operations, too.
Spring is a good time for producers to clean feedlots or areas of manure accumulation, once cattle are removed for summer grazing, says Kansas State University's Joel DeRouchey.
If not properly cleaned and maintained, confined feeding pens and temporary feeding sites for wintering cows or winter-backgrounding calves are prime contributors to odor emissions, says DeRouchey, who is an animal scientist with K-State Research and Extension.
In addition, fly production from those sites is much greater when manure and wasted feed are present. This, in turn, creates a nuisance and the potential for reduced animal performance for the remainder of the summer.
More tips on livestock production are available on K-State's Department of Animal Sciences and Industry Web site: www.asi.ksu.edu.