January 2025 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 37 Feeders is backed by an ownership group with more than 270 years of combined experience in cattle feeding and feedlot operations. Blackshirt Feeders, a TELUS Agriculture client, is actively embracing innovative technology to enhance their operations. “Since we are collecting data as the calves go through our system to our calf ranch that has our data collection system in place, that data can then be fed back to the genetic provider, and those evaluations can identify the bulls that perpetuate the features we’re interested in,” Behlke said. FACILITY LAYOUT In addition to adopting emerging technologies, Behlke highlighted the careful planning and effort involved in designing the new feedyard. He acknowledged Settje Agri-Services for their contribution in making the vision a reality. The yard was strategically designed to maximize operational efficiency. Smaller calves are initially housed in pens that are tailored to their size in the northwest corner. As the cattle grow, they are gradually moved through the yard, streamlining operations for the processing and doctoring crews, and simplifying routes for feed-truck drivers. STATE-OF-THE-ART FEED MILL The feed mill is designed with multiple commodity boxes, each equipped with a scale and a conveyor belt running below them. When a feed truck signals its return and requests a ration, the corresponding commodity box opens, releasing the exact amount of product onto the conveyor, which transfers it into the mixer box. After all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, the delivery trucks transport fully prepared batches to the feed bunks. This state-of-the-art system can produce 30,000-pound batches every 4.5 minutes, allowing the mill to feed all cattle at full capacity. Remarkably, the entire process requires just one payloader operator with the rest managed by computer automation. As one of the most technologically advanced feed mills in the world, it’s capable of efficiently feeding 150,000 head with minimal labor. ROLLER-COMPACTED CONCRETE AND ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS Roller-compacted concrete is used for the pen floors across all 150,000 head, offering a surface with minimal maintenance. This innovative opportunity is gaining popularity among feedlots because of its ability to haul a pure manure product out of the feedyard every 30, 60 or 90 days. Anaerobic digesters are used to turn the manure into a valuable product – methane gas. In this scenario, manure is placed in the digesters, where the appropriate micro-organisms are added and heat is applied to accelerate the process, allowing the methane produced to be captured. This results in renewable natural gas, which, due to its origin from beef manure, carries a negative carbon intensity score and offers an additional profitable opportunity for the feedyard. The nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus added to the system are converted into a highly concentrated fertilizer, which can then be applied to farmland. The use of roller-compacted concrete plays a key role in enabling the digester process, resulting in the production of these valuable byproducts. To stay on the cutting-edge, Behlke believes in the importance of evaluating new products, protocols, external ideas and technologies. This will enable producers to get a step closer to providing traceability throughout the entire production cycle to consumers. To truly move the industry forward, producers must work together, share knowledge and embrace these technologies. ~NC~ Eric Behlke, DVM, veterinarian at Feedlot Health Management Services and founding partner of Blackshirt Feeders, addresses attendees at the Nebraska Beef Summit. To stay on the cuttingedge, Behlke believes in the importance of evaluating new products, protocols, external ideas and technologies.
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