AEN-177: Basic Principles for Laying Out Farm Infrastructure on Livestock Operations

By Steve Higgins
Published on Feb. 20, 2025

Livestock operations require comprehensive infrastructure to efficiently produce livestock.

AEN-169: Cattle Winter‐Feeding Area Evaluation

By Lee Moser and Steve Higgins
Published on Sep. 13, 2022

Winter feeding of cattle is necessary in Kentucky, since forages are dormant from late fall to spring. To prevent damage to multiple pastures by the creation of mud from livestock and tractor traffic, producers traditionally select a small area to "sacrifice" for this task.

AEN-165: Improving Cow Paths

By Steve Higgins
Published on Dec. 17, 2021

The energy expended by a large animal traveling on a slope can be tremendous. To compensate, grazing animals create trails, which run parallel to a slope. These trails allow animals to graze the upper slope, while standing on flat ground, which provides energy and grazing efficiencies.

AEN-161: Planning and Designing Suburban-Urban Poultry Housing in Kentucky

By James Ash and Steve Higgins
Published on Sep. 29, 2021

Interest in suburban-urban poultry keeping continues to increase. The main reasons for keeping poultry are for eggs and meat, and to address food sustainability or security issues. Poultry are also enjoyed as pets, for ornamental purposes, and providing enjoyment.

AEN-163: Creating a Hub with Dry Lots for Small Ruminants

By Steve Higgins
Published on Sep. 16, 2021

A typical small ruminant operation needs to graze, feed and water animals daily. In addition, other activities such as milking, winter feeding, kidding or lambing, managing sick stock and handling for herd health need to be accomplished routinely or seasonally.

AEN-155: The Importance of Water Source Layout in Farm Infrastructure

By Steve Higgins
Published on Aug. 28, 2020

Water source layout is a critical infrastructure component for cattle and cattle producers. Strategic water resource layout is a part of a farmstead plan that does not always get adequate attention, despite its critical importance.

AEN-154: Land and Water Use Planning Applied to a Pasture-based Beef Operation

By Steve Higgins
Published on Aug. 6, 2020

A typical cow-calf grazing operation needs to feed and water cattle on a daily basis. Ideally, this is accomplished by rotating cattle from field to field and providing them with a convenient source of water to drink. Cattle operations can better manage cattle when facilities are designed to meet the needs of cattle and the producer.

AEN-151: Lanes for Beef Cattle Operations

By Steve Higgins
Published on May. 14, 2020

The benefits of lanes can be applied to pasture-based Kentucky cattle operations of any size. Lanes can be used to move cattle from pasture to pasture, and to access structures or barns, handling facilities, load-out areas, and areas with shade.