Self-Propelled Machine

Self-propelled Machine LIVESTOCK Beef 16-6-4 When Christensen Cattle Company near Central City, Neb., bought a new site several years ago to expand its feedlot operation, it needed a lot of feedbunks for the new pens. "We felt that with the large number of bunks we'd be needing we could build our own machine to make them and it would pay for itself," says Bonnie Christensen. A machine was designed and built in the farm's shop by employee Duane Stuart with the help of Dean Christensen and other employees. "It's all made out of flat iron and square tubing," Stuart says, noting that he laid awake many nights planning the whole machine. "I drew up blueprints and started building. It didn't take that long to build, about 4 mos. working when we had spare time. It took longer to figure it out than it did to build it," says Stuart, adding that only a couple of changes have been made to the machine since he came up with the original design. "We poured 820 ft. of bunk the first day. The only serious problem we had that day was that I wasn't sure it was going to work and I didn't want a bunch of concrete trucks lined up with nothing to do so I only ordered one truck." As cement trucks dump directly into the hopper on the self-propelled machine, four vibrators inside pack and form the mixture into bunks which come out the back finished and free-standing. Workers hand trowel any rough spots. Fenceposts that hold cable which restrains feeding cattle are placed directly into the wet cement. Because the bunks are formed on the ground, Stuart says they're virtually rodent-proof, unlike pre-formed bunks on the market which have room underneath for rodents to live. Also, they're designed for easy cleaning and snow removal. A 5-in. curb-like rail on the inside of the bunk keeps stock far enough away to avoid feed contamination and also protects the bunks from loaders cleaning out the lots. Now that they've perfected the procedure, the machine forms and lays about 4 ft. of bunk a minute. They have to have a new cement truck ready every 20 min. since it takes only about 18 min. to use up a truck-load of about 8 yeards of concrete, which translates into about 56 ft. of bunk. They now build bunks commercially for other feedlot operators. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Duane T. Stuart, Rt. 2, Central City, Neb. 68826 (ph 308 946-2840).

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