Finally getting started

[Central Fl Cracker]

After reading and posting ?? for over a year I am finally set up to get started on Stockers after fencing and some problems with the Govt.
My question: I am buying 20 preconditioned steer feeders (400 to 450 lbs.) at the end of this month and I need an idea on what size my holding pen needs to be. I bought some used heavy duty panels but not sure what size of an area I need for holding the feeders for 2 or 4 weeks before I turn them out on the pasture.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

Ok...I'll stick my neck out on this one...lol.

Assuming you'll be feeding them in the pen (rather than pasture), I would "think" you would need a minimum of 100 sq ft per animal so they didn't crowd each other too much. 300 to 500 sq ft per animal would be much better. You don't want to have them so close they don't get some exercise and start crowding/hurting each other. This considered, I wouldn't want to put 20 in an area less than about 100 x 100', however. You want to give them a lot more room than one of those Sale Barn pens, obviously.

Anything less than about an acre ~208 x 208 ft., for 20 steers would probably do a number on any grass you had in the pen for 2 to 3 weeks.

Just my wild A## guess on this one!

 

[dj]

It depends on the conditions they came from.
And what they are used to being confined in/with.
Put all your panels together and dump them in.
If they look too crowded for you get some more panels.
If they've been under electric wire put up a larger area around the panels and feed them in the paneled area but allow some grazing in the electric wire paddock. Unless they have been preconditioned to jump high and run fast you'll be alright.