Two livestock winter feeding site demonstrations have been established in Russell County, Kansas to:

• Compare efficiencies in forage consumption of round bale feeders to those with cone inserts
• Determine the effectiveness of best management practices in respect to cleaning feeding sites adjacent to tire feeders.

Both projects will utilize soil core samples to determine the movement of nitrogen, phosphorous, and E. coli in the soil profile from the feeding site.

Typical residue left behind by cattle near a round bale feeder.  Depths of feed residue can reach depths of one foot if not properly maintained.

Esherichia coli magnified at 1000x.  E. coli is the standard as an indicator organism for fecal contamination of soil and water.  E. coli is part of the normal flora of the intestinal tract making most strains harmless.  However, some strains can cause food poisoning or other human problems.