How can sprinklers and regular pen cleaning reduce dust at feedlots?

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Livestock farming Pregnant brown and white Guernsey cow.

In the context of livestock farming, feedlots often face challenges with excess dust, particularly in arid regions like the High Plains where manure dries out rapidly and the lack of vegetation allows dust to blow freely.

Farmers can mitigate this issue through the following methods:

Sprinklers: Using water systems helps to dampen the dry manure and soil, preventing the particles from becoming airborne.
Regular Pen Cleaning: By removing the accumulation of manure on a consistent basis, farmers reduce the volume of dry material available to be turned into dust by the movement of the cattle.

These practices are essential for managing air pollution and maintaining the environmental quality of the facility.1