How to Store Animal Feed Safely Through Autumn and Winter

As autumn brings cooler temperatures, heavier rain and increased humidity across Yorkshire and Lancashire, animal feed stores can become more vulnerable to damp, condensation, pests and contamination.

Good storage protects the nutritional quality of feed, reduces unnecessary waste and helps prevent livestock from being exposed to spoiled or contaminated material.

Whether you keep cattle, sheep, poultry, horses, pigs or a small mixed holding, this practical checklist will help you prepare your feed room, store or silo for the months ahead.

Why autumn feed storage needs attention

Feed that remained dry throughout summer can begin to deteriorate when the weather changes.

Common autumn and winter problems include:

• Rain entering through damaged roofs or doors
• Condensation forming on walls, roofs or inside containers
• Feed bags absorbing moisture from concrete floors
• Rodents moving indoors in search of food and shelter
• Feed residues collecting beneath pallets or inside bins
• Leaking pipes or gutters
• Birds gaining access through damaged doors or vents
• Different feeds being mixed through poor labelling or handling
• Older bags remaining unused behind newer deliveries

Regular inspections make it easier to correct these problems before feed is damaged.

Start with a thorough clean

Empty and inspect the storage area before receiving a large autumn or winter feed delivery.

Remove:

• Spilt feed
• Empty bags and packaging
• Dust and cobwebs
• Material trapped beneath pallets
• Old feed from bins, hoppers and corners
• Rodent nesting material
• Standing water
• Damaged or contaminated equipment

Pay particular attention to joints, grooves and other places where old feed can accumulate. Government biosecurity guidance recommends removing feed residues from storage units and cleaning troughs and hoppers to reduce cross-contamination. gov.uk

Allow washed surfaces and containers to dry completely before putting feed back into them.

Keep feed clean and dry

Bagged feed should be stored in a dry, weatherproof building with adequate airflow.

Where possible:

• Keep bags off the floor on clean pallets or suitable shelving
• Leave space between feed and external walls
• Repair roof, gutter and pipe leaks promptly
• Protect feed from driving rain
• Avoid storing open bags beside doors
• Check regularly for condensation
• Keep pallet stacks stable and accessible
• Separate damaged bags from sound stock
• Close or seal part-used bags after use

Do not place feed directly against damp concrete, blockwork or metal walls. Moisture can pass into packaging and create localised spoilage even when the rest of the bag appears sound.

Storage areas and containers should be kept clean and dry, with feed separated from chemicals and other materials that could contaminate it. Business and economy

Inspect every delivery

Check feed when it arrives rather than discovering a problem several weeks later.

Look for:

• Torn, punctured or wet bags
• Broken seals
• Water staining
• Unusual clumping
• Evidence of insects
• Rodent damage
• Unusual odours
• Incorrect products or pack sizes
• Missing or unreadable batch information

Record the delivery date, product, quantity and batch details where appropriate. Retain labels and delivery documents so that the feed can be identified if a quality issue or recall arises.

If a delivery appears damaged or contaminated, separate it from usable feed and contact the supplier before feeding it.

Use older feed first

Arrange stock so that the oldest suitable feed is used before newer deliveries.

A simple first-in, first-out system helps prevent bags from being forgotten at the back of the store.

When a delivery arrives:

1. Check and record the new stock.
2. Inspect existing bags for damage.
3. Move older suitable stock to the front.
4. Place new stock behind it.
5. Keep labels and batch details visible.
6. Avoid stacking bags so tightly that they cannot be inspected.

Do not mix fresh feed with old residues in a bin or hopper without first checking and cleaning it. Small amounts of stale material can contaminate a larger new delivery.

Label bins and containers clearly

Every storage container should clearly show what it contains.

Include:

• Feed name
• Intended species or animal group
• Delivery or opening date
• Batch number where required
• Any important feeding instructions
• Whether the feed is medicated
• Relevant withdrawal or handling information

Never rely on colour or appearance alone to identify feed. Similar-looking pellets, meals and minerals can have very different formulations and intended uses.

Use dedicated scoops or buckets for different products where cross-contamination could cause a problem. Skipton Dairy’s farm supplies and agricultural essentials include feed skips, buckets and everyday handling equipment.

Store feed away from chemicals and medicines

Do not store feed beside:

• Fuels and oils
• Fertilisers
• Pesticides
• Rodenticides
• Disinfectants
• Veterinary medicines
• Paints, solvents or workshop chemicals
• Treated seed
• Machinery that could leak oil or fuel

Maintain separate, clearly marked storage areas. Chemicals and veterinary products should remain in their original containers and be stored according to their labels.

Never use an unlabelled chemical container to hold feed or water, even after it has been washed.

Check for mould and spoilage

Warning signs that feed may have deteriorated include:

• Visible mould
• Dampness
• Heating within a bulk store
• Unusual clumping
• Discolouration
• A stale, musty or sour smell
• Excessive dust
• Insect activity
• Damage from birds or rodents

Not every feed hazard can be identified by sight or smell. Mycotoxins and other undesirable contaminants can reduce feed quality without always producing an obvious warning. The Food Standards Agency identifies mycotoxins among the undesirable residues that can affect animal feed. food.gov.uk

Do not simply mix suspicious feed with a larger quantity to dilute it. Isolate it and ask the supplier, nutritionist, vet or feed adviser whether testing or disposal is required.

Make the store less attractive to rodents

Feed stores provide rodents with food, shelter and nesting material. Prevention should be the first part of the control plan.

Practical measures include:

• Cleaning up spills immediately
• Keeping doors closed when not in use
• Repairing gaps around doors and walls
• Fitting suitable guards around pipe openings
• Removing rubbish and unused packaging
• Cutting back vegetation beside buildings
• Keeping pallets tidy
• Checking for droppings, gnawing and tracks
• Inspecting behind bins and beneath pallets
• Keeping bulk-feed loading points clean

Maintain a clear inspection strip around walls where possible. This makes signs of rodent activity easier to detect.

Use rodenticides responsibly

If rodent control is required, begin by assessing the scale and location of the problem. Traps, proofing, improved hygiene or professional pest control may sometimes be more appropriate than bait.

Rodenticides are regulated biocidal products. In Great Britain, professional use must comply with the product authorisation, label and applicable stewardship requirements. hse.gov.uk

Always:

• Confirm that the product is authorised for the intended use
• Follow the label exactly
• Use secure bait stations where instructed
• Prevent access by livestock, pets, wildlife and children
• Keep bait away from loose animal feed
• Record bait locations
• Inspect stations at the stated intervals
• Search for and dispose of rodent carcasses as directed
• Remove bait when the treatment period ends
• Store unused products securely
• Use protective equipment specified on the label

Skipton Dairy’s pest-control collection includes traps, bait stations and rodent-control products. Check the product description and label to confirm whether an item is suitable for domestic, agricultural or professional use.

Inspect bulk bins and silos

Bulk storage requires the same attention as bagged feed.

Check:

• Lids, seals and access hatches
• Filling and discharge points
• Evidence of water ingress
• Condensation
• Old feed collecting around joints
• Damage, corrosion or cracking
• Signs of rodents or birds
• Whether the bin empties correctly
• The condition of augers and delivery systems

Plan safe cleaning and maintenance. Silos and enclosed feed-storage units can present serious hazards, so do not enter them without suitable training, equipment and a safe system of work.

Keep feed troughs and hoppers clean

Correct storage is only part of the process. Feed can still become wet or contaminated after it enters a trough, hopper or feeder.

Check feeding equipment for:

• Old feed trapped in corners
• Rainwater entry
• Leaking drinkers
• Bird droppings
• Rodent contamination
• Mouldy residues
• Sharp edges or damage
• Blockages that prevent an even flow

Clean equipment regularly and allow it to dry before refilling. Avoid continually topping up stale feed without first removing residues.

Protect feed from cross-contamination

Cross-contamination can happen when the same equipment is used for several products or species.

Be particularly careful with:

• Medicated feeds
• Mineral supplements
• High-copper products
• Feed containing species-specific additives
• Treated seed
• Supplements intended for only one age or production group

Sheep are particularly sensitive to excess copper, so never assume that cattle or general livestock feed is suitable for them.

Follow the label and seek advice before feeding a product to a different species or animal group.

Complete a weekly feed-store check

A short, regular inspection can prevent significant losses.

Check that:

• The roof, gutters and pipes are not leaking
• Feed bags remain clean and dry
• Pallets are sound
• Part-used bags are sealed
• Labels remain visible
• Older stock is being used first
• Feed is separated from chemicals and medicines
• Spills have been removed
• Bins and hoppers are clean
• There are no signs of rodents, birds or insects
• Traps or bait stations are being managed correctly
• Suspicious feed has been isolated
• Stock and batch records are up to date

Assigning responsibility for this check helps ensure it is completed consistently.

Prepare your feed store with Skipton Dairy

Skipton Dairy Services supplies livestock, poultry and horse feeds alongside feed skips, buckets, pest-control products and everyday farm equipment.

Browse our animal feeds and supplements, farm supplies and agricultural essentials, or pest-control range.

For help finding suitable products, call 01535 603361 or visit our trade counter at Unit 1 Worth Enterprise Park, Valley Road, Keighley, BD21 4LN.

This article provides general guidance only. Always follow feed, chemical and pest-control product labels. Seek advice from your feed supplier, nutritionist, vet, suitably qualified adviser or professional pest controller when required.