Feedlots and Stockholding Areas

Find out about regulations relating to stockholding and feedlots from the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater.

Feedlots

You will have to meet the following minimum standards for feedlots:

• 90% of the cattle held in the feedlot are younger than 4 months old OR
• 90% of the cattle held in the feedlot are 120kg or less.

If you operate a feedlot, you may need a resource consent if you cannot meet the standards set out above. You will need to be able to demonstrate in your resource consent application that you can:

• manage the permeability of the base area so that it’s sealed to a minimum permeability standard of 10-9 metres per second; and
• collect, store and dispose of effluent in accordance with ORC rules or a current discharge permit; and
• situate the feedlot at least 50m away from waterbodies, water abstraction bores, drainage ditches and coastal marine areas.

What type of foundations do I need for my feedlot?

The type of foundations you use is up to you and the person designing your waste management system. However, to avoid needing a resource consent, 90% of the cattle held in the feedlot must be no more than four months old or weigh no more than 120kg.

If you are not able to comply with this, the base area of the feedlot needs to be sealed to the minimum permeability of 109m/s for the feedlot to be a discretionary activity, otherwise it would be non-complying.

There are a few other things you need to be aware of in relation to your feedlot, which are in the Mfe factsheet.

When designing the foundations for your feedlot, we advise you to engage a suitably qualified person.

Stockholding areas

Stock holding areas for small and young cattle:

You will have to meet the following minimum standards for stockholding areas (other than a feedlot) for small and young cattle:

• 90% of the cattle held are younger than 4 months old OR
• 90% of the cattle held are 120kg or less.

Stock holding areas for larger and older cattle:

You will have to meet the following minimum standards for stockholding areas for larger and older cattle:

• Manage the permeability of the base area so that it’s sealed to a minimum permeability standard of 10-9 metres per second; and
• Collect, store and dispose of effluent in accordance with ORC rules or a current discharge permit; and
• Situate the feedlot at least 50m away from waterbodies, water abstraction bores, drainage ditches and coastal marine areas.

If you operate a stockholding area, you may need a resource consent if you cannot meet the standards set out above.

Further information

Ministry for the Environment stockholding and feedlots factsheet