Size feed bunk length from head count and inches per head, or reverse: how many head a bunk can serve for your feeding style.
Use this when laying out fence-line bunks or checking whether an existing bunk is short for limit-fed vs ad-lib programs.
Limit-fed cattle need much more linear space (often 18–30 in/head) than finishing cattle on free-choice bunks (often ~9–12 in/head). Two-sided bunks count both faces.
Total linear inches = head × in/head. Feet of bunk = inches ÷ 12 ÷ faces (for two-sided). Capacity reverses the same math.
bunk_ft = (head × in_per_head) ÷ 12 ÷ faces
head_cap = bunk_ft × 12 × faces ÷ in_per_head
Presets: finishing ad-lib ~9–12 in; backgrounding limit-fed ~18–24 in; cows limit-fed once daily often ~24–30 in.
150 head at 12 in/head, one-sided: 150 × 12 = 1,800 in → 150 ft of bunk. A 150 ft two-sided bunk at 12 in/head holds 300 head.
Assumptions: uniform access along the bunk; inches/head match your feeding frequency.
Limits: does not size bunk throat height, capacity (ft³), or pen loafing area.
Responsibility: follow local engineering and animal-care standards for new facilities.
Animals compete at delivery — use the higher inches/head (limit-fed column), not ad-lib finishing values.
Not linear bunks. Roughly 8–12 mature cows per ring is a separate planning thumb.
Many yards allow extra bunk space (~24 in/head) so new cattle can eat without crowding.