They’re investigating whether the amount of space per animal in a feedlot setting causes additional stress and competition that affect an animal’s digestive processes and behaviour. The USask researchers speculate that cattle consume feed faster when their access to space and their feed bunk allowance are restricted. The standard industry pen allowance is 15 square metres per animal per pen and 30 centimetres per animal in feed bunks. Each pen is designed to test two factors: stocking density and feed bunk space. That allows them to test low, standard and high stocking densities as well as standard and high feed bunk space.