cattle shed

buffalobilly

hi going to build a slatted shed this year and looking for some advice
what do people think of open fronted shed v closed in shed a friend
who built one a few years ago says they are a more healthy shed as
the cattle have more fresh air

GERMAN ROCKS

i think a closed in one is better with a passage in it. now sure about for the health for the cows but i find it hand to be able to park machinery in there during the summer time when all the cattle are out. currently all our machinery is stuffed into one big machinery shed and if you wanted to pull something out you would have to pull all the inpliments infront of it out first. then come spring time i cant shift some of the stuff into the passage way of the slatted shed so closed in one suits me.

Figerty

Depends on the size of the shed you intend building. I have an open fronted shed an it's a gift when dropping in bales as I can reverse them in.

It also depends on the orientation of the site. Mine is north facing, with plenty tree shelter in front of it. The front is away from the south west wet wind; this is important when working in the winter. The canopy is extends about 8 ft over the feeding barrier.

If you do go in closed with pens facing one another then make sure they are far enough apart to be able to drive down between the bales. Also use the perforated cladding for ventilation. It does work. Cows don't mind the cold... they don't like being wet and cold.

Open fronted shed gets plenty of air I haven't had a pneumonia case since I built it.

The cows get to look out at the people passing on the road..It must be fair boring for the cattle in a slatted shed all year!

I park the tractors and other gear under that canopy for the summer, but I can see the beneift of the closed shed from that point of view.

pakalasa

Figerty wrote: »

....The cows get to look out at the people passing on the road..It must be fair boring for the cattle in a slatted shed all year!...

Funny but true. I feed mine every second day. When I arrive home on the evening they are waiting to be fed. I can see them at the top of the field looking down waiting for me.

Tora Bora

buffalobilly wrote: »

hi going to build a slatted shed this year and looking for some advice
what do people think of open fronted shed v closed in shed a friend
who built one a few years ago says they are a more healthy shed as
the cattle have more fresh air

Closed in shed as open as possible if you know what I mean!
Make central feed passage as wide as you possibly can!
Put doors on both ends of feed passage. Make doors as high as you can.
You can leave both doors open most of the time, and you gat a lot of air flow and light coming into the shed. Good for man and beast.
Depending on weather conditions, when you need to you can close one or both doors.

towzer2010

I went for the closed shed design and it is great. The roof is very high and all the sides are vented sheeting so there is plenty of fresh air and no draughts. On the central passage width I'd only make it as wide as your feed barriers so that when they are opened they are the full length of the passge and this makes it much easier to move cattle into pens etc.

F.D

i would disagree with keeping the passage as narrow as the gate of the pen its a good idea but wider is better especially if you are feeding both sides, if you build an open side shed build it in such a way that you can put another one the other side in years to come and join them both, ours is open front design the only problem we had was the drinking bowls froze up last winter the were along the front of the shed, i did want to put them in the back but i was told you will keep a better eye on them in the front and keep them cleaner which is true

towzer2010

F.D wrote: »

i would disagree with keeping the passage as narrow as the gate of the pen its a good idea but wider is better especially if you are feeding both sides, if you build an open side shed build it in such a way that you can put another one the other side in years to come and join them both, ours is open front design the only problem we had was the drinking bowls froze up last winter the were along the front of the shed, i did want to put them in the back but i was told you will keep a better eye on them in the front and keep them cleaner which is true

I feed both sides. The passage is 3m wide.

If you open the feed barrier on the other side then you have two pens to direct the cattle into and for me that is a bit awkward. I use the shed all year round because the crush is in the creep area so ease of handling is a necessity.

As with everything everyone has their own preference.

reilig

I suppose that everyone has their own opinion and experience on this so here's mine.

Cattle are outdoor creatures. They evolved over time with thick hydes and hair to keep them warm outside 365 days a year and in all types of weather. Up to 20 years ago, very few farmers around here had a slatted shed or a concrete yard. Many farmers kept all of their cattle outside. Farming has intensified a little bit since then. People found that by keeping cattle off the land in the wetter months, the land will recover faster, grow more grass and allow them to keep more cattle.

But cattle aren't humans. They don't need heat - they have thick hydes and hair. If cattle are housed in a closed shed, they will swet. This increases the chances of them getting pnumonia and reduces the thrive in the animals. In reality, the ideal shed for housing cattle is one which keeps the rain off the animals, but allows the air to circulate around the animals to keep the temperature within the shed almost the same as the temperature outside (even if it is -10).

Think about it. Cattle don't die or become unwell because of cold weather or because they get wet. The majority of sickness in animals is caused by the animal sweating in the shed and developing some type of respiratory disease as a result of this.

pakalasa

Just to add to the last post. I have cows in a cubicle shed with access to an open yard. When their bellies are full with silage, they will nearly always prefer to be out in the yard, than in the warm shed. When cattle are digesting food they create a huge amount of heat that needs to be given off. Hence the shaving at cattles' backs etc.
If they are hungry, i.e waiting to be fed, they will more than likely be in the warm shed. Funny the things you notice...;)

Suckler

pakalasa wrote: »

Just to add to the last post. I have cows in a cubicle shed with access to an open yard. When their bellies are full with silage, they will nearly always prefer to be out in the yard, than in the warm shed.

We have a similiar setup, the cattle are outwintered but have access to a section of a three bay hay shed we've concreted. We feed them in the shed IF they show up. They come and go as they please often have to go down the field to throw the eye over them. On cold nights they will come in to the shed to lay on the straw but if theres no rain, they'd be out for the day.

With regard to the OP; I think you need to take the pro's & Con's given here and apply them to your own set up & what would make things quicker and easier for you.

Farmer Pudsey

Go for a open fronted shed face it north or north east build the biggest tank you can remember a three bay shed is only 30-35% more expensive than a two bay and a four bay only 20% more expensive than a three bay. If I wanted a six pen shed I would build a single six bay slatted shed leave one side open and leave a run back area at back. You can put a crush in the run back area make a nice tight loading area and have a couple pens for sick or hurt animals and the bull. You can also set up a pen for weanlings or stores that you can feed back and front.
If cows are calved inside in January calves can have run back to straw bedded pen also you can have a small door for calves to have access to a nearby field this is great if yoou have to have them inside until late march or if you want to calve the cows in November or December

adne

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

i think a closed in one is better with a passage in it. now sure about for the health for the cows but i find it hand to be able to park machinery in there during the summer time when all the cattle are out. currently all our machinery is stuffed into one big machinery shed and if you wanted to pull something out you would have to pull all the inpliments infront of it out first. then come spring time i cant shift some of the stuff into the passage way of the slatted shed so closed in one suits me.

Could u not park machinery under the overhang of an open shed too???

GERMAN ROCKS

adne wrote: »

Could u not park machinery under the overhang of an open shed too???

they would be still getting damp and wet though so it just suits me the other way.

Eireog1

Hi all I know this thread has been closed but I'm looking to build a lean to shed 30ft wide by 60ft long and about 17fl eave height. I was wonderign if anyone would have plans for something like this. I'm trying to save the cost of getting the drawing done up. Any help would be appreciated. I'm hoping to have 3 bays in the shed.

Thanks

Miname

No plans but I can post pics if you want. Why 17 ft eves ? If you put a standard slope of 12-14 degrees you'll be at over 21 ft at the front.

dzer2

Miname wrote: »

No plans but I can post pics if you want. Why 17 ft eves ? If you put a standard slope of 12-14 degrees you'll be at over 21 ft at the front.

Get the loader in for cleaning out:cool:

Eireog1

Thanks guys. Ya some pictures would be great if you dont mind.