Calf Shed - Best places to get ideas for re-design?

PatQfarmer

Have been using old Lean-to's off silage pit to house weaned calves, and most of the time, it's grand, although it is a bit low at the side(54'wide, so down to 7'6" high). This unseasonal mild winter has it's downsides though and ventilation is a growing issue as they grow!
Normally I'm blocking out draughts, but this year, I can hardly get enough air into them. However, when I open up too much, I feel that it will be too draughty on them...or maybe a recent pneumonia outbreak has me paranoid.
Do Teagasc have a dedicated calf-rearing unit that I could look at for ideas, or is there any recognised top-notch facility in the SE that I could visit?
Any help appreciated.

blue5000

What exactly do you want to do? Are you thinking of a new build or do you just want to improve the ventilation in the exsisting shed? What is at the high side?

An 'A' roof with openings on both sides, a 3-4mm gap between the sheets and a ridge gap would be the best shape.

Can you lift a couple of sheets on the roof you have, how much rain would get in if you took 1 sheet off near the middle on the high side? Maybe do this to temporaly solve the problem till you let them out.

Sorry for all the questions...Just trying to get an idea of what you have.

pakalasa

See S124 (Nov 09) about 1/2 way down here;
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingspecificationswordformat/

leg wax

PatQfarmer wrote: »

Have been using old Lean-to's off silage pit to house weaned calves, and most of the time, it's grand, although it is a bit low at the side(54'wide, so down to 7'6" high). This unseasonal mild winter has it's downsides though and ventilation is a growing issue as they grow!
Normally I'm blocking out draughts, but this year, I can hardly get enough air into them. However, when I open up too much, I feel that it will be too draughty on them...or maybe a recent pneumonia outbreak has me paranoid.
Do Teagasc have a dedicated calf-rearing unit that I could look at for ideas, or is there any recognised top-notch facility in the SE that I could visit?
Any help appreciated.

vaccinate the animals,look at all the large units that are run to a tee and great buildings they all use the needle to prevent,its alot cheaper in the long run.

Attie

PatQfarmer
Would it be possible to lift sheets and put in spacer and nail sheet back down.
This should allow heat to escape and not build up in the house.
attie

PatQfarmer

Thanks for replies and suggestions. No PC access for weekend, but will put up current shed specs Monday.
Agree re vaccination. All we vaccinated were fine. All others got pneumonia. Lost none, but it was a major hassle.
blue5000, I'll get answers for you (so you can answer me:)) Monday. Thanks.

Bizzum

On the subject of draughts, I find a draught can be lethal but any amount of air blowing over them is fine.

Would it be a runner to raise the wallplate at the back even 6" and allow air in high up?

PatQfarmer

blue5000 wrote: »

What exactly do you want to do? Are you thinking of a new build or do you just want to improve the ventilation in the exsisting shed? What is at the high side?

An 'A' roof with openings on both sides, a 3-4mm gap between the sheets and a ridge gap would be the best shape.

Can you lift a couple of sheets on the roof you have, how much rain would get in if you took 1 sheet off near the middle on the high side? Maybe do this to temporarily solve the problem till you let them out.

Sorry for all the questions...Just trying to get an idea of what you have.

Existing shed is 1970's silage pit (with 10' walls) under a round-roofed haybarn, with a 30' lean-to on one side (machinery shed) and a 54' lean-to to the south, where the stock are. The low side of this lean-to is 7'6" high, sheeted to the ground, with a 1' opening at the top. The high point, to the North, is approx 17' off ground, but there are 10' high silage walls here.
The shed is fully sheeted to the West, and open to the East. There are no vented sheets, no raised ridge.
Taking of roof sheets is not really an option, as the zinc is original and if I go at it, I could be opening a can of worms.
Nor is lifting the roof, as it is 4 spans long.
Perhaps I might remove some side sheeting on the West as the shed climbs towards the Haybarn section?
Thanks for the thoughts.:)

blue5000

You need an outlet for stale warm air, ideal place would be above the silage pit walls. If you lift a sheet at the top of the hayshed, I think it will be too far away and the crossflow from the calves will cool before it gets there.

PatQfarmer

blue5000 wrote: »

You need an outlet for stale warm air, ideal place would be above the silage pit walls. If you lift a sheet at the top of the hayshed, I think it will be too far away and the crossflow from the calves will cool before it gets there.

Thanks for the advice.
Will try to lift some sheets to help ventilation.
As they get older and bigger, they are giving off more heat!

Hugh 2

I am currently going about reroofing old cubicle house and silage pit (each under a round roof )(aka60*50 foot)
The roof is a can of worms as one side is unsupported by any iron or timbers
I am planning to put on an a roof ( although I may have left it too late to get many quotes )

I am thinking on the lines of vented side sheeting and open ridge cap but not space sheeting.

pakalasa wrote: »

See S124 (Nov 09) about 1/2 way down here;
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingspecificationswordformat/

Hi pakalasa
This link doesn't work for me
Would you be able to repost it please
Thanks
Hugh

John_F

Hugh 2 wrote: »

I am currently going about reroofing old cubicle house and silage pit (each under a round roof )(aka60*50 foot)
The roof is a can of worms as one side is unsupported by any iron or timbers
I am planning to put on an a roof ( although I may have left it too late to get many quotes )

I am thinking on the lines of vented side sheeting and open ridge cap but not space sheeting.


Hi pakalasa
This link doesn't work for me
Would you be able to repost it please
Thanks
Hugh

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingandstructuresspecificationswordformat/

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingandstructuresspecificationspdfformat/

a few more links i have in bookmarks

http://www.kerryagribusiness.ie/public_agri_recommend_mar2003_9.asp

http://www.thedairysite.com/news/28980/fresh-air-to-fight-pneumonia

http://www.thedairysite.com/news/35824/calf-pneumonia-merial-report-the-hidden-costs

http://www.thedairysite.com/news/31844/dairy-event-pneumonia-costs-more-than-100-head

http://calfigloo.com/aboutus.html

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/livestock-features/igloo-system-ticks-all-the-boxes-for-one-calf-rearing-couple/42332.article

a very different system of calf housing with this video>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH2RN39BoKQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH2RN39BoKQ

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/10/04/2009/115077/calf-hutches-may-keep-pneumonia-at-bay.htm

http://www.intershape.com/hutches.htm?gclid=CNOPtbiZja4CFcpB4QodxlsGew

http://www.calftel.com/index.php

http://www.dairyco.org.uk/news/news-archive/2009/fresh-air-is-free/

http://www.dairyco.org.uk/news/news-archive/2008/the-hidden-loss-bad-ventilation/#.UmeSxflJNwA

http://www.agri-design.co.uk/home/Ventilation

http://www.holm-laue.de/downloads/kategorie_11/Handbuch_en_2.pdf

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/livestock-features/changing-management-to-give-every-calf-the-best-start-in-life/39574.article

http://www.flickr.com/photos/intershape_ltd/sets/72157629968098768/show/

http://www.calfnotes.com/

some of the above is rubbish, but still some very good information too!!

PatQfarmer

If I win the Lotto, I'm gonna build that Wynnstay shed.
What an operation!
Of course, I'd need loads more land to carry the 1,000 or so calves needed per year to make it viable...

yellow50HX

What we did a few years ago to increase ventilation up high was to cut off the tops of the side sheeting on the gable ends. There is usually a gap the height of the rafters (usually about 5") in between the rafter joists. This allows air in and out up high with out letting drafts and gets the air moving.

Hugh 2

John_F wrote: »

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingandstructuresspecificationswordformat/

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingandstructuresspecificationspdfformat/

a few more links i have in bookmarks

http://www.kerryagribusiness.ie/public_agri_recommend_mar2003_9.asp

http://www.thedairysite.com/news/28980/fresh-air-to-fight-pneumonia

http://www.thedairysite.com/news/35824/calf-pneumonia-merial-report-the-hidden-costs

http://www.thedairysite.com/news/31844/dairy-event-pneumonia-costs-more-than-100-head

http://calfigloo.com/aboutus.html

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/livestock-features/igloo-system-ticks-all-the-boxes-for-one-calf-rearing-couple/42332.article

a very different system of calf housing with this video>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH2RN39BoKQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH2RN39BoKQ

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/10/04/2009/115077/calf-hutches-may-keep-pneumonia-at-bay.htm

http://www.intershape.com/hutches.htm?gclid=CNOPtbiZja4CFcpB4QodxlsGew

http://www.calftel.com/index.php

http://www.dairyco.org.uk/news/news-archive/2009/fresh-air-is-free/

http://www.dairyco.org.uk/news/news-archive/2008/the-hidden-loss-bad-ventilation/#.UmeSxflJNwA

http://www.agri-design.co.uk/home/Ventilation

http://www.holm-laue.de/downloads/kategorie_11/Handbuch_en_2.pdf

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/livestock-features/changing-management-to-give-every-calf-the-best-start-in-life/39574.article

http://www.flickr.com/photos/intershape_ltd/sets/72157629968098768/show/

http://www.calfnotes.com/

some of the above is rubbish, but still some very good information too!!

Great stuff
I found the http://www.kerryagribusiness.ie/public_agri_recommend_mar2003_9.asp to be the most useful one

The main points from it were


Width of building not greater than 11 m – greater widths than this greatly reduce the effectiveness of a natural ventilation system. Long narrow houses are easier to ventilate than wide short ones.
Air inlet/outlet area – openings of 0.08 m2 per calf at the ridge and 0.04 m2 per calf at each side are currently recommended for ridge roofed houses. An inlet height above floor level of 1.8 to 2.5 m is ideal. Good ridge outlet design is important. Ridge caps upstands and purlons should not restrict airflow through the opening. Lower inlets may cause draughts while higher inlets may limit ventilation by the stack effect. Space boarding, netlon, wyretex or other perforated materials can be used to slow down and disperse the air through the inlet. Pen covers (0.08 m wide) provide extra shelter at the back of the calf pens. Open fronted buildings which are more than 4.5 m deep should have an opening at the back of each pen (0.04 m2 per calf).
Roof pitch (at lease 230) allowing for a height difference of 1.5 to 2.5 m2 between inlet and outlet – this is important as it facilitates operation of the stack effect on windless days.
Floor slope of 1 in 20 to the front of the pen and a slope 1 in of 60 to remove water out of channels or passages.

However I assume that
Pen covers (0.08 m wide) is a mistake
and I am wondering how a slope of one in 60 in channelling would work in a 60 foot long shed?

I have seen somewhere else that calved require 30 sq foot of floor space each is this figure accurate (or is it to do with required air space ie does it include passage ways etc?)