Outdoor cubicles

keep going

Was reminded from another thread so start the ball rolling , are they another half way house on the way to a shed

loveta

Back of the ditch!!

bob charles

does a shed really cost that much money to put ontop. Always found when building that the price of the actual shed was less than 25% of the overall job which would have to be done any. ie barriers,gates,concrete. I bet its a right bitch aswell to hang the fluorescent tubes of skyhooks with outdoor cubicles. Bit of a willy waving excerise to say your low cost I always got the impression.

Remember that you would have to collect all the water that falls on the cubicles and this would be classed as slurry. Very quickly a shed could be cheap, presume bacterical problems aswell with wet cubicles and also just the pleasure for the human being working among cows. Herding and it lashing rain is no fun

Timmaay

I think if I was going that route, I'd just go with the likes of cubicle kennels. Very simple design, with the front leg of the cubicle extending up, and being an structural member to hold up the roof. Doesn't suit all cowtypes (large HOs will get stuck!), but in fairness they aren't the type of cow that are associated with outdoor pads/cubicles anyways!

jersey101

Friend is contemplating putting in 150 of them. It wouldn't be my cup of tea now but ill see how it goes before i make a decision on them. Never spoke to anyone with them in

keep going

Actually id prefer the rubber mat that was trialled in ballydeague I think than them, much less building to do, never saw a result of that trial

mf240

would rather buy some rough grazing and put ring feeders in it.

bob charles

keep going wrote: »

Actually id prefer the rubber mat that was trialled in ballydeague I think than them, much less building to do, never saw a result of that trial

if you dont see the results of an interesting trial then it means it went pearshaped

stanflt

bought an 80*78 shed yesterday for 18000 erected will eventually hold 120 cubicles

cheap as chips

royalmeath

Cows love shelter in the winter. Imagine the fun you would have with snow and ice forming. Broken pelvis injuries to beat the band.
Not to mention the joy of herding in a glorious irish winters day. Before someone says different that snow wont build up well it will,
if you have blizzard like conditions the cows will huddle in a corner leaving you with a nightmare of a mess to deal with.

delaval

stanflt wrote: »

bought an 80*78 shed yesterday for 18000 erected will eventually hold 120 cubicles

cheap as chips

Could you pm the name of company?

bob charles

delaval wrote: »

Could you pm the name of company?

nearly every shed companies are currently supplying sheds and standing them for not much more than the price of steel. 25 k builds a fair size shed if you dont mind having interspan pillars.

bob charles

stanflt wrote: »

bought an 80*78 shed yesterday for 18000 erected will eventually hold 120 cubicles

cheap as chips

that shed big enough to hold that amount of cows? sounds on the small side for comfort. Make sure to build a shed wide enough so that you are able to add extra bays at a later date.

delaval

bob charles wrote: »

that shed big enough to hold that amount of cows? sounds on the small side for comfort. Make sure to build a shed wide enough so that you are able to add extra bays at a later date.

You are Bob now you're getting into money. Once you go out side their peramiters it costs more

delaval

bob charles wrote: »

nearly every shed companies are currently supplying sheds and standing them for not much more than the price of steel. 25 k builds a fair size shed if you dont mind having interspan pillars.

That's ok as you can place cubicle beds to suit

pakalasa

It's a bit like deciding to cut down trees or not. You should always decide on a very wet and windy day. I find that it's only the driving rain that cows don't like. Cold and wet doesnt bother them, but it's when the wind drives the rain into the skin, that they get cold. Also as said already, you will need extra slurry storage for all that rain.

maxxuumman

stanflt wrote: »

bought an 80*78 shed yesterday for 18000 erected will eventually hold 120 cubicles

cheap as chips

Stan is that portal or Are there pillars in the middle. You got a good deal. As they guy who sells sheds nearby said recently, "every Fu*ker with a welder is making sheds". This a buyers Market at the moment.

bob charles

maxxuumman wrote: »

Stan is that portal or Are there pillars in the middle. You got a good deal. As they guy who sells sheds nearby said recently, "every Fu*ker with a welder is making sheds". This a buyers Market at the moment.

I should hope its not a portal frame at that sort of money. 80ft span would be up around 360mm to 500mm RSJ, now thats the type of shed that costs a few bucks, but sure what is that to yee dairy men with granite kitchens, but only loose change:).

mf240

bob charles wrote: »

I should hope its not a portal frame at that sort of money. 80ft span would be up around 360mm to 500mm RSJ, now thats the type of shed that costs a few bucks, but sure what is that to yee dairy men with granite kitchens, but only loose change:).

Granite kitchen and no shed for the cows!

Fur coat and no knickers!

stanflt

bob charles wrote: »

that shed big enough to hold that amount of cows? sounds on the small side for comfort. Make sure to build a shed wide enough so that you are able to add extra bays at a later date.

She'd is 78*45 with a 35 lean to

45 is portal

No concrete going in this year as it will only be used for straw to free up all the other sheds
Will do concreting next year when I've more cash
She'd will hold 120 cubicles when done with all feeding done outside to the front so it can be used for buffer feeding

Timmaay

Stan, between this shed, and that photo of yas getting into the neighbours I'm guessing serious expansion is now on the cards, what sort of cow numbers ya aiming to go to?

delaval

mf240 wrote: »

Granite kitchen and no shed for the cows!

Fur coat and no knickers!

Whatever about the cows I'll be comfortable in my house

bob charles

delaval wrote: »

Whatever about the cows I'll be comfortable in my house

give over your whipped, your poor girls in need of TLC and a roof over their heads meanwhile your wife is having Cock Wan in redesigning the kitchen

Milked out

How do ye set up yer cubicle sheds to maximise lying space with feed space?? our cubicles are perpendicular to the feed passage which gives space for about 65 cows to eat at any one time in front of 114 cubicles, its fine for the winter as fresh mix is thrown out every day but it's not great for buffer feeding. going adding another 75 or so cubicles next year hopefully. one way would be to add a feeding area at the back of the shed but the land is above the level of the shed so would require a bit of digging

delaval

Milked out wrote: »

How do ye set up yer cubicle sheds to maximise lying space with feed space?? our cubicles are perpendicular to the feed passage which gives space for about 65 cows to eat at any one time in front of 114 cubicles, its fine for the winter as fresh mix is thrown out every day but it's not great for buffer feeding. going adding another 75 or so cubicles next year hopefully. one way would be to add a feeding area at the back of the shed but the land is above the level of the shed so would require a bit of digging

All cows don't need space for buffer. Any that eat will eat less grass and vice versa

stanflt

Timmaay wrote: »

Stan, between this shed, and that photo of yas getting into the neighbours I'm guessing serious expansion is now on the cards, what sort of cow numbers ya aiming to go to?

Hope to go from 110 to 250 in the next 5 years
Going to grow naturally with doing a bit each year and not borrowing a whole heap
Key will be producing as much milk as cheaply as I can

Milked out

delaval wrote: »

All cows don't need space for buffer. Any that eat will eat less grass and vice versa

I'd agree to an extent just trying to make any additions needed as useful and efficient as possible. Heifers would struggle if buffer feeding was required due to a prolonged bad growth period and also if I was to buffer to maximise yields without upping concentrates or when concentrate prices won't deliver a good economic response depending on what else is in stock e.g. with maize, etc. the more space the better

kingdom fan

What about the difference in feeding ?
Cattle outside will go through a lot more silage than cattle in a shed in my experience anyway .

keep going

kingdom fan wrote: »

What about the difference in feeding ?
Cattle outside will go through a lot more silage than cattle in a shed in my experience anyway .

After a good few years of outwinter I would agree but animals definatly make great use of spring grass after it.I would reckon cows out on crops would eat 20 % more feed but not sure how would apply to outdoor cubicles

Markcheese

Nothing to stop you putting a shed over the cubicles after a while if you think it's needed... Think I'd rather put the money I didn't spend on a shed on cows... At least I'd have an income...

mahoney_j

Markcheese wrote: »

Nothing to stop you putting a shed over the cubicles after a while if you think it's needed... Think I'd rather put the money I didn't spend on a shed on cows... At least I'd have an income...

Correct put the cows still need to spend the winter somewhere,no point havin. A load of cows and nowhere to house them.stand off pad I don't think is an option either.capital allowances against she'd can give a tax saving for 7 years

bob charles

Markcheese wrote: »

Nothing to stop you putting a shed over the cubicles after a while if you think it's needed... Think I'd rather put the money I didn't spend on a shed on cows... At least I'd have an income...

ah but delaval is no fool, at least he will have the dinner with the granite kitchen, whereas with the roof over Jersey he may have to sing for his supper

Going forward...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnujQ5dL4jg

Miserable.

I don't know why the rest of us even bother to be honest.

darragh_haven

Going forward... wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnujQ5dL4jg

Miserable.

I don't know why the rest of us even bother to be honest.

I think after that...... we can close the thread

bbam

mf240 wrote: »

Fur coat and no knickers!

Everything has its time and place

dar31

Going forward... wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnujQ5dL4jg

Miserable.

I don't know why the rest of us even bother to be honest.

to my eye they look happy out, its just us that dont like the rain.

i was on this farm two years ago, fantastic farmer by the way, the cubicles were left so a shed could be put over them if needed

dar31

below is the comment from the hoof pairer that uploaded the video

Published on Jan 13, 2013
This is a farm I visit once a month, all 800 cows on cubicles with mattresses out side and self feed silage face. I trimmed 62 cows on last visit, 2 blocks for white line and no digital dermititis " they do not foot bath", the cows looked very well and contented as I trimmed undercover out of the rain

delaval

Going forward... wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnujQ5dL4jg

Miserable.

I don't know why the rest of us even bother to be honest.

Now that's a super job!!! Self feed silage aswell. I think the comment by the hoof trimmer says it all.

Going forward...

Should I stop keeping cubicles clean and dry? It would save a lot of time and money? Bye bye sawdust and lime. Suddenly the winter just got a whole lot easier.

He's a fantastic farmer? A good farmer would have better housing for his cows that that. Poor reflection on the farmer that he's happy to keep cows in such substandard housing and makes a mockery of his preferred system too. Literally can't put a roof over their head.

whelan1

Going forward... wrote: »

Should I stop keeping cubicles clean and dry? It would save a lot of time and money? Bye bye sawdust and lime. Suddenly the winter just got a whole lot easier.

He's a fantastic farmer? A good farmer would have better housing for his cows that that. Poor reflection on the farmer that he's happy to keep cows in such substandard housing and makes a mockery of his preferred system too. Literally can't put a roof over their head.

i assume these are dried off while on those cubicles?

delaval

Going forward... wrote: »

Should I stop keeping cubicles clean and dry? It would save a lot of time and money? Bye bye sawdust and lime. Suddenly the winter just got a whole lot easier.

He's a fantastic farmer? A good farmer would have better housing for his cows that that. Poor reflection on the farmer that he's happy to keep cows in such substandard housing and makes a mockery of his preferred system too. Literally can't put a roof over their head.

Well that's me told, I'm a bad farmer

have you ever seen outdoor cubicles in use?

maxxuumman

Just say those cows are turning a profit of €600. (6000l X 10c). Those 800 cows are making him €480,000
Stan bought a shed for 120 cows and it cost him €18000.
That's €150/cow to cover them.
So 800 cows could be covered for €120,000

Can't be much of a farmer if he can't afford a once off €120k out of his annual €480k IMO

dar31

Going forward... wrote: »

Should I stop keeping cubicles clean and dry? It would save a lot of time and money? Bye bye sawdust and lime. Suddenly the winter just got a whole lot easier.

He's a fantastic farmer? A good farmer would have better housing for his cows that that. Poor reflection on the farmer that he's happy to keep cows in such substandard housing and makes a mockery of his preferred system too. Literally can't put a roof over their head.

cubicles are an upgrade from the stand off pad. they are for only dry cows

the person in question went from 0 - over 1400 cows on leased/partnership agreement, only bought first bit of land a few years ago, i wouldnt go putting a lad down if i knew nothing about him. anyone attending the grassland conferences over the last few years would have heard him talk, welsh man.

i have only cubicles for half my cows, am i half a farmer then

Going forward...

Doesn't impress me that you haven't proper housing for your cows. Am I supposed to be impressed? Is that a sign of being a progressive farmer or something?

delaval

dar31 wrote: »

cubicles are an upgrade from the stand off pad. they are for only dry cows

the person in question went from 0 - over 1400 cows on leased/partnership agreement, only bought first bit of land a few years ago, i wouldnt go putting a lad down if i knew nothing about him. anyone attending the grassland conferences over the last few years would have heard him talk, welsh man.

i have only cubicles for half my cows, am i half a farmer then

Dar I'm glad your here 'cause I'm a half farmer, maybe we should partner up and be a whole farmer. I wonder would we be a good farmer?

Rhys Williams looks like. Was there super set up. Some progress from a 20 acre hill farm unlike a lot that Daddy set up;);););)

jersey101

maxxuumman wrote: »

Just say those cows are turning a profit of €600. (6000l X 10c). Those 800 cows are making him €480,000
Stan bought a shed for 120 cows and it cost him €18000.
That's €150/cow to cover them.
So 800 cows could be covered for €120,000

Can't be much of a farmer if he can't afford a once off €120k out of his annual €480k IMO

If it works why would he bother spending the money on a roof. I know if i had them and had no mastitis or any of the like i wouldn't bother. Keep my money in my pocket. Sure cant ye wear a jacket out in it. I have never seen them in operation so still have an open mind to them. I need to put in alot of cow accomodation in the next few years and i will look at these.

delaval

jersey101 wrote: »

If it works why would he bother spending the money on a roof. I know if i had them and had no mastitis or any of the like i wouldn't bother. Keep my money in my pocket. Sure cant ye wear a jacket out in it. I have never seen them in operation so still have an open mind to them. I need to put in alot of cow accomodation in the next few years and i will look at these.

You'll go far, not too many brain cells dead after last night;);)

dar31

delaval wrote: »

Dar I'm glad your here 'cause I'm a half farmer, maybe we should partner up and be a whole farmer. I wonder would we be a good farmer?

Rhys Williams looks like. Was there super set up. Some progress from a 20 acre hill farm unlike a lot that Daddy set up;);););)

thats the lad

we might get a bit better than a good farmer, thought we would make a fantastic farmer though;)

jersey101

delaval wrote: »

You'll go far, not too many brain cells dead after last night;);)

plenty... I just lovked up my agfood ha

delaval

maxxuumman wrote: »

Just say those cows are turning a profit of €600. (6000l X 10c). Those 800 cows are making him €480,000
Stan bought a shed for 120 cows and it cost him €18000.
That's €150/cow to cover them.
So 800 cows could be covered for €120,000

Can't be much of a farmer if he can't afford a once off €120k out of his annual €480k IMO

I know two broke farmers that judged the ability of others by the size of their sheds and how many tractors they had. Un fortunatly they couldn't fill the sheds but it looked good. I prefer internet banking myself

One in partiular ridiculed me publicly and now I lease his farm:cool::cool: Because I kept the 120k in my pocket not some builder for a shed I need for 120 days

Markcheese

Next we'll be told there has to be a new pajero in the yard and a huge jd idle in the shed or you're not a real farmer...
Does anyone know are they the precast cubicles, often wondered could you make moveable housing facilities for leased/partnership land