Slatted Tank - what would you do??

Durrus Boy

Continuing on the recent building theme around here going to ask for some opinions...:)
Need to add to winter accommodation and have decided that a larger tank is the way to go as will be feeding from both sides (suckler enterprise) Taking into account that 7 cows can feed from a 15ft 9'' span have been considering sticking in a 20 ft 6'' slat to maximise stocking rate. Just got a quote there today that this size slat is approx. €125+ VAT/ ft:eek:. ( to put it in context a 16ft 6'' slat is €85+ VAT/ft) Question is would I be better sticking in a spine wall and dropping in e.g 2 x ~12ft slats as more room, less worries re sagging etc.
Have heard that trying to agitate longer narrower tanks is much more difficult .
Anyone any experience of this or other suggestions to consider?
Cheers.......

severeoversteer

two 12 foot six slats but with columns and beams down the middle instead of a wall

save concrete and steal and save diesel agitating it

the beams and columns can be got precast from slat manufacturers

keep ringing around until you find someone who does them

onyerbikepat

I would have serious reservations about those columns and beams. A few years down the line and one column failure and a serious amount of gang slats going down. Think about it, you're concentrating a serious load at one point, unlike a solid wall which distributes the load more evenly.

severeoversteer

onyerbikepat wrote: »

I would have serious reservations about those columns and beams. A few years down the line and one column failure and a serious amount of gang slats going down. Think about it, you're concentrating a serious load at one point, unlike a solid wall which distributes the load more evenly.

its down to how well designed the beams and columns are,

get a structural engineer to size them for you

I could tell you; but I'd have to charge professional fee's !:p

49801

We've columns and beams put in the 70s.
Reused them when re slating a couple yrs ago

F.D

Durrus Boy wrote: »

Continuing on the recent building theme around here going to ask for some opinions...:)
Need to add to winter accommodation and have decided that a larger tank is the way to go as will be feeding from both sides (suckler enterprise) Taking into account that 7 cows can feed from a 15ft 9'' span have been considering sticking in a 20 ft 6'' slat to maximise stocking rate. Just got a quote there today that this size slat is approx. €125+ VAT/ ft:eek:. ( to put it in context a 16ft 6'' slat is €85+ VAT/ft) Question is would I be better sticking in a spine wall and dropping in e.g 2 x ~12ft slats as more room, less worries re sagging etc.
Have heard that trying to agitate longer narrower tanks is much more difficult .
Anyone any experience of this or other suggestions to consider?
Cheers.......

How many cows per pen are you hoping to hold, if feeding both sides and you are saying 7 eating per side, would a 16x 15.6 pen hold 14 cows? or will you end up with a lot of free space on the slats if you go to 24 ft x 15.6
would it be better to go longer and narrower to increase your feed space?

Durrus Boy

Sorry, should have clarified, but this tank would mainly carry autumn calved sucklers. Presently carrying 8 autumn calvers on a 16ft tank & find it tight enough when calves are 'visiting.' 10 spring calvers are also enough on this size slat especially when heavy in calf. Hence, my reasoning for going that bit wider - find it a much better use of space...

porter shark

How long is the shed going to be?
Where are the calves going to visit from?