slats or straw

epfff

Putting up a new shed just for a little extra space for multi purpose don't know yet weanlings fattening storing
Have wast of space surrounded by 2 sheds approx 4 bay's by 35'
Do I go for slats. And feed passage or simple Straw bed

Genghis Cant

Have ya to pay top dollar for straw in Ross?

epfff

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Have ya to pay top dollar for straw in Ross?

a word your looking at 20 one year with another for rounds

Genghis Cant

Hard to know another man's business, we have no straw bedding except lie back and calving pen. Have you other sheds comitted to straw bedding?

epfff

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Hard to know another man's business, we have no straw bedding except lie back and calving pen. Have you other sheds comitted to straw bedding?

All slats here
Lie back on some but never put straw on them
their would be a big saving on Day 1
But more cost and hassle after that
Just wondered of it would payback with better trive and straw not as dear if you allow for p and k that is in it when spread

Genghis Cant

epfff wrote: »

All slats here
Lie back on some but never put straw on them

That's the way I'd keep it so. Maybe rubber where you'd be finishing stock.

just do it

Genghis Cant wrote: »

That's the way I'd keep it so. Maybe rubber where you'd be finishing stock.

+1. Allows a higher stocking density. Personally being part time the workload would p*** me off. Decision also depends on current slurry storage. Rubber also good for cow longevity.

Zr105

You'll be able to put more stock on the same area of slats, so the higher initial cost will be spread over more heads, and after initial cost your only looking at slurry spreading.
With straw you have to buy it, get into the shed to put it out, then clean it out and spread it... Lot more work and who knows what way straw prices will go in years to come....

Well that would be my thinkin anyways...

Farmer Pudsey

Slats, slats slats. Even if a tillage area straw is getting more and more expensive due to being used in mushroom compust, solid fuel power stations and farmers will have to incoporate for humus/organic soil content in places.

Had a few straw pens converted them this year. If feeding cattle on a fairly good diet it amazing how much straw they need. Straw is 20+/bale if travelling and distance and if we get a real shortage the price will surge would you fancy paying 30/bale for bedding for a year maybe in 4-8 year time. On a 100 day winter it could cost 30-40/head.
You are also caught that you need about twice the space/head and you will also need a dung stead. On my calculations it may not be much cheaper first day. A 4 bay slatted unit 16'6'' slats could be done for 27-32K maybe less if you do a lot of work. That will hold 75 weanlings/stores mixed/ 24 suckler cows and followers.

A straw bedded shed with barriers etc I think would cost nearly 20 if not over allow 3K for a covered dungstead. I am calculating that it would cost 3-4K/year in straw. 3-4 years and the slats would be paid for.

epfff

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Slats, slats slats. Even if a tillage area straw is getting more and more expensive due to being used in mushroom compust, solid fuel power stations and farmers will have to incoporate for humus/organic soil content in places.

Had a few straw pens converted them this year. If feeding cattle on a fairly good diet it amazing how much straw they need. Straw is 20+/bale if travelling and distance and if we get a real shortage the price will surge would you fancy paying 30/bale for bedding for a year maybe in 4-8 year time. On a 100 day winter it could cost 30-40/head.
You are also caught that you need about twice the space/head and you will also need a dung stead. On my calculations it may not be much cheaper first day. A 4 bay slatted unit 16'6'' slats could be done for 27-32K maybe less if you do a lot of work. That will hold 75 weanlings/stores mixed/ 24 suckler cows and followers.

A straw bedded shed with barriers etc I think would cost nearly 20 if not over allow 3K for a covered dungstead. I am calculating that it would cost 3-4K/year in straw. 3-4 years and the slats would be paid for.

I sorta knew all that
I was just living in hope that someone would give me courage to go down the straw route as I am mean
Thanks for all yeer replies
A case of boards working at its best

case885

epfff wrote: »

Putting up a new shed just for a little extra space for multi purpose don't know yet weanlings fattening storing
Have wast of space surrounded by 2 sheds approx 4 bay's by 35'
Do I go for slats. And feed passage or simple Straw bed

slats all the way.

blue5000

It all depends what sort of cattle are going in the shed. We have finishing bulls on straw here, but it's our own straw.
As for a dungstead we use an empty small silage pit, with effluent collected in slats.

I agree there is more work with straw, but if you are buying it in you are getting something that will be really good for your land, but I can't put a value on that.

Down the road compost may be an option for bedding, cocos can't stay piling it up on roundabouts forever:o

Rubber mats will last 7-10 yrs, slats 30 yrs possibly, concrete floor who knows?

My next shed will have slats where they stand at feed passage and straw bedded lie back area.

With your location I'd say slats as well, but don't be tempted to have a woodchip lieback area, that doesn't work!

farmingmad10

Slats. Straw bedding is too much labour & too costly aswell & it could get even more dearer aswell. If you could have 1 shed available with straw in it if you ever get a few lame cattle. Ok slats are a big investment but you have got to include your savings on straw & the good nutrients in the slurry. 1000 gallons of slurry will have 9 units of nitrogen 6 units of phosphorus & 38 units of potassium. Also add in your own labour wage for bedding straw & slats won't be long depreciating.