suckler cow shed and straw requirements.

kelslat

Hi there! Would someone be able to work out for me how many continental x cows could i put in a shed with an unroofed slatted tank on the front. The shed is 25ft x 45ft and will be straw bedded (Deep straw bed). It slopes down to the slatted tank which is 55ft long x 12ft 6". There is about 60ft of barrier space. The cows will be moved to another shed to calf down.
I am thinking around 30-35 cows and maybe 5 bales of straw per week. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Also it is an area that requires storage for a 16 week winter.

Many Thanks,
Kelslat.

blue5000

Would you consider peat instead?

ellewood

blue5000 wrote: »

Would you consider peat instead?

If they come in wet from un-roofed feed area will they not make **** of the peat?

Just on that

Anyone have cost comparason
Between straw and peat if straw is costing E10/round bale and a 5 month winter period?

kelslat

blue5000 wrote: »

Would you consider peat instead?

I would consider anything if it saves money!

kelslat

So what do ye think? 30-40 cows and maybe up to one bale of straw per week? would peat be a cheaper alternative?

Mad4simmental

kelslat wrote: »

So what do ye think? 30-40 cows and maybe up to one bale of straw per week? would peat be a cheaper alternative?

Id say it would be more like one bale a day tbh,

kelslat

Mad4simmental wrote: »

Id say it would be more like one bale a day tbh,

Sorry i ment to say one bale per day.

pedigree 6

kelslat wrote: »

So what do ye think? 30-40 cows and maybe up to one bale of straw per week? would peat be a cheaper alternative?

I've 40 cows in one house 45ft x 65ft with a wall dividing and access to slats and feeding barrier outside. It takes 2 bales of straw every 2 days. Before we had the slats and feeding area outside some days you could be bedding every day. One of the things I was concerned about putting in the slats in front of shed was cleaning out dung of shed. But builder putting in tank assured me that it was ok to drive on slats with tractor anyway it's working well so far and it won't be hard to put in cubicles scrappers if I want to. With peat I think you'd have to harrow it up every so often and keep it as dry as possible. Don't know cost of it though or no experience of it.

kelslat

pedigree 6 wrote: »

I've 40 cows in one house 45ft x 65ft with a wall dividing and access to slats and feeding barrier outside. It takes 2 bales of straw every 2 days. Before we had the slats and feeding area outside some days you could be bedding every day. One of the things I was concerned about putting in the slats in front of shed was cleaning out dung of shed. But builder putting in tank assured me that it was ok to drive on slats with tractor anyway it's working well so far and it won't be hard to put in cubicles scrappers if I want to. With peat I think you'd have to harrow it up every so often and keep it as dry as possible. Don't know cost of it though or no experience of it.

It looks like its definitely a bale a day so. What would dept of straw be like after the winter? would the dung be a couple of foot high?

pedigree 6

kelslat wrote: »

It looks like its definitely a bale a day so. What would dept of straw be like after the winter? would the dung be a couple of foot high?

I clean out after 15th January but if left over winter I reckon 3-4ft high.

kelslat

pedigree 6 wrote: »

I clean out after 15th January but if left over winter I reckon 3-4ft high.

Thats high alright. Can it be stored out in a field from the 15th of jan on?

pedigree 6

kelslat wrote: »

Thats high alright. Can it be stored out in a field from the 15th of jan on?

yes - meant to say 12th jan here in wexford.

Greengrass1

Wedged 60 dry cows into a 75 x 50ft shed here last winter. With 10 ft feed passage in front of that. Getting 2-3 bales a day. 25 milkers in a 60 x 25ft shed 2 bales s day. Thst was too much with cows bulling and all. Had 5 cows one day and place was like a swamp

pedigree 6

Agreed can't keep bedding under cows when they're bulling. Best if you can separate them while bulling. All spring calving here and only cows bulling here while in would be fattening cows not in calf. I had 11 incalf heifers in 45ft x 30ft shed with slatted tank and feeding barrier outside and 1 straw bale would do 3.5 days.

kelslat

pedigree 6 wrote: »

Agreed can't keep bedding under cows when they're bulling. Best if you can separate them while bulling. All spring calving here and only cows bulling here while in would be fattening cows not in calf. I had 11 incalf heifers in 45ft x 30ft shed with slatted tank and feeding barrier outside and 1 straw bale would do 3.5 days.

So am i pushing it alittle looking to get 30 or more into the area i have?

pedigree 6

kelslat wrote: »

So am i pushing it alittle looking to get 30 or more into the area i have?

My cows had 73ft squared each, GG's cows had 62.5ft each, yours would have 37.5ft each. I'd say yours would be a bit tight.

kelslat

pedigree 6 wrote: »

My cows had 73ft squared each, GG's cows had 62.5ft each, yours would have 37.5ft each. I'd say yours would be a bit tight.

Thats just the lie back area alone, Do i not take the slatted tank area into consideration as well. Surely they wont all be in the shed together or am i working it out wrong? The way i was working it out was that there is lying room for 20 cows in the shed at 5m2 each and there would be another 10 eating at the feed barrier on the slatted tank.

Justjens

kelslat wrote: »

So am i pushing it alittle looking to get 30 or more into the area i have?

I keep 28 incalf sucklers in slatted/straw shed, bed is length of slats and 17' wide with access at both end bays, they cannot all lie down together and some will always lie on the slats. 30 will be tight for you.

Bedded area is much the same area as yours and I get away with a 4x4 bale (I bale it myself) every two days , but ONLY if the silage is dry, and I leave it build up all winter. Bought in bales do not last as long.....so if you buy in straw and want to keep 30 cows you'll need a bale every day, or every day and a half at best.

If the silage is high moisture then bed is in sh1te by second evening, the bit of diesel I burn wilting the silage pays dividends come winter!

kelslat

pedigree 6 wrote: »

My cows had 73ft squared each, GG's cows had 62.5ft each, yours would have 37.5ft each. I'd say yours would be a bit tight.

If i take an average of 65ft per cow x 30 cows is 1950ft. I have 1125ft so i would need two more bays plus the tank area for 30 cows. Sounds like a big area to me.