Slatted shed with or without lie-back

Valtra6350

Hello
I am thinking about putting up a shed for our cattle
We are not sure wether to put in a tank or not if money was no problem then we would put in the tank but the ground is rock and it will cost a fair bit to break it out so were not sure if its going to be worth it.
its going to be a 4 bay single with creep at the back for da calves and pens behind them with the shoot but we want to know should we put in a lie-back for the cows. I dont want one because there will be mats on the slats so will this not be enough for them or should we put in the lie-back

Thanks

Miname

I've the cows on a tank and the calves with a lye back. I don't think it's necessary for cows comfort. Also a lad pointed out to me to leave the lye back as a lye back and to put a separate handling unit away from it. I think it was good advice.

Valtra6350

we will have a creep area at da back for the calves and behind that again there will be a handling area
Its between the slats and the creep that we were thinking of putting the lye-back

Miname

Valtra6350 wrote: »

we will have a creep area at da back for the calves and behind that again there will be a handling area
Its between the slats and the creep that we were thinking of putting the lye-back

It's a waste imo.

Valtra6350

but would the cows nt be cleaner and would you not be able to fit more in the pins

Bass Reeves

Do not worry about cost of breaking out rock you will make most of it back in the value of the stone. Do not get a quarry machine to break it out as most of the stone is too large to be of any use. Different in saving is not huge at end of day unless you hit flint type stone. Sit on the lad with the breaker to make sue he stays at it.

I put in area at back of shed cost is minimal. All it costs is 5 RSJ, timber for roof and roof sheeting. Not sure if I would use it as a lie back. However you could have one pen with a lie back for weanlings if keeping over the winter. Put a cattle chute in and pen the area. Set an area up for loading about 8.5'wide so that a truck ramp can be dropped into it and gates can opened against wall. This can act as holding pen in front of cattle chute.

It is all about flexibility and being able to handle cattle easy.

Kovu

We built a 3 bay shed with lying areas in all but only two are gated. At the time we were building we had no separate calving pens (built two since) so they were sort of necessary to built into the pens.
There are adv's and disadv's that I've noticed. We shut the cows out of the lying areas and leave them on the mats, again only the two gated pens have mats as we find that the weanlings work well with the creep feeder in the top pen- which has no gate and had the sliding door.
The pens are handy for feeding a heifer/calves separate while the bolder cows are also stuck into the top as the lying area gives the others space to run.

Oh ffs, I'm making an arse of explaining this. Here's a pic. We actually split the bottom pen with a 14ft Medium gate so three heifers are locked up quite tight together on the mats are thriving the best!
If we were to do it again I'd say we'd only have the gated lying area in the middle pen and split off the rest with gates ourselves as needed.

http://imgur.com/sbkjnWz

Miname

I built walls between the creep and slats in the centre pens on the advice of another lad too. I left the other pens with gates. It's behind the walls that you'll always find the calves.

memorystick

I'm building a tank with a 34 foot straw bedded area. Nothing as nice as seeing healthy, thriving cattle on straw. Plenty of air and comfort. Ideal for light stock.

J DEERE

Kovu wrote: »

We built a 3 bay shed with lying areas in all but only two are gated. At the time we were building we had no separate calving pens (built two since) so they were sort of necessary to built into the pens.
There are adv's and disadv's that I've noticed. We shut the cows out of the lying areas and leave them on the mats, again only the two gated pens have mats as we find that the weanlings work well with the creep feeder in the top pen- which has no gate and had the sliding door.
The pens are handy for feeding a heifer/calves separate while the bolder cows are also stuck into the top as the lying area gives the others space to run.

Oh ffs, I'm making an arse of explaining this. Here's a pic. We actually split the bottom pen with a 14ft Medium gate so three heifers are locked up quite tight together on the mats are thriving the best!
If we were to do it again I'd say we'd only have the gated lying area in the middle pen and split off the rest with gates ourselves as needed.

http://imgur.com/sbkjnWz

Nice looking job there. Been looking at something similar. How do u find the cows do on the mats? Lameness, do their teats get dirty, how is it for bulling etc.

Kovu

J DEERE wrote: »

Nice looking job there. Been looking at something similar. How do u find the cows do on the mats? Lameness, do their teats get dirty, how is it for bulling etc.

I encouraged Dad to change our system slightly so that we're never really looking for them in heat on the slats, calve from March on where possible.
Find it really helps the older cows who were dodgy and nervous to get up on the slats as they'd had a slip previously.
More do need their feet trimmed though but I reckon that helps with overall health in the long run, worst of the cows are culled and what's left know Gabriel the footman by name
Teats are great, no mastitis. Pushed down once a day in the evening and it's tramped down. Does need the chopped silage though as the unchopped stuff will clog the mats.

J DEERE

Kovu wrote: »

I encouraged Dad to change our system slightly so that we're never really looking for them in heat on the slats, calve from March on where possible.
Find it really helps the older cows who were dodgy and nervous to get up on the slats as they'd had a slip previously.
More do need their feet trimmed though but I reckon that helps with overall health in the long run, worst of the cows are culled and what's left know Gabriel the footman by name
Teats are great, no mastitis. Pushed down once a day in the evening and it's tramped down. Does need the chopped silage though as the unchopped stuff will clog the mats.

So is that a 12'6 slat? And presuming 15'5 span? How many cows can u put in there comfortably?

Kovu

J DEERE wrote: »

So is that a 12'6 slat? And presuming 15'5 span? How many cows can u put in there comfortably?

13.6 & I think so. Haven't measured across for a few years.

If they're nice to each other 7. If not, 6. Young 'uns bunch up together so in one pen we've three incalf heifers, two weanlings and a cow and calf all happy out.

J DEERE

Kovu wrote: »

13.6 & I think so. Haven't measured across for a few years.

If they're nice to each other 7. If not, 6. Young 'uns bunch up together so in one pen we've three incalf heifers, two weanlings and a cow and calf all happy out.

Thinking of doing 4 bay here but might go bigger with slat to fit more cows then 12x15'6 lie back. What did the mats cost ye?

Kovu

J DEERE wrote: »

Thinking of doing 4 bay here but might go bigger with slat to fit more cows then 12x15'6 lie back. What did the mats cost ye?

Oh gosh I haven't a clue, must have been about ten years ago, they were Mayo Mats and we claimed the vat back so maybe someone else got them recently :pac:

Valtra6350

What is everyone take on putting barriers for the cows both front and back of the slats

Valtra6350

Whats is yere take on feeding barriers at the front and back of the slats