Building a dry bed shed

390kid

I’m goin to put up a shed for housing weanlings and bulling heifers and I’m just wondering could people on here give me a rough guide cost wise for 3 maybe 4 bays lean to type shed and any other factors to be aware of. Thanks

blue5000

Leave room for a tank where they'll be feeding in future, slope towards where the tank will be and allow for a step up on to the tank. Straw is getting scarcer every year. Peat bedding is limited time wise too with our carbon footprint etc.

cacs

Just after building a four bay dry shed all in €22k I got a little extra done I would say 20-25 including vat all external labor. I have cost of materials if you want them

390kid

cathal irwin wrote: »

Just after building a four bay dry shed all in €22k I got a little extra done I would say 20-25 including vat all external labor. I have cost of materials if you want them

That would be great if you don’t mind? When you say you got extra done what do you mean

MfMan

cathal irwin wrote: »

Just after building a four bay dry shed all in €22k I got a little extra done I would say 20-25 including vat all external labor. I have cost of materials if you want them

When you say all-in, does that include all internal fittings, water troughs, lighting etc.? Was it fully cladded, block walled, poured walls? Thks.

cacs

390kid wrote: »

That would be great if you don’t mind? When you say you got extra done what do you mean

I will pm you

cacs

MfMan wrote: »

When you say all-in, does that include all internal fittings, water troughs, lighting etc.? Was it fully cladded, block walled, poured walls? Thks.

Fully clad, 6 foot block walls, six inch blocks scratched plastered, water troughs, dividing gates, two sliding doors 10 foot sqaure, 5 inch concrete. Pored walls would have been about another 1000

visatorro

blue5000 wrote: »

Leave room for a tank where they'll be feeding in future, slope towards where the tank will be and allow for a step up on to the tank. Straw is getting scarcer every year. Peat bedding is limited time wise too with our carbon footprint etc.

I'd be slow to build a straw bedded now bar for calving. As Blue says straw will be harder got and unless you have a guarentee of straw every year I'd put in slats

390kid

visatorro wrote: »

I'd be slow to build a straw bedded now bar for calving. As Blue says straw will be harder got and unless you have a guarentee of straw every year I'd put in slats

I have thought about that but where the intended site is the land type might not be suitable for getting rid of slurry so I thought if I could up the amount of FYM spread on this ground it might be of more benefit to it

390kid

cathal irwin wrote: »

I will pm you

Cheers thank you

Mooooo

cathal irwin wrote: »

Fully clad, 6 foot block walls, six inch blocks scratched plastered, water troughs, dividing gates, two sliding doors 10 foot sqaure, 5 inch concrete. Pored walls would have been about another 1000

If you can stretch to it I would go mass concrete, at least less chance of knocking a wall with the loader cleaning out the shed.

cacs

I would go poured walls also not necessary in my case

Bass Reeves

390kid wrote: »

I have thought about that but where the intended site is the land type might not be suitable for getting rid of slurry so I thought if I could up the amount of FYM spread on this ground it might be of more benefit to it

A straw beded shed needs to be about twice the size of a slatted unit for same number of cattle. A two bay slatted unit would serve the same function for you and cost much the same money. You could go with 16'slats and a 10' deep tank. Straw will cost you a minimum of 20/round bale at least on average over the next 10 years. If you have a 5 month winter you may also need storage for staw and a dungstead(another 2-4K). A 3 bay shed could cost 1500 euro/year on straw.

You shouls really look at the longterm costs.

Water John

There could be a full debate on the dung v slurry option. Which is more valuable?
Slurry higher nutrient value, dung much better soil conditioner. The total value of the straw is not lost.
A lot would depend in how intensive the OP is farming.

390kid

Water John wrote: »

There could be a full debate on the dung v slurry option. Which is more valuable?
Slurry higher nutrient value, dung much better soil conditioner. The total value of the straw is not lost.
A lot would depend in how intensive the OP is farming.

Wudnt be very intensive here. Not using much dung at all on land

Bass Reeves

Water John wrote: »

There could be a full debate on the dung v slurry option. Which is more valuable?
Slurry higher nutrient value, dung much better soil conditioner. The total value of the straw is not lost.
A lot would depend in how intensive the OP is farming.

Both Dung and Slurry have a nutrient value. Both have spreading costs but it is hard to justify a 1500 yearly costs for straw and peat will not be available in 5 years time IMO. 1500 euro is the cost of 4T of 18-6-12. Even if you allow dung spreading cost at 50% of slurry and not really sure you should you are still looking a over a 1K cost which si 3T of 18-6-12. I know I be going for the 18-6-12

farmer2018

I would advise you to build a slatted shed. There is too much work involved in a dry bed shed in terms of cleaning out and bedding. You want the least amount of work possible. Not to mention trying to source straw.

Cavanjack

farmer2018 wrote: »

I would advise you to build a slatted shed. There is too much work involved in a dry bed shed in terms of cleaning out and bedding. You want the least amount of work possible. Not to mention trying to source straw.

I'd go slatted too. If under 40 you'd build a 4 bay for 20k after the grant.

Water John

I have both but actually only use the slats ATM. Has its ease of use but dung is great stuff for soil structure etc.

blue5000

I use a 4 bay shed for finishing bulls every winter, currently it's bedded with woodchip. It is also used the rest of the year for machinery maintenance/storage.

If it was slatted I know it would be idle the other 7 months of the year. It's just something to consider if you are getting down to the nitty gritty costs.

ellewood

blue5000 wrote: »

I use a 4 bay shed for finishing bulls every winter, currently it's bedded with woodchip. It is also used the rest of the year for machinery maintenance/storage.

If it was slatted I know it would be idle the other 7 months of the year. It's just something to consider if you are getting down to the nitty gritty costs.

How do u find the wood chip?

How long does it last
What depth works
Is it recycled timber or does it matter
Does ut drain liquid if theres a fall to a tank
Tks

White Clover

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Both Dung and Slurry have a nutrient value. Both have spreading costs but it is hard to justify a 1500 yearly costs for straw and peat will not be available in 5 years time IMO. 1500 euro is the cost of 4T of 18-6-12. Even if you allow dung spreading cost at 50% of slurry and not really sure you should you are still looking a over a 1K cost which si 3T of 18-6-12. I know I be going for the 18-6-12

Bass, I'd wager that the dung has a lot of other benefits over slurry and also that cattle would thrive better on straw versus slats. Imo there's little in it financially but I'd put up a bedded shed before a slatted shed if I was building.

blue5000

ellewood wrote: »

How do u find the wood chip?

How long does it last
What depth works
Is it recycled timber or does it matter
Does ut drain liquid if theres a fall to a tank
Tks

It's in about 6 weeks so far, not sure how long it will last. It has gone a bit sticky on top at this stage though.

It's about 1 foot deep.

It's not recycled. I was afraid of having metal, wood preservative etc in recycled stuff.

No seepage from it.

Paid €850 for 35m cubed.

Water John

That's interesting. I presume one has to stockpile the woodchip/dung for 2 years before spreading?

_Brian

If straw was affordable and op had time for the extra work I firmly believe dung is far superior for land than slurry. I feel slurry and chemical fert feed the grass where dung feeds the soil that grows good grass.

However, unless your guaranteed easy access to cheap straw I think the tank is the more sensible option and I don’t see the days of cheap straw return.

What’s the story on tillage acerage?? Has increasing dairy number eaten into that much or at all ?? I’d expect it did but wouldn’t know.

ellewood

blue5000 wrote: »

It's in about 6 weeks so far, not sure how long it will last. It has gone a bit sticky on top at this stage though.

It's about 1 foot deep.

It's not recycled. I was afraid of having metal, wood preservative etc in recycled stuff.

No seepage from it.

Paid €850 for 35m cubed.

Dont know then was quoted E400 for 45m3 so maybe hes a messer
For recycled timber though
So he said there may be a few "bits" in it
What sort of stocking rate have u on it
Say kgs per m2??
Tks

charolais0153

ellewood wrote: »

Dont know then was quoted E400 for 45m3 so maybe hes a messer
For recycled timber though
So he said there may be a few "bits" in it
What sort of stocking rate have u on it
Say kgs per m2??
Tks

I think its something like 50kg/m2 on outsude woodchip corrals.

blue5000

ellewood wrote: »

Dont know then was quoted E400 for 45m3 so maybe hes a messer
For recycled timber though
So he said there may be a few "bits" in it
What sort of stocking rate have u on it
Say kgs per m2??
Tks

15 approx 500kg bulls on approx 120m2

Ya the recycled wood is cheaper ok.

adne

blue5000 wrote: »

15 approx 500kg bulls on approx 120m2

Ya the recycled wood is cheaper ok.

Using rape seed straw here. Happy with it. More cost effective than woodchip or peat

ellewood

adne wrote: »

Using rape seed straw here. Happy with it. More cost effective than woodchip or peat

How long does it last before topping up?

ellewood

blue5000 wrote: »

15 approx 500kg bulls on approx 120m2

Ya the recycled wood is cheaper ok.

Are u feeding them on it as well?

adne

ellewood wrote: »

How long does it last before topping up?

Similar to bedding on wheat or barley straw perhaps knock a few days extra from it as seems to have better soakage

ellewood

adne wrote: »

Similar to bedding on wheat or barley straw perhaps knock a few days extra from it as seems to have better soakage

Thanks
Cost per bale?

Last time i used osr straw it was 8/10 euros delivered for 4x4 round
I wonder will i get them for same now😆

Limestone Cowboy

Got a few bales of rushes/coarse grass off a fella there when I was weaning the calves and it's the best bedding I have used. A round bale was lasting 2 days longer than a round bale of straw and never really got sloppy. Just formed a kind of mat under them.

_Brian

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Got a few bales of rushes/coarse grass off a fella there when I was weaning the calves and it's the best bedding I have used. A round bale was lasting 2 days longer than a round bale of straw and never really got sloppy. Just formed a kind of mat under them.

Handy thing is too when you spread it you'll be self sustaining with your own crop of rushes from now on thanks to the seed imported

farmer2018

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Got a few bales of rushes/coarse grass off a fella there when I was weaning the calves and it's the best bedding I have used. A round bale was lasting 2 days longer than a round bale of straw and never really got sloppy. Just formed a kind of mat under them.

How long does a bale last you?

Bass Reeves

Firstly I'm by no means against slats but for our situation and taking the costs into account straw bed made more sense. But as we have a good sized straw bed shed I will make a few comments from experience.

Bass Reeves wrote: »

A 3 bay shed could cost 1500 euro/year on straw.

You shouls really look at the longterm costs.

You are way off there in that costing imo. We have a 5 bay straw bed shed and don't spend anywhere near that on straw even @25 euro a bale it would cost us about half that. Shed cleaned out fully approximately every 3 weeks and rebedded with 3 bales with a 4th bale spread on top after about 1 and a half weeks. So 4 bales every 3 weeks. Last year was the longest we had everything housed and it was less than 5 months we had them all inside so lets round up and say its 30 bales needed @ 25 per bale = 750 euro. Light cattle like weanlings or heifers could likely go even longer between clean outs as out weanling pen would not be as dirty as where the cows are and 3 bay would need less bales per clean out also.

blue5000 wrote: »

If it was slatted I know it would be idle the other 7 months of the year. It's just something to consider if you are getting down to the nitty gritty costs.

This is a very good point too, our shed is powerhosed as soon as the last cow is let out and used 7 to 8 months as a machinery shed, workshop etc. We always find it a shame to have to have to house the stock and pack all the machinery into other sheds or small old barns etc.

_Brian wrote: »

If straw was affordable and op had time for the extra work I firmly believe dung is far superior for land than slurry.

I hear a lot of people saying this but for a single 3 to 5 bay shed the amount of extra work is very little really. 3 to 4 hours once every 3 weeks fully cleans out our 5 bay and rebeds it and 30 mins to spread one bale in between the clean outs. Aside from that there is no difference really.

farmer2018

Aubrie Easy Greens wrote: »

Firstly I'm by no means against slats but for our situation and taking the costs into account straw bed made more sense. But as we have a good sized straw bed shed I will make a few comments from experience.



You are way off there imo in that costing imo. We have a 5 bay straw bed shed and don't spend anywhere near that on straw even @25 euro a bale it would cost us about half that. Shed cleaned out fully approximately every 3 weeks and rebedded with 3 bales with a 4th bale spread on top after about 1 and a half weeks. So 4 bales every 3 weeks. Last year was the longest we had everything housed and it was less than 5 months we had them inside so lets round up and say its 30 bales needed @ 25 per bale = 750 euro. Light cattle like weanlings or heifers could likely go even longer between clean outs as out weanling pen would not be as dirty as where the cows are.



This is a very good point too, our shed is powerhosed as soon as the last cow is let out and used 7 to 8 months as a machinery shed, workshop etc. We always find it a shame to have to have to house the stock and back all the machinery into other sheds or small old barns etc.



I hear a lot of people saying this but for a single 3 to 5 bay shed the amount of extra work is very little really. 3 to 4 hours once every 3 weeks fully cleans out our 5 bay and rebeds it and 30 mins to spread one bale in between the clean outs. Aside from that there is no difference really.

How many cattle are you putting in this shed?

farmer2018

farmer2018 wrote: »

How many cattle are you putting in this shed?

Varies slightly but averages around 30. Of which about 15 would be sucklers and the rest would be their spring born weanlings (so another 15) and then maybe a replacement heifer or two not yet in calf in with the cows.

Bass Reeves

How wide is the shed

visatorro

ellewood wrote: »

adne wrote: »

Similar to bedding on wheat or barley straw perhaps knock a few days extra from it as seems to have better soakage

Thanks
Cost per bale?

Last time i used osr straw it was 8/10 euros delivered for 4x4 round
I wonder will i get them for same now😆

I'm bedding the autumn calvers on it. It's not barley straw but it's better than I expected. It's dusty. So you wouldn't want to be shaking it out too much yourself. Even though it's dusty I don't know if it would last in a shed if I'd some left over.

45eur a bale for 8-4-4's. Doing me a favour. Was getting sixty off much room crowd. I'd probably buy a few next year all the same

Limestone Cowboy

_Brian wrote: »

Handy thing is too when you spread it you'll be self sustaining with your own crop of rushes from now on thanks to the seed imported

I won't be spreading it. Will let it rot down well and it will cover some bit of a crag somewhere down the line.

Limestone Cowboy

farmer2018 wrote: »

How long does a bale last you?

Had 17 weanlings in a 30x22ft hayshed and a bale was lasting about 5 days.

Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves wrote: »

How wide is the shed

About 23.5m (78ft).

White Clover

_Brian wrote: »

Handy thing is too when you spread it you'll be self sustaining with your own crop of rushes from now on thanks to the seed imported

Depends where it's spread. Rushes won't grow on any ground where the ph is optimum except poorly drained ground that would grow them anyway.

Bass Reeves

OP your present shed looks like it will hold all the stock you have even if you nearly doubled numbers. I was presuming a 4 bay shed by about 20-25 ' wide. Such a shed straw bedded would hold 8-10+ 300kg+ weanlings/ bay. If on a diet of 2kgs of ration and good silage my straw costs would be a lowish calculation. 8 bales to bed first day and about 3-4 bales/ week after that minimum. In my calculation shed was cleaned around mid winter. For 16 week winter that is near enough 1500 euro.

If weanlings are on a good diet doing over 0.5kgs/day they will make a fair bit of muck. As well sheds costs too much to be building and having them half stocked. As well it depends on your access to straw. If you are in the south east yiu can pick up straw at 50-60% of the cost if a farmer on the west coast. In a a single slated pen on 16.5' slats with 20'' toe space back and front I can carry 20 300kg weanlings