my first thought is a shed that side for 5 calves doesn’t need additional ventilation unless in the peak of a hot summer. if your intent I’d wonder about an opening in the door with flyscreen. You could have a panel that fits in to close in bad weather.
But honestly, I don’t think it’s needed.
Does anyone here have one of those power ventilation tube systems in a calf shed. I think it's called PPV positive pressure ventilation.
Tom Pemberton had a youtube video up before where he lost cattle with pneumonia and got a crowd in who installed an electric fan connected to like a fabric tunnel for want of a better word, which was suspended over the livestock. Twas an interesting solution I thought but it did work as in it created good ventilation without making the shed drafty
Doctors differ and all that, I know a lad who put i that fan and doesn't even turn it on anymore! Depends on the shed design I suppose.
Ya 5 calves in a high shed, will have plenty of air. . Jayus I knew a lad who reared a few calves every year in the back of a broken down hiace Van. Well I suppose he was able to screw down a bit of a window.
Straw is the difference. The best calf rearers I know, really shove on the straw.
Reminded of my father's version of Yorkshire boarding was to hang pallets on the side of the shed
.At no stage did I say money had anything to do with it.His point was that it causes draughts over the calves.He said that this type of material is detrimental to good air flow.
No, I didn't accuse you of that at all! But it is a reality that most of us face, none of my sheds have doors at all I doubt putting up a door with ventilated sheeting would be detrimental, it might be a different story if you are considering it as an alternative to Yorkshire boarding an entire side of the shed. I try to reduce draughts where I can with stokboard, plywood, windbreaker and plenty of straw. I try to improve a little bit every year but if you think some ventilated sheeting is detrimental you may be shocked by the sheds around that have manged to raise generations of calves.
True. All types of sheds have reared generations of calves.
Our old one is ready to be knocked but it keeps churning them out. I'll put up a photo once we buy in the first 2 batches. Usually get 2 × 7 or 8.
What I’ve found is the whole shed doesn’t need to be draught free. As long as they have a dry area to lie that is sheltered and well bedded they are absolutely fine.
That's the idea behind the plywood over hangs at the back wall, it gives them draught free lying space and they will naturally tend to lie in that area.
I always like the 4ft canopy at the back of the pen, In the cold weather they'd lie in the nest and when the weather warms they lie out in the front of the pen
I’d guess that more problems come from damp bedding than draughts. 🤷🏻
I find these very handy for holding sprays, foot clippers etc when working with sheep.
Anyone use these green netting covers? Do they keep drizzle out?
I’ve a shed facing north and while there’s no driving rain from that direction here, there’s a drizzle the odd time.
Be great if they did. Anyone have a supplier?
From memory, Clonmel Covers do them.
Not seen many like that in Ireland but they are very common in the UK.
Clonmel Covers supply them: https://www.clonmelcovers.ie
Around €350 to cover a bay to a height of 9-feet. I’d take a chance on them if I thought they’d keep the drizzle outdoors
My bays are 14ft 10inch. Emailed them incase they can come up with something to fit. Only need a single 6ft but if it helps keep the middle of the barn which is completely open even slightly drier its money well spent.
Any idea of how long they last?
Edit> They got back very quickly and can make one up for me :-) Just waiting on price.
A neighbour got a curtain off an old curtain spider and top rail, welded on the top rail. Can slide the whole lot open in no time.
Theres no doubt that rain will come in, I had to take down 90ft galebreaker where it was letting in rain and put up punched sheeting
The supplier of my polytunnel used a much closer galebreaker, it's a pity galebreaker suppliers don't source that option
I reckon I might go with clear sheeting instead. No more than 7 sheets needed based on my rough measurements. Plenty places selling them too, including a place about 15 miles from me: https://mccarthystramore.ie/products/clear-corrugated-sheeting-6ft?srsltid=AfmBOooKhTPgPCNDtlYPSv0d5V8KfDHtkOiTk7sBDBjY187FoBD7Gyxy
The disadvantage being it will catch the wind so you will need a good solid frame to fit it on.
Will catch the rain too and it will run down yo whatever underneath e..g silage
Looking at putting a diverter valve on our 7 tonne Hitachi uh025 to be able to work a double acting ram. This digger is pushing 50 years old so but is running great. Id like to have it piped for a grab attachment or small tree shears. Anyone have any experience putting a diverter valve on an old track machine?
Get it put on at the bottom of the boom and a button on the joystick, you can also get joystick ends with extra functions either., very easy to do off top ram pipe
You'd have to run the extra hydraulic pipe then for the third service out along the boom. Not easy.
Thanks for the replies. The lever for the arm lift and bucket curl has a button for the horn. Was thinking I'd disconnect the horn, run the 12 volt wire out to diverter valve on the dipper. When I'd want to use the 3rd service I'd press the horn button to energise the diverter valve and then use the curl open/close to work the 3rd service double acting ram.
https://advancedlubricantsolutions.ie/product/6-way-divertor-valve
I think a valve like this is what I'd require, 2 ports for the existing flow/return and 2 ports going to the curl ram and 2 pipes to the 3rd service double acting ram
