Cattle shed with concrete slatted floor

Far Gloss · Nov 28, 2017

I’m looking to build a fully slatted cattle shed to house 200 ish additional beef cattle.

It will be split into two with cattle housed in 2 groups from around 9 months to finished.

Does anyone have any ideas about cattle density? I’ve seen figures ranging from 2.5-7m2 per beast!
Not sure on dimensions yet but thinking 18/20m wide with two external feed barriers & concrete troughs.

Also wondering if there’s similar sheds about as I really need to see some (Near ish to Shropshire). Seems like there’s loads in Ireland!

Any input & thoughts greatly appreciated!

beefandsleep · Nov 28, 2017

When I am ready to build one I will definitely be taking a holiday to Ireland to see a few units. 2.3m/hd for a 600kg beast is what I’ve read but I would need to see a few units correctly stocked and speak to the man managing it before I put a spade in the ground.

dannewhouse · Nov 29, 2017

56 square foot per suckler cow here. seems about right don't want many more in. pens 51ft x 30ft 27 sucklers in.

eblex do a building design guide which includes stocking density and feed area and water trough area needed per animal.

beefandsleep · Nov 29, 2017

That’s 5.2 m, seems a lot, is that with calves and a bedded creep area?

dannewhouse · Nov 29, 2017

beefandsleep said:
That’s 5.2 m, seems a lot, is that with calves and a bedded creep area?

it does but when all cattle are laid down bedded area = 36ft x 30ft theres not much room at all between them range of cow sizes from 875kg to 500kg 27 per pen. I wouldn't want them any more intense and if the shed was poor ventilation you wouldn't want them this tight.

http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp/w...-plus-Better-cattle-housing-design-080316.pdf

work through this it does tell you everything page 30 tells you the space. it recommends for a 500kg growing animal 4.25m2 bedded area 5.85 total (this is + your passage)
but 2.10 m2 for slats which I think must be wrong, I would base your calcs on the "total" area then your not strict on where cows can and cannot lie ie 2ft worth of non passage area might have to be classed as "loafing area" on paper.

I cant tell you enough to do the calcs on air movement ie what size open ridge you need (do not worry about rain it NEVER rains in when shed has cattle in) I found a shorter calc method in dairyco I think. 5cm of ridge opening per 3m building width and then 2x ridge area per inlet ie Yorkshire boarding gap must equate to 2x ridge and then I have front fully open to make up other 2x ridge opening.

work through trough space and water trough space you wont regret the time spent doing it.

Mrs Brown · Nov 29, 2017

Our slatted shed works out at 26.5 sq ft per cow quite large simmys that gives them plenty room to lie down and for their calves to creep in to suckle. pens are 12 feet wide so equate to just over 2 feet per animal which works in with the 2.2 feet per animal feeding at locking yolk.

Far Gloss · Nov 29, 2017

Thank you for all the Imput so far, there is a lot to consider.

tjzservices · Dec 13, 2017

hello,
we've been supplying and erecting buildings for last 10 years and have never found customers moaning buildings are to big!! have also put extensions on many of the smaller jobs we've done.
i feel this speaks volumes about future planning, 200 cattle soon becomes 250 and then it had just as well be 300. recently completed a 200*120 in essex that blokes going to finish 300 head in, feeding outside. thinks that's bout 80 foot square per head of bedding area. i haven't seen it action yet though, they could be like sardines or lonely!!

Far Gloss · Dec 14, 2017

tjzservices said:
hello,
we've been supplying and erecting buildings for last 10 years and have never found customers moaning buildings are to big!! have also put extensions on many of the smaller jobs we've done.
i feel this speaks volumes about future planning, 200 cattle soon becomes 250 and then it had just as well be 300. recently completed a 200*120 in essex that blokes going to finish 300 head in, feeding outside. thinks that's bout 80 foot square per head of bedding area. i haven't seen it action yet though, they could be like sardines or lonely!!

I think most farmers build the shed as large as they can afford at the time. Or build it to fit a space

The 200 x 120 you mention, is that straw bedded ?

tjzservices · Dec 14, 2017

from what customer were saying, he'd put a 3 inch layer of sand on top of the chalk floor and then straw. big arable farm so i suppose straw for $hit isn't a bad swap!!

Far Gloss · Dec 14, 2017

tjzservices said:
from what customer were saying, he'd put a 3 inch layer of sand on top of the chalk floor and then straw. big arable farm so i suppose straw for $hit isn't a bad swap!!

The chalk floor is a good idea, I think I’d do that or perhaps stone dust compacted.
The problem for me is the straw would be to expensive as I don’t have the arable acreage. Only 43 acres and that’s let out

tjzservices · Dec 14, 2017

i am very curious about slatted floors for non dairy animals. i cannot see that the dung would be runny enough to flow through the slats let alone under the floor to a cleaning out area. or are the buildings put up to such an elevation that a bobcat can drive underneath to clean out, like sheep sheds in australia??
maybe someone could enlighten me.

ridger · Dec 14, 2017

tjzservices said:
i am very curious about slatted floors for non dairy animals. i cannot see that the dung would be runny enough to flow through the slats let alone under the floor to a cleaning out area. or are the buildings put up to such an elevation that a bobcat can drive underneath to clean out, like sheep sheds in australia??
maybe someone could enlighten me.

They tramp it down through as they walk about that's why you want about 10 or 12 in a 16 foot square pen

marco · Dec 14, 2017

there is a concrete tank underneat, usually 8ft deep, urine and dung are mixed into a slurry solution when full. sometimes water needs to be added depending on how thick it is. its then sucked out with a slurry(vacume) tanker.

https://www.google.ie/search?biw=19......0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.lqjxbx1lr9A

tjzservices · Dec 15, 2017

and the dung from store/sucklers is liquid enough to be sucked/pumped out??

jamesy · Dec 16, 2017

tjzservices said:
and the dung from store/sucklers is liquid enough to be sucked/pumped out??

Yes

yin ewe · Dec 18, 2017

tjzservices said:
and the dung from store/sucklers is liquid enough to be sucked/pumped out??

Add a load or two of water when mixing if it's too thick.

tjzservices · Dec 18, 2017

gonna ask another 'silly' question??
for why do the cattle need to be inside? if the 'ground' cannot get wet underfoot, as its concrete slats, why the need for a roof??
i've seen several producers in east anglier who finish cattle in outdoor straw yards, although mainly british breeds like herefords and angus's. is it for weaker continentals that wouldn't be as waterproof?

multi power · Dec 18, 2017

tjzservices said:
gonna ask another 'silly' question??
for why do the cattle need to be inside? if the 'ground' cannot get wet underfoot, as its concrete slats, why the need for a roof??
i've seen several producers in east anglier who finish cattle in outdoor straw yards, although mainly british breeds like herefords and angus's. is it for weaker continentals that wouldn't be as waterproof?

That's a good question, but really I think they need some shelter, it's not like they are out in a field and can go and stand under a big hedge

pine_guy · Dec 19, 2017

tjzservices said:
gonna ask another 'silly' question??
for why do the cattle need to be inside? if the 'ground' cannot get wet underfoot, as its concrete slats, why the need for a roof??
i've seen several producers in east anglier who finish cattle in outdoor straw yards, although mainly british breeds like herefords and angus's. is it for weaker continentals that wouldn't be as waterproof?

Depends where you are in the country. The rainfall here would fill the below tank too fast.

Cattle shed with concrete slatted floor

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