Here's the story:
Updating the 100 year old cattle pens here (ok, slight exaggeration, they're 60 year old, but situated in the 200 year old former dairy byre which is somewhat remote from the "modern" housing, and usually requires a few bodies to block holes in the journey between the two locations)
I've a crush, Bateman supor mobile forcing circle, and plenty cattle hurdles. With the addition of spreader hoops and swinging gates within frames, the plan is to have 3 of 8x20 foot crowding pens leading into the forcing circle, then a 30 foot sheeted race before the vet access box and crush.
Will I need fixed posts to anchor the pen hurdles and sheeted race? Or will the weight of the bits hold it in situ?
I am especially skeptical concerning the stability of the 30 foot race made from 10 foot sheeted hurdles pinned together with spreader frames maintaining the width.
Initially the surface is planned to be aggregate over the rubble that I'm using to make an 80x25 foot site on the hillside alongside one of the sheds. Alternatives to aggregate? 40mm gravel? What will the cattle prefer and what's more likely to hold the pens stable if posts aren't required?
Concrete will happen when funds and time permit.
Any suggestions or experiences please!
Updating the 100 year old cattle pens here (ok, slight exaggeration, they're 60 year old, but situated in the 200 year old former dairy byre which is somewhat remote from the "modern" housing, and usually requires a few bodies to block holes in the journey between the two locations)
I've a crush, Bateman supor mobile forcing circle, and plenty cattle hurdles. With the addition of spreader hoops and swinging gates within frames, the plan is to have 3 of 8x20 foot crowding pens leading into the forcing circle, then a 30 foot sheeted race before the vet access box and crush.
Will I need fixed posts to anchor the pen hurdles and sheeted race? Or will the weight of the bits hold it in situ?
I am especially skeptical concerning the stability of the 30 foot race made from 10 foot sheeted hurdles pinned together with spreader frames maintaining the width.
Initially the surface is planned to be aggregate over the rubble that I'm using to make an 80x25 foot site on the hillside alongside one of the sheds. Alternatives to aggregate? 40mm gravel? What will the cattle prefer and what's more likely to hold the pens stable if posts aren't required?
Concrete will happen when funds and time permit.
Any suggestions or experiences please!