Dome shelters for wintering cattle??

[TelesnaAg]

I have an old dairy farm.i run as beef in the south of oz, winters are wet not quite freezing but wind that will cut you in half.

I do have some handy cyprus tree lines where the cattle stay dry under...but they getting old and some are buggered.

I am putting 5 15 x 20m feed pads this summer for having 2 hay rings on each pad, so no tractor has to go in the paddock.

I have 2 locations where 2 domes would cover 6 paddocks for shelter, 50 head in 2 mobs.

Thinking 10 x 24 m giving over 4 sqm per steer, wiod chip floors on solid gravel, can pack local gravel here like cement.

Cattle can still go eat grass daily and will have mini feed pad with 2 rings plus water.

Has anyone else done something similar?? Thos is not for full time wintering like they do in uk or canada etc.. just a warm bed for a good nights sleep out if wind and rain.

To set tree lines up will take years plus valuable dirt.

I interested to know thoughts...

Cheers Ant...

 

[Moors Lad]

What is a dome shelter? Not heard of one before...

 

[TelesnaAg]

What is a dome shelter? Not heard of one before...

Something like this, many variations of them, alot of dairy in australia now have them.

Ant...

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Something like this, many variations of them, alot of dairy in australia now have them.

Ant...

I'm looking to do similar just with "container shelters" as dry storage

Quite liked our old shelter with the deep chip floors for cattle, covers lasted 20 years which isn't bad

 

[TelesnaAg]

I'm looking to do similar just with "container shelters" as dry storage
View attachment 1155017
Quite liked our old shelter with the deep chip floors for cattle, covers lasted 20 years which isn't bad

Container igloos populat in oz for all types of stuff.

For me.to get 40 footers i to location be a mission plus i dont need the storage capacity.

Looking at prices a skillion hay shed would near be more economical, wall on 2 sides, big squares in one end so when you want to clean just shift out and pull the land levller straight through.

Deep litter barns are going up here in the st west dairys quick as they can build them.

I will call about clear roof set ups.

Being for beef it has to be economical, add value to property so not be rough as guts, and just do a job for that worse 4 to 5 months. That said i think the payback will be quicler than most think, the last 3 years here it would have resulted in higher stocking rates, and more spring grass.

Normal winters here might not need them daily, i can improve alot woth drainage but i cant get across whole farm in one year.

If i can do for circa 20kish im interested. Eating area and water will be done thos year so im part ways there.

Ant...

 

[TelesnaAg]

I'm looking to do similar just with "container shelters" as dry storage
View attachment 1155017
Quite liked our old shelter with the deep chip floors for cattle, covers lasted 20 years which isn't bad

These are the main go here atm, along with permanent structures.

The scarify everybday mixing manure with woood chips, covers last 7 years, shade mesh is popular to stop rain coming in, along woth big squares on worst side for wind.

I only need single module for width and determine the length.

In new year willm enquire about council permits etc.

Ant...

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I think when the guy put up that Redpath shed it was pre- quite a few regs.

To do the same now would be fairly cost prohibitive- for one you'd need a consent, secondly you'd need an effluent plan and storage for the nonexistent effluent, and beef doesn't support these extra costs as the brits kindly demonstrate for us.

The roof is the cheap bit... !

Hence I think the big advantage of the container igloo type of structure, being non-permanent and even "shiftable" makes it harder for the pen-pushers to make it harder for you

 

[TelesnaAg]

I think when the guy put up that Redpath shed it was pre- quite a few regs.

To do the same now would be fairly cost prohibitive- for one you'd need a consent, secondly you'd need an effluent plan and storage for the nonexistent effluent, and beef doesn't support these extra costs as the brits kindly demonstrate for us.

The roof is the cheap bit... !

Hence I think the big advantage of the container igloo type of structure, being non-permanent and even "shiftable" makes it harder for the pen-pushers to make it harder for you

Oz not as strict, however if container shelter is going to be in place for x time it gets classed as perm in some shires.

Croft shelters, who i worked for a few nonths when young have option of pole mount instead of containers which lowers cost considerably, also get height a bit more inline with what i want.

A 10m x 12m is around 5-7k so two of these piggy backed us 240 sqm which should be heaps for 45 head at max 400kg that time of year, most likely will be 300 to 350 in winter.

Wood chips are king on gravel feed pads or gate entrances etc, so anything pulled out of shelter can be dried in summer and re spread around farm.

Ant....

 

[som farmer]

seen similar in use in N America, in differing degrees of complexity.

also see a lot of simple 'corrals', basically windbreaks around them, some pretty evil weather as well. Even portable windbreaks in the fields.

its the ability to 'remove' cattle from areas, with a view of improving those areas. Its more to do with the economic return on the investment.

one of the best things about u'tube, it shows how farmers, in different countries, manage the same problems we have, mainly weather !

 

[TelesnaAg]

seen similar in use in N America, in differing degrees of complexity.

also see a lot of simple 'corrals', basically windbreaks around them, some pretty evil weather as well. Even portable windbreaks in the fields.

its the ability to 'remove' cattle from areas, with a view of improving those areas. Its more to do with the economic return on the investment.

one of the best things about u'tube, it shows how farmers, in different countries, manage the same problems we have, mainly weather !

Corrrect, we are very different to nth America, ive lived there, they dont so much get wet amd ground freezes, so bogging etc isnt as much of issue compared to oz and nz.

I think in my area where it blows it ar*e off and rains sideways, with day time temps at 6 degrees, growth increase will be huge and pay for shelter, the cattle alos walk like mad when its wet looking for dry and just eating to keep warm,

Ive starting putting in mini feed pads at paddock junctions all linked to laneways, so this would be a natural extension.

Last 3 winters here at new farm have taight me my winter growth loss is larger than id like.

Ant...

 

[som farmer]

the great 'new' idea here, is to outwinter cattle, nothing much in farming, other than chemicals, is truly 'new'. Its old ideas revamped.

while i accept we only remember the bad years, before we built enough sheds, y/s, dry cows, had to stay out, the dairy went out everyday, but tied up at nights. The biggest memory is of mud, deep glutinous mud, used to be banned from parts of the farm, just in case l got stuck, and drowned, that was at under 7 though !

that mud had to be scrubbed off udders, prior to milking. Then kale fence had to be moved, some of it taller than me, 'canson' type gale. Y/s had to be fed, gateways full of mud, wheels spinning on tractors, no cabs.

admittedly they have twisted it a bit, a big improvement, but in a wet period, it was utter shite, nor did cattle thrive, dry cold, was fine, wet/cold wasn't.

the sheer luxury when we could house stock, night and day, took a few years, and grants to do it, but we did.

but it wasn't only the luxury of housing them, it was also a big game changer from the increased production from mud less fields, we gained acres of ground, that used to take till mid summer, to produce any grass. One old chap working for us, used to say it reminded him of the trenches, WW1, all the mud, several of the older workers locally had fought, we are talking 50/60 yrs ago, wished l had listened more.

so, outwintering for me, is a sod off, get away with it some years, wet ones like his, no, soil damage outweighs the gains. Cattle stood up, with their asses to the wind, don't do.

so the conclusion from a miserable old git, swards not poached in a wet year, produce a lot more, cattle gain more weight with some shelter, eat less food. to gain that extra weight, and the big plus, you know where the bloody things are, when you go to feed them.

on the Dorset Downs, there used to be a lot of dairies, that were basically a pad of concrete, a parlour, dutch barn, and a couple of sheds, or ex railway boxes. They all fed kale all winter, and soil depth of 6 ins, tractors, or cows, didn't get stuck. They all went decades ago, and now, the 'new' idea, is to outwinter cows again, the wheel always turns full circle.

merry xmas, and a prosperous new year to all. Whatever it brings.

 

[Flatlander]

I built a similar shelter fir the wife to ride her horse in. fast forward a couple of years and it’s now a machine storage shelter. If it was for cattke I would build it on a strong Pony wall high enough and strong enough to keep the tarp and metal work away from the cattle. They are quick and easy to construct with just a couple of men. Wife and myself built ours in a short time.

 

[TelesnaAg]

the great 'new' idea here, is to outwinter cattle, nothing much in farming, other than chemicals, is truly 'new'. Its old ideas revamped.

while i accept we only remember the bad years, before we built enough sheds, y/s, dry cows, had to stay out, the dairy went out everyday, but tied up at nights. The biggest memory is of mud, deep glutinous mud, used to be banned from parts of the farm, just in case l got stuck, and drowned, that was at under 7 though !

that mud had to be scrubbed off udders, prior to milking. Then kale fence had to be moved, some of it taller than me, 'canson' type gale. Y/s had to be fed, gateways full of mud, wheels spinning on tractors, no cabs.

admittedly they have twisted it a bit, a big improvement, but in a wet period, it was utter shite, nor did cattle thrive, dry cold, was fine, wet/cold wasn't.

the sheer luxury when we could house stock, night and day, took a few years, and grants to do it, but we did.

but it wasn't only the luxury of housing them, it was also a big game changer from the increased production from mud less fields, we gained acres of ground, that used to take till mid summer, to produce any grass. One old chap working for us, used to say it reminded him of the trenches, WW1, all the mud, several of the older workers locally had fought, we are talking 50/60 yrs ago, wished l had listened more.

so, outwintering for me, is a sod off, get away with it some years, wet ones like his, no, soil damage outweighs the gains. Cattle stood up, with their asses to the wind, don't do.

so the conclusion from a miserable old git, swards not poached in a wet year, produce a lot more, cattle gain more weight with some shelter, eat less food. to gain that extra weight, and the big plus, you know where the bloody things are, when you go to feed them.

on the Dorset Downs, there used to be a lot of dairies, that were basically a pad of concrete, a parlour, dutch barn, and a couple of sheds, or ex railway boxes. They all fed kale all winter, and soil depth of 6 ins, tractors, or cows, didn't get stuck. They all went decades ago, and now, the 'new' idea, is to outwinter cows again, the wheel always turns full circle.

merry xmas, and a prosperous new year to all. Whatever it brings.

Cool, we can grow grass here during winter, so there benefits to be had in managing the wet, paybacks.

If the cattle arent right here in September coming out of winter and ypu miss a month or so...that has big affects on profit.

The deep litter barns are the first step..some have then gine to permanent structures...some will do fine just with deep litter barn.

Ant...

 

[TelesnaAg]

I built a similar shelter fir the wife to ride her horse in. fast forward a couple of years and it’s now a machine storage shelter. If it was for cattke I would build it on a strong Pony wall high enough and strong enough to keep the tarp and metal work away from the cattle. They are quick and easy to construct with just a couple of men. Wife and myself built ours in a short time.

Cheers, i did find out today that i need permits.

Ant....

 

[Ben B]

Good until roof blows off. Know a couple of blokes with similar for calf sheds. Obviously probably not as critical if the roof blows off a stock shed. But there still quite expensive to replace. I know one guys probably put 2 covers on in the last 5-8 years on his shed.

 

[som farmer]

Cool, we can grow grass here during winter, so there benefits to be had in managing the wet, paybacks.

If the cattle arent right here in September coming out of winter and ypu miss a month or so...that has big affects on profit.

The deep litter barns are the first step..some have then gine to permanent structures...some will do fine just with deep litter barn.

Ant...

there's precious little leeway in profits today, everything has to be as near right as can be got, wasting grub is chucking money away.

but with all bovines, the better the nutrition, the better the animal, easy to say, not so easy to do. Used to be big 'candlemass' sales of stores locally, the big plug, mainly outwintered, farmers would buy them, and they would motor on better feed, sales are still there, most would be housed cattle now.

and with housed cattle, you don't feck fields up, but you gain valuable fym, which if targeted, saves a lot of fert. Not to be sniffed at.

 

[TelesnaAg]

Good until roof blows off. Know a couple of blokes with similar for calf sheds. Obviously probably not as critical if the roof blows off a stock shed. But there still quite expensive to replace. I know one guys probably put 2 covers on in the last 5-8 years on his shed.

What gsm rating were covers.??

The clear covers down here on deep litter barns are staying put with sheds losing tin.

Theres chinese ones here (lots of) and local made, local are double the thickness.

Armourtex is what ive seen and used on miesites, you can get in flame retardent.

For a few extra k its best to get canvas thats local.

I put some up on a piggery with crofts 26 years ago ablut 15km from my old girls farm, they still there, and it blows it clakka off there
, that was pretty much before chinese ones were a thing.

Ant....

 

[Yale]

@cows sh#t me to tears

The shed expert.

 

[TelesnaAg]

@cows sh#t me to tears

The shed expert.

Its probably unseasonably muddier at his farm compared to mine...ive had 55mm for xmas.

Some spots in vic flooding, elnino was bringing drought all msm climate experts said.

Ant ..

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

Its probably unseasonably muddier at his farm compared to mine...ive had 55mm for xmas.

Some spots in vic flooding, elnino was bringing drought all msm climate experts said.

Ant ..

Be nice to have only had that much
Kerang had over 100mm.
Re sheds. You won't get much for 20k these days. It's also a tricky one if your trying to keep things dry with no walls when as you say, the rain goes sideways. Then you also have the storm water runoff to deal with as you don't want a mess on the verge where they walk in.

And as @Ben B said , pigloos can blow off . Calf one near us with half a lid atm.