New livestock farm building layout and design

[Strefford§Stabilisers]

I'm looking at erecting a new set of farm buildings on our farm. It will need to include housing for 60 spring calving 650kg suckler cows. Bulls to be finished inside adlib at 13months. Heifers either kept/sold for breeding or finished by about 22months. Individual housing for 2 stock bulls within sight of other cattle. Integrated cattle handling system. Loading bay suitable for trailer or lorry.
Sheep handling system for 350+ ewes.
Barn storage for straw and hay.
Workshop including Deisel shed. Maybe this should include electric tractor charging stations??
And just to point out that no unfortunately we haven't just won the lottery, this is a long term project, probably starting with the beef sheds, cattle handling and loading.
Does anyone have suggestions of how the whole setup could be arranged and are there government bodies that offer advice on this, ADAS?

 

[Hilly]

Will it pay to build new sheds like that for sucklers these days ?

 

[Strefford§Stabilisers]

No. But will be looking at using them long term and dual use, temporary grain storage.

 

[Hilly]

Their ain’t much I the way of advisors out their anymore compared to what used to be because sucklers don’t pay very well and are not particularly needed or wanted by government it’s for a long time now it’s been like pissing against the wind, build a sheep shed more money in sheep as a cow .

 

[Strefford§Stabilisers]

Winter 2018-19 the cows spent outside grazing Redstart. 2019-20 they were in the shed by mid-October.

 

[Pan mixer]

What a big question though? Some thoughts;-

I would look to maximise the use of outside concrete yards - i.e. have sheds on 3 sides of the yard but allowing 'drive through' too.

Feed barriers on side of cattle shed facing yard which needs to be at least 50 feet wide so that there is plenty of swing in room when you convert to other things.

Make use of any natural slope as juice will need collecting but don't overdo it as alternate uses of buildings need floors and access that is not too sloped.

Workshop twice as big as you think.

 

[MD @Minshall Buildings]

I'm looking at erecting a new set of farm buildings on our farm. It will need to include housing for 60 spring calving 650kg suckler cows. Bulls to be finished inside adlib at 13months. Heifers either kept/sold for breeding or finished by about 22months. Individual housing for 2 stock bulls within sight of other cattle. Integrated cattle handling system. Loading bay suitable for trailer or lorry.
Sheep handling system for 350+ ewes.
Barn storage for straw and hay.
Workshop including Deisel shed. Maybe this should include electric tractor charging stations??
And just to point out that no unfortunately we haven't just won the lottery, this is a long term project, probably starting with the beef sheds, cattle handling and loading.
Does anyone have suggestions of how the whole setup could be arranged and are there government bodies that offer advice on this, ADAS?

If its any help I can put you in touch with the guys who designed the dairy innovation centre at University of Nottingham and also consult for Genus?....they are a consultancy so will charge, but are well versed in all things Agriculture?

PM me with your email if this of interest /

 

[Tarw Coch]

I’d rather look at what others have done and talk to them to see what they think could/should be done different/better than employ a consultant.
Ultimately you will be the one working with it every day so you need to do something you’re happy with and have something that works at a practical level.

 

[MD @Minshall Buildings]

I’d rather look at what others have done and talk to them to see what they think could/should be done different/better than employ a consultant.
Ultimately you will be the one working with it every day so you need to do something you’re happy with and have something that works at a practical level.

these guys are a small firm and very knowledgeable and practical....just trying to be helpful!

 

[T7.wab]

Companys like robinsons do a whole job, design to fit. Only you that can decide if the 250k is goin to be worth it

 

[Lazy Eric]

I notice quite a lot on here like to give financial advice as apposed to the practical advice that the op had asked for ..
Very tedious.

 

[TomB]

A bit dairy orientated but Ivor Davey of Cow Plan does drawings and also Grasstec in Ireland I think do building design and do work over here. Personally would do it myself looking at what others have done. But useful to have a professional second opinion.

 

[Andrew]

This layout of building works very well for us.

Cattle Shed Build

Thought I'd put some pictures up of the new cattle shed build we completed in the autumn. One shed needed replacing, and while we were at it we altered the feed passage set up. In this particular building, we doubled the yard space and went from 2 yards to 4 or 5. The cattle used to feed through...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

I would have 2 buildings laid out next to each other, with the feed passages on the ‘outside’. I would then put the handling system in the middle, with a 3rd roof over it.

Cows and newborn calves in one shed, weaned and fat ones in the second shed to minimise bugs getting to the newborns.

 

[Strefford§Stabilisers]

This layout of building works very well for us.

Cattle Shed Build

Thought I'd put some pictures up of the new cattle shed build we completed in the autumn. One shed needed replacing, and while we were at it we altered the feed passage set up. In this particular building, we doubled the yard space and went from 2 yards to 4 or 5. The cattle used to feed through...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

I would have 2 buildings laid out next to each other, with the feed passages on the ‘outside’. I would then put the handling system in the middle, with a 3rd roof over it.

Cows and newborn calves in one shed, weaned and fat ones in the second shed to minimise bugs getting to the newborns.

Sounds good. What sort of over hang do you have over the feed barrier? Do you have any problems with hay or straw blowing away from feed barrier? How are your buildings orientated to the prevailing weather?

 

[Andrew]

Sounds good. What sort of over hang do you have over the feed barrier? Do you have any problems with hay or straw blowing away from feed barrier? How are your buildings orientated to the prevailing weather?

The feee passage is inside the shed, which is tinned to the floor on the sides, which are squarely presented to the prevailing weather.

 

[MD @Minshall Buildings]

I notice quite a lot on here like to give financial advice as apposed to the practical advice that the op had asked for ..
Very tedious.

My humble apologies for trying to be helpful to the OP....thought that's what forums like this were for?

 

[Lazy Eric]

My humble apologies for trying to be helpful to the OP....thought that's what forums like this were for?

I wasn’t referring to you..... It’s the “ no money in sucklers “ brigade I was referring to.

 

[Hampton]

I'm looking at erecting a new set of farm buildings on our farm. It will need to include housing for 60 spring calving 650kg suckler cows. Bulls to be finished inside adlib at 13months. Heifers either kept/sold for breeding or finished by about 22months. Individual housing for 2 stock bulls within sight of other cattle. Integrated cattle handling system. Loading bay suitable for trailer or lorry.
Sheep handling system for 350+ ewes.
Barn storage for straw and hay.
Workshop including Deisel shed. Maybe this should include electric tractor charging stations??
And just to point out that no unfortunately we haven't just won the lottery, this is a long term project, probably starting with the beef sheds, cattle handling and loading.
Does anyone have suggestions of how the whole setup could be arranged and are there government bodies that offer advice on this, ADAS?

Are you in a catchment sensitive farming area?
May be financially beneficial to build it in stages if you are.
I’m not in CSF but know many farmers are using the grants to expand their cattle yards/sheds

 

[MD @Minshall Buildings]

I wasn’t referring to you..... It’s the “ no money in sucklers “ brigade I was referring to.

thank you

 

[Hampton]

Graham heath and brad rushton both offer a shed with cantilever and panels for £18k