Sheep slatted shed design

[jackstor]

We're thinking about slatting a shed for sheep, approximately 100ft x 28ft. Plan is to make a 4ft deep tank, two rows of columns going the length of the tank with concrete beams sitting on the columns along the length and so the fibreglass supports go across the width of the tank in 3 spans, just over 9ft long.
Put a sump hole at opposite ends of the tank and roof water can be diverted easily into the tank.

Is they're anything different we should/shouldn't be doing? If we put water in the tank first, will we be able to easily suck the slurry out or will it need mixing?

All opinions/ideas much appreciated

 

[MJT]

We're thinking about slatting a shed for sheep, approximately 100ft x 28ft. Plan is to make a 4ft deep tank, two rows of columns going the length of the tank with concrete beams sitting on the columns along the length and so the fibreglass supports go across the width of the tank in 3 spans, just over 9ft long.
Put a sump hole at opposite ends of the tank and roof water can be diverted easily into the tank.

Is they're anything different we should/shouldn't be doing? If we put water in the tank first, will we be able to easily suck the slurry out or will it need mixing?

All opinions/ideas much appreciated

With our slatted shed we went away from the idea of solid concrete tank, instead going for earth floor, liquid drains away and left with a compost like cake, no smell of ammonia etc and only clean out every 5/6 years with mini digger as it breaks down so well.

 

[livestock 1]

We're thinking about slatting a shed for sheep, approximately 100ft x 28ft. Plan is to make a 4ft deep tank, two rows of columns going the length of the tank with concrete beams sitting on the columns along the length and so the fibreglass supports go across the width of the tank in 3 spans, just over 9ft long.
Put a sump hole at opposite ends of the tank and roof water can be diverted easily into the tank.

Is they're anything different we should/shouldn't be doing? If we put water in the tank first, will we be able to easily suck the slurry out or will it need mixing?

All opinions/ideas much appreciated

I don’t know if you are matey with the fella we both know that has a lot of sheep on slats. Might be worth finding out of him I know one of my mates had asked and he told him to come over and have a look. We had a shed on mesh frames but the wood got heavy to lift out with the water in amongst it and shyt plus the mesh doesn’t last long. I always had the idea that the floor should slope either one way or both ways to a sump at each end like you are describing so water could be used to flush it out clean underneath

 

[jackstor]

I don’t know if you are matey with the fella we both know that has a lot of sheep on slats. Might be worth finding out of him I know one of my mates had asked and he told him to come over and have a look. We had a shed on mesh frames but the wood got heavy to lift out with the water in amongst it and shyt plus the mesh doesn’t last long. I always had the idea that the floor should slope either one way or both ways to a sump at each end like you are describing so water could be used to flush it out clean underneath

I will ask him next time I see him

 

[livestock 1]

I will ask him next time I see him

He’s been on with such like for a long time and will know how to do it to make it work.
How much are the slats of it’s not a cheeky question?

 

[Tyronesheep]

Definitely will need mixing. Iv 2 sheds done here and personally think it takes the second year to break the pills down in the tank. Mine are all 8ft deep which get filled with pig slurry during the winter and If I don’t leave the pump in mixing while sucking out the pills would be floating after 2 mins after finishing mixing. Even with mixing while filling the tanker that last 6-12” will be pure sheep sh.t pills. It can’t be beat for growing grass in my eyes though so something for you to think about. adding a couple of ft to the walls won’t add that much extra cost. Never heard anyone say there tanks to deep but plenty wish they had went deeper.

 

[Stw88]

can you make the tank deep enough so your little kramer can go underneath? No worrying about mixing or trying to keep the tank water tight then.

 

[jackstor]

Definitely will need mixing. Iv 2 sheds done here and personally think it takes the second year to break the pills down in the tank. Mine are all 8ft deep which get filled with pig slurry during the winter and If I don’t leave the pump in mixing while sucking out the pills would be floating after 2 mins after finishing mixing. Even with mixing while filling the tanker that last 6-12” will be pure sheep sh.t pills. It can’t be beat for growing grass in my eyes though so something for you to think about. adding a couple of ft to the walls won’t add that much extra cost. Never heard anyone say there tanks to deep but plenty wish they had went deeper.

We'll have to stick with 4ft deep as we already have a 4ft wall underground.
Guess 4ft will hold a winter's slurry even if we put some water in at the start.

 

[jackstor]

can you make the tank deep enough so your little kramer can go underneath? No worrying about mixing or trying to keep the tank water tight then.

Can't really make it any deeper. if we had too, just have to lift the slats out and drop a skidsteer in and clean out with digger but hope it wouldn't come to that

 

[Tyronesheep]

Yes will hold it no problem. Depends how many for how long I suppose. Over the years I noticed if I didn’t fill the tanks till about 7’ I got a draft coming up from under the slats in one of the sheds so really Iv only 1ft storage.

 

[Uggman]

We'll have to stick with 4ft deep as we already have a 4ft wall underground.
Guess 4ft will hold a winter's slurry even if we put some water in at the start.

I think cammy,'s mate the Viking has done a shed similar to what your talking about a he puts brewer's yeast or waste in it and doesn't mix it to much think that tank is only 2ft deep cleans it every other year but try watching it on YouTube the sheepgame

 

[Blue.]

can you make the tank deep enough so your little kramer can go underneath? No worrying about mixing or trying to keep the tank water tight then.

Dunbia Preston have a slatted shed that they go under with a bobcat,it’s a great shed for sheep.

Another way is auto scrapers under the slats.

I thought of making a complete pen out of galv box that you pick up and move with the loadall,just sit down on the concrete and move to clean up.

 

[Stw88]

Ive thought about auto scrapers but the muck will be too dry and just smear i think.

 

[ritchiekirkland]

M8 has auto scrapers on his sheep shed into a central channel , hates it and wouldn’t do it again .

 

[ringi]

With our slatted shed we went away from the idea of solid concrete tank, instead going for earth floor, liquid drains away and left with a compost like cake, no smell of ammonia etc and only clean out every 5/6 years with mini digger as it breaks down so well.

How much of the earth floor is converted into very nice soil by the worms?

 

[ringi]

By not adding water its likely the resulting FYM will be much more helpful to the soil then producing a slurry. I expect if using water as part of the clearing process would be best to add the water just before spreading, but will clearly practically depends on what pumps/mixers are to hand.

 

[ritchiekirkland]

With our slatted shed we went away from the idea of solid concrete tank, instead going for earth floor, liquid drains away and left with a compost like cake, no smell of ammonia etc and only clean out every 5/6 years with mini digger as it breaks down so well.

Was planning on doing the same thing this backend . Are your slats just on metal frames ?

 

[MJT]

Was planning on doing the same thing this backend . Are your slats just on metal frames ?

Plastic slats on fibre glass beams, sit on concrete overtop of a pit

 

[ritchiekirkland]

Ah I see so you still have a pit but it doesn’t have the floor on it . I’ve got plastic slats that I’m going to mount on metal frames over an earth floor.
Will just try one bay and see how it goes first !

 

[MJT]

Ah I see so you still have a pit but it doesn’t have the floor on it . I’ve got plastic slats that I’m going to mount on metal frames over an earth floor.
Will just try one bay and see how it goes first !