Slatts, am I mad!

[GSB]

Looks a great job Never had a shed with slats before this winter. I love them & wouldn’t mind converting another shed as soon as funds allow.

The last picture is not my building but gives you an example from the same construction company. Hopefully with slat mats they will never ban them???

 

[Granite Farmer]

I have started to get quotes for loose houses so far however I did get a quote for a 22.8m x 9m x 3m slatted tank out of curiosity coming out at nearly 54k.

 

[Granite Farmer]

Those of you who have slats what are your stocking rates? Teagasc advise 2 to 2.5m2 for anything over 275kg which is only 10 to 11 animals in a 15 x 15ft pen. I'm thinking of feeding ad lib silage down both sides.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Whatever you're looking at, C and R construction are worth asking for a quote. They've done a lot for us recently and I would definitely recommend them.

 

[ridger]

Those of you who have slats what are your stocking rates? Teagasc advise 2 to 2.5m2 for anything over 275kg which is only 10 to 11 animals in a 15 x 15ft pen. I'm thinking of feeding ad lib silage down both sides.

10 or 11 animals in that pen is a fair few, if it was straw bed that would be 1or 2 animals

 

[Cmoran]

Those of you who have slats what are your stocking rates? Teagasc advise 2 to 2.5m2 for anything over 275kg which is only 10 to 11 animals in a 15 x 15ft pen. I'm thinking of feeding ad lib silage down both sides.

You’d probably fit 12 weanlings in that pen and 8 incalf cows if you’re going 9m wide you’ll fit a lot of stock but feeding space could be limited

 

[sheep breeder]

Slatted shed is a great investment in the long term, built two here one 16 years and the other 14 and wouldn’t change them for the world, left 24inches of sloped concrete at the front feed passage and 18 inches behind the slat sloped to the tank. First tank put the man hole at the end big mistake, slow to agitate. The second put it inside in the middle of tank with open feed rail as access very easy to agitate in half the time.
Lessons learned, clip cattle’s backs and tails on entry for less pneumonia and cattle are unbelievable clean on the slat when done and clean for sale. Second a good shovel to get in once a week for a quick scrape of silage or dung etc into the tank. Third go and look at other sheds for ideas on building for handing dividing gates, water trough, locking rails a super job to dose, clip backs, TB test, calving cows etc.

 

[sheepwise]

Slatted shed is a great investment in the long term, built two here one 16 years and the other 14 and wouldn’t change them for the world, left 24inches of sloped concrete at the front feed passage and 18 inches behind the slat sloped to the tank. First tank put the man hole at the end big mistake, slow to agitate. The second put it inside in the middle of tank with open feed rail as access very easy to agitate in half the time.
Lessons learned, clip cattle’s backs and tails on entry for less pneumonia and cattle are unbelievable clean on the slat when done and clean for sale. Second a good shovel to get in once a week for a quick scrape of silage or dung etc into the tank. Third go and look at other sheds for ideas on building for handing dividing gates, water trough, locking rails a super job to dose, clip backs, TB test, calving cows etc.

Personally for safety reasons I wouldn't have mixing point inside shed, especially in middle.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Personally for safety reasons I wouldn't have mixing point inside shed, especially in middle.

This is what’s putting me off putting one in. I’ve had 2 mates lucky too be here after being gassed by slurry fumes from under shed slatted tanks while stirring.

 

[ridger]

This is what’s putting me off putting one in. I’ve had 2 mates lucky too be here after being gassed by slurry fumes from under shed slatted tanks while stirring.

Windy day and mix more often swems to be the key

 

[sheepwise]

This is what’s putting me off putting one in. I’ve had 2 mates lucky too be here after being gassed by slurry fumes from under shed slatted tanks while stirring.

Put in a bubbler,solves a lot of problems

 

[Cmoran]

Slatted shed is a great investment in the long term, built two here one 16 years and the other 14 and wouldn’t change them for the world, left 24inches of sloped concrete at the front feed passage and 18 inches behind the slat sloped to the tank. First tank put the man hole at the end big mistake, slow to agitate. The second put it inside in the middle of tank with open feed rail as access very easy to agitate in half the time.
Lessons learned, clip cattle’s backs and tails on entry for less pneumonia and cattle are unbelievable clean on the slat when done and clean for sale. Second a good shovel to get in once a week for a quick scrape of silage or dung etc into the tank. Third go and look at other sheds for ideas on building for handing dividing gates, water trough, locking rails a super job to dose, clip backs, TB test, calving cows etc.

I’m a contractor and personally would prefer the mixing point at the end outside the shed for safety reasons. We have no problem mixing 6 bays from one side

 

[Xiaomi]

@Cmoran - does that 6 bay long tank have a spine wall, presuming it doesn't? What type of mixer are you using that can do 6 bays from a single side?

We have central mixing points - they can be a hassle as the spout of the mixer is not capable of rotating 360 degrees, so can be problematic on getting the tank fully stirred, but it does depend on what is on the slats.
I'd make sure that you at least have a fill point external to a centralised mixing point as it is a hassle having to have cattle off the slats when lifting loads.

 

[Cmoran]

@Cmoran - does that 6 bay long tank have a spine wall, presuming it doesn't? What type of mixer are you using that can do 6 bays from a single side?

We have central mixing points - they can be a hassle as the spout of the mixer is not capable of rotating 360 degrees, so can be problematic on getting the tank fully stirred, but it does depend on what is on the slats.
I'd make sure that you at least have a fill point external to a centralised mixing point as it is a hassle having to have cattle off the slats when lifting loads.

We use a conor/plantmec 7000 on our 3rd one now and find them excellent for mixing slurry we do mostly single tanks have only a few with spine walls and there all max3 bays long 4 bay would be our most common tank and no problem mixing from one side. We have 8/9 6 bay tanks and rarely need to go down second manhole as usually it’s in a position nearly impossible to access or they have bales stacked on top of it. We charge lots extra for drawing water so in general the farmers will make sure there’s enough in tanks

 

[sheep breeder]

I’m a contractor and personally would prefer the mixing point at the end outside the shed for safety reasons. We have no problem mixing 6 bays from one side

Yes have it inside in the second shed and when agitation is taking place no cattle in the shed and start up slowly for a few minutes and stand back and the key is waiting. Over the years have seen so many fella standing over the agitator to watch the slurry going around. The shed is open on the side the tractor mixes from at the feed rail.