Temporary dairy cow housing

Winklepicker

Member
Livestock Farmer
I am currently going though planning to increase capacity, however, the planners are dragging their heels and dont think ill get the shed up for winter.
Thing is i have 50 heifers in calf ready for the expansion and no where to house them if the new shed doesnt go up in time.
Are there any temporary options which will keep farm assurance man happy too?
Dry cows and youngstock are already housed on another farm so i cant make room like that.
Land is clay and when rurns wet it soon turns to a bog so outwintering isnt an option either.
 

Nearly

Member
Location
North of York
I lambed sheep in Lancashire and the farmer hired a marquee for the lambing pens.

You just need the roof and can make the walls out of straw bales?

Portable cubicles with concrete railway sleepers as passageway?
A bit hard on cows feet though?
Lay slats on the floor?
 

jimmer

Member
Location
East Devon
I am currently going though planning to increase capacity, however, the planners are dragging their heels and dont think ill get the shed up for winter.
Thing is i have 50 heifers in calf ready for the expansion and no where to house them if the new shed doesnt go up in time.
Are there any temporary options which will keep farm assurance man happy too?
Dry cows and youngstock are already housed on another farm so i cant make room like that.
Land is clay and when rurns wet it soon turns to a bog so outwintering isnt an option either.
Winter is 6 months away, why on earth won't plans and buildings be done by Oct?
 
Location
West Wales
I am currently going though planning to increase capacity, however, the planners are dragging their heels and dont think ill get the shed up for winter.
Thing is i have 50 heifers in calf ready for the expansion and no where to house them if the new shed doesnt go up in time.
Are there any temporary options which will keep farm assurance man happy too?
Dry cows and youngstock are already housed on another farm so i cant make room like that.
Land is clay and when rurns wet it soon turns to a bog so outwintering isnt an option either.
What barriers and how are they dragging heels etc?
 

Winklepicker

Member
Livestock Farmer
It’s part of a bigger project including new parlour and slurry system, it also includes a new access. My planning advisor has said to do it like this.
 

Winklepicker

Member
Livestock Farmer
My preferred shed builders have a 7 month lead time, another reason why I think I won’t be in this winter.
I have booked a build slot though
 

Horn&corn

Member
Have a chat to your local councillor if they’re on side. We waited about 6 months Then said it was a welfare issue and went through without comment
 

Bipper

Member
The price of heifers at the moment id be tempted to cash them when they calf and then breed the numbers up over the next few years.
Or do 50/50 on that basis, whatever you do will cost money which will be dead once new build is ready.

or leasethem as mentioned.
 

Rossymons

Member
Location
Cornwall
My preferred shed builders have a 7 month lead time, another reason why I think I won’t be in this winter.
I have booked a build slot though

7 months seems a bit long?

The price of heifers at the moment id be tempted to cash them when they calf and then breed the numbers up over the next few years.
Or do 50/50 on that basis, whatever you do will cost money which will be dead once new build is ready.

or leasethem as mentioned.

2nd. But I don't know your business so don't know the difficulties of replacing them with similar quality.

Or cull harder to free up the room.
 

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Expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for farmers published

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Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer from July will give the sector a clear path forward and boost farm business resilience.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Rt Hon Sir Mark Spencer MP Published21 May 2024

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Full details of the expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer available to farmers from July have been published by the...
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