Used Gang slats for under Calves

[Bangoverthebar]

Neighbour has 21 used 10ft6 gang slats. In ok nick.
Could I put them on timber blocking 3" off concrete floor of my calf shed.
I would then bed on top of them and ideally keep straw drier for longer...

Any ideas?

 

[ridger]

Sounds like a rat paradise

 

[Bangoverthebar]

Sounds like a rat paradise

True, but anywhere with straw has rats.

 

[sidjon]

Seen it Poland back in the early 90's, seemed to work quite well, they had replaced rises pens with wire floors, so was a improvement.

 

[lazy farmer]

We used ordinary pallets for a number of yrs in an awful shed. Certainly did the job. Just miserable when it came to cleaning out.

 

[Bangoverthebar]

We used ordinary pallets for a number of yrs in an awful shed. Certainly did the job. Just miserable when it came to cleaning out.

I used pallets before. Not a bad job. I have an old 3 ton digger for cleaning off the slats.

 

[David1968]

Neighbour has 21 used 10ft6 gang slats. In ok nick.
Could I put them on timber blocking 3" off concrete floor of my calf shed.
I would then bed on top of them and ideally keep straw drier for longer...

Any ideas?

I think you'll need to move the slats every now and again to clean out properly. Which will be fine if there's easy access for pallet forks.

If we're stuck for space in the Spring we sometimes have to put calved sucklers back onto the slats and bed the pen next door for the calves to creep into. Surprising how much straw the sharp little hoofs manage to push down through the slats.