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NW IA | Getting the cattle out and away from where they lay was the objective of my building.
I feel that my layout is just right for my purposes. The only thing I'd change- I'd set the waterer outside of the pen. Not a big deal.
However, I feed with Smidley Stuffers and that removes the complication that would be involved with feeding a TMR. Then you have to decide whether or not to cover the bunk.
As you mention, I also have the luxury of using the grooved concrete footprint of my old dairy barn as a sorting and loading area. It is also super handy to keep the cattle in that area when cleaning pens.
Edit to clarify. There is a Stuffer to the left of the first picture. The Smidley's are centered on the south fence of each pen.
The shed is 40X80. The outside floor is 30X80. The shed is divided into two pens with a shared waterer.
As far as stocking density, I like to stay at 40 head per pen. That translates to 40 SF/critter inside and 30 SF outside. I know that will sound like a lot of wasted space and costly construction, but I love working in the facility for whatever that's worth.
Using "book values" from websites about cattle shed designs, the stocking rate could be much higher. I've had more than forty in a pen, but 40 is the sweet spot for me.
Edited by Curious 12/20/2024 07:17
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Monoslope with outside lots
