Farmer writes: Planning to build a slatted shed

They say farmers are never a happy bunch and that is usually the case. As everyone enjoyed the recent good weather, including myself, I can see a problem developing.

My growth rate on fields that were grazed in the past two weeks is close to zero. High south-facing slopes have yet to green up after grazing as drought conditions develop.

The fields that were grazed before the start of dry conditions and that have some covering of grass are growing, as the grass is forming a barrier to prevent the ground drying out completely.

In the past, hot dry summers were a godsend, allowing farmers to complete haymaking for three months and small numbers of animals roamed large areas of the farm. Drought conditions didn’t affect these farmers, but in today’s high stocking rate, intensively managed farms, there is no room for drought conditions and zero grass growth. So the rain forecasted for Thursday will be very welcomed.

We are currently in the process of making the final decisions on a new slatted shed. At present we only have dry bedded sheds on the farm and although animal thrive and comfort is excellent, it’s a labour-intensive set up. We have often discussed the topic in the past, but with both labour units on the farm now having busy off-farm jobs, it is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury.

There really is a wonderful variety to pick from. During the grant times of 2007-2009, a complex mix of different slatted sheds were erected. Our yard is very exposed from one side in the winter, so with that in mind we have decided to go with a lean-to design.

One important aspect is ventilation, so a reasonably high and open shed on three sides is a must.

No final decisions have been made and cost still plays a big role, as does value for money, animal health and comfort. It will be either a 6-bay with 12”6 slat or a 5-bay with a 16 foot slat.

We have been heavily advised by most people to allow for slat mats in the costing because they substantially reduce injuries over the winter. I will continue to give update over the timeline of the build.