New sheep sheds are not all too common – and ones built with such high attention to detail even less so – but the newly completed shed on the farm of Roland Cassidy is filled with small nuggets of thinking and planning that could almost be masked by the high-quality finish within.

Farming just outside Killybegs, Roland runs 100 ewes alongside his suckler herd and contracting business, with the Cassidy blood very much running red with a fleet of tidy Massey Fergusons tucked away in sheds.

Having used other dry sheds to house and lamb down, Roland was eager to build a bespoke shed for the task. “We were having to move machinery out of sheds to house the ewes and it wasn’t ideal. Bedding and cleaning out pens was also adding a fair amount of labour to the job.”

New shed on the cards

A new shed was in Roland’s mind for a while, but with the combined effort of his and his brother John’s ingenuity, the two designed and manufactured a shed that suited the farm’s needs.

John retired in summer of last year, having spent decades working on boats in Killybegs harbour, from welding to working on engines, so all the barriers, doors and other fittings were manufactured by him in raw steel and sent off for galvanising.

Regarding layout, the shed spans four bays in length and 77ft 8in (23.67m) in width. The area is divided in two: a 25ft-wide (7.6m) dry area which currently holds four gleaming Massey tractors and then sheep shed area, measuring 52ft 8in (16.07m) in width.

Calum, John and Roland Cassidy in the new sheep shed.

Running through the centre of the sheep shed is a 16ft-wide (4.4m) tank overlaid with plastic sheep slats, with the tank running the full length of the shed with double external agitation points outside at both ends.

Roland opted for an 8ft-deep (2.4m) tank for additional storage, something which can be required with the weather and heavier nature of land around Killlybegs.

“The contractor who completed the shuttering work (Charlie Kennedy) told me that it was going to be the same price for him to do a 4ft, 6ft or 8ft tank. My only additional cost was going to be the concrete,” he said.

A spine wall runs through the centre of the tank, with a line of the stanchions bolted to this.

Stronger barriers

John manufactured all the barriers and internal gates for the slatted area. He used 40mm x 40mm box iron with a 2.5mm wall, with John pointing out how many factory-built barriers are manufactured from 2mm wall box.

“That extra 0.5mm may not seem a lot, but it’s 25% stronger because of it” he explained. The box iron uprights for supporting the gates and barriers measures 80mm x 80mm box iron measuring 3mm thick.

All the barriers and gates in the shed were manufactured by John, with each one telescopic for a tight, sturdy finish.

The barriers along the front of the pens are adjustable for smaller sheep size, eg store lambs, while every gate and barrier in the place is telescopic making everything fit snugly in place.

Each pen is split in two to give a total of eight pens, with the drinking bowl placed within this dividing gate to give access to both sides.

Spring-loaded gates which allow entry into pens and between them were also expertly manufactured by John.

One of the many notable features of the shed is the water system on the slatted area.

All water pipes are kept above ground, with steel piping used through the centre of the pens.

Roland explained that he didn’t wish to have pipes within the tank that could possibly leak in time and be a mess to fix, while he opted for the steel pipe for neatness, as hydrodare piping would sag.

An effluent channel runs along the front of each lambing pen, with each pen sheeted at the front with stock board.

Again, attention to detail is everything here, with the supporting uprights being telescopic allowing the supporting upright height to be adjusted individually to allow for a crisp, even line of piping, with a short length of hydrodare at the end to allow for any slight movement.

There is ample feed space throughout, with the two end pens having feeding on two sides (three if using as a double pen) while the two larger middle pens have feeding on three sides (all four sides if using as a double).

The floor of the pens is 2in (50mm) lower than that of the feed passage to prevent any effluent leaking onto the passage, while also making it easier for ewes to eat.

Three walk-though troughs were fitted measuring 2ft 2in (650mm) wide, with a concrete plinth overlaid on a plastic membrane over the slats, concrete being chosen for cleanliness.

Lambing pens

Sitting across from both sides of the slatted pens are lines of lambing pens, ready and waiting for the rush in March when Roland will be lambing.

Again, John’s handiwork has been in play, manufacturing a 1ft (300mm) solid bracket to carry a sewer pipe that provides water to all the pens in the line.

A float valve is plumbed at one end, with a removable end cap located on the opposite end for cleaning out.

A simple but ingenious idea is the addition of a sleeve on the pipe that can be slide across the open drinking point, preventing any straw entering when rebedding or cleaning out.

Some of Cassidys’ pride and joy tucked away in the 25ft dry area to one side of the shed.

A 4ft gate is connected onto John’s bracket, with a 5ft gate to the front to give a 5ft x 5ft (1.5m x 1.5m) to each ewe, with Roland having seven pens one side and an additional 11 pens on the other.

Each pen is cambered from the back to the front, with an effluent channel running along the front of each line of pens, directed to the slatted tank.

For additional shelter, stock board has been placed on the front gate of each lambing pen, with each pen having its own hay rack, again manufactured by John.

The passageways between the pens is concreted in for cleanliness. The lugs for attaching hurdles for moving sheep can also be seen here.

Along the wall of each bay, Martin Dorian Electrical, who completed all the wiring of the shed, has fitted a double three-pin socket for heat lamps if required.

A small kitchen area with a sink, water heater and storage is also located within the shed.

Smaller details

Pictures don’t do the finish of the shed justice. Concrete work has been immaculately done, with a brush finish, by Charlie Kennedy and Sons, with the 6ft walls around the shed chamfered for extra detail.

Seamus Farren, Redcastle, supplied and erected the shed structure and roofed the building, with IPE 200 RSJs (8in x 4in) throughout.

Eight skylights have been fitted to make the shed bright and pleasant during the day, with LED lighting fitted for nighttime work.

The water pipe is made of steel and kept overhead to allow for easy repairs.

John’s time since his retirement in July has been well spent on the project. With nearly everything being telescopic and bolted tight, there isn’t a single rattle from the barriers.

He manufactured all the gates and penning off site and sent it for galvanising, with just one day spent in the shed with a welder – welding lugs onto the RSJs and the box iron pillars to allow sheep hurdles to be hung on them.

John also made the sliding doors at either end of each passage, eight in total. Using two smaller doors for each opening instead of one larger door means all doors of the shed can be open at the same time for ease of feeding etc.

The 25ft dry area is currently housing some of Roland and his son Calum’s fleet, but can be used as emergency accommodation for ewes post-lambing should the weather not allow turn out.

Plans are in place for a sheep race here, which can be folded away when not in use – no doubt this will be well designed as well.

Split sliding doors are fitted at each end of each feed passage.

A small touch here is the flat bar used at the ends of each of the smaller access gates in lieue of the 40mm box to maximise feed space.

A tidy kitchen area with a water heat and storage is located alongside the lambing pens.