I built my first pair of slatted houses during the collapse in cattle prices in the autumn of 1974.

Since then we have replaced some slats and generally kept up to date with water and feed barriers.

With a 20ft wide central passageway, we were easily able to take upgraded slurry tankers and especially the diet feeder which makes such a difference to the feeding of finishing stock.

After a full 45 years, it was not before time that we set out to replace the old single slats with modern gang slats.

It was clear there was a major structural problem

We power-hosed down the first house and began to tentatively lift slats out from a pen where most of the slats were cracked and uneven.

However, as we lifted, we could get a clear view of the beams which ran up the middle of the house.

These had been individually cast in situ, on top of pillars, and it was clear there was a major structural problem.

We could see the longitudinal cracks along the length of each beam with exposed steelwork and corroding concrete.

As I have mentioned before, with the change in my customers’ arrangements, I have no outlet for my 22-month-old bull system

This was, if we were going to do it properly, going to be more than a straightforward slat replacement job.

At a minimum, new beams were going to have to be made but the pillars holding up the whole structure seem narrower than the current Department specification.

I have no option but to rely more on grass for weight gain

As I have mentioned before, with the change in my customers’ arrangements, I have no outlet for my 22-month-old bull system so I am back to feeding steers without any of the help that the old implants gave and out of a dairy herd that has a much lower proportion of well-conformed British Friesian cows than used to be the case.

So I have no option but to rely more on grass for weight gain and hopefully a modest profit.

It was with great reluctance as I went through the options that I came to the conclusion that I would abandon the shed as a specialist beef house, fill up the tank and use the house for storage and occasional feeding on a solid floor. Times change!