Oftentimes we as farmers can obsess on building new livestock sheds to set about improving facilities. But sometimes updating existing sheds is all that is required.

The Irish Farmers Journal recently visited a farmer in Co Roscommon who is carrying out such work on a farmyard he purchased a few months ago.

Padraig Mulheir is a well-known livestock auctioneer based in the west.

He recently bought a 118ac farm in Ballinaheglish, Co Roscommon, and since moving in has set about putting his own stamp on the farmyard.

I want the yard to be a nice clean place to work with no waste around the place

“I am blessed in that there are excellent sheds on the farm but they just needed some alterations to suit my system of farming,” he explained.

Padraig plans on finishing 160 cattle in the sheds over the winter so ease of feeding, handling facilities and livestock comfort are the big priorities.

“I want the yard to be a nice clean place to work with no waste around the place,” he said.

After spending 25 years as an agri-buildings contractor in the past, organising refurbishment works on his own buildings was an easy ask.

Alterations

The sheds on the farm are large, well-built structures with a nice mix of slatted accommodation and loose sheds. In the past they were used for both cattle and sheep accommodation.

Now they will be used exclusively for cattle.

To set the ball rolling on the alteration work, Padraig and his new farm manager Brian Murray power-washed all the sheds.

Power-washing allowed them to get a good look at the condition of the base of the structure and the slats.

“The steel girders were all fine structurally but we decided to prime and paint them from the floor and up to approximately 4ft to avoid corrosion in the future,” said Padraig.

Some new water troughs were installed by local plumber Tommy Kearney and steel frames were fitted to protect the fittings by Padraig Collins.

In the central passage of the largest eight-bay slatted shed there were steel feeders to provide for a diet feeder which was used in the past.

Padraig removed these feeders because he doesn’t plan on using a diet feeder currently. This winter he will bring in silage with a grab on the front loader of his tractor.

“I am going to buy meal pre-bagged for this winter just for ease of management. In the future I will probably buy bulk loads and tip them in a loose shed and find a way of mechanising the feeding,” said Padraig.

Rubber matting was installed in all the pens.

“The main reason we installed rubber matting was because some of the older slats were chipped on top so we wanted to make sure the floors were even to avoid cattle getting hurt,” said Padraig.

Otherwise the slats were structurally sound.

Farmers should check concrete slats annually because over time they can weaken and break if they are not replaced on time.

Easyfix matting was installed and for the most part they slotted into the existing slats.

Unusual design

Some slats had an unusual design and the mats would not slot into the slat opening. To overcome this issue, matting was cut and bolted on to the top of the slat.

Padraig, who is also a sales agent for Harrington Cattle Slats and Easyfix, said the mats are guaranteed for eight years but he expects them to last 20 years.

Outside digging contractor Michael Keane carried out some groundwork and site alterations.

Stone was laid right around the site so that a tractor or lorry can access all areas if needs be.

At the back of the sheds, the site was raised to improve the access also.

Padraig was able to carry out this work himself with some help

Padraig plans on setting up the farmyard so that livestock will be moved in and out of the sheds at one end and machinery will operate at the other end for ease of management and neatness.

A concrete apron was poured at the front of the sheds where the tractor will be doing most of the driving transporting silage. Padraig was able to carry out this work himself with some help.

A new cattle crush will be installed in the middle of the unit so that cattle can be handled with ease from both slatted sheds. Beirne and Beattie Engineering will erect this penning.

A new fuse box was installed and some lights were replaced in the shed by Paul Keane Electrics from Boyle.

Like so many part time beef farmers Padraig will have to check livestock in the dark evenings so good lighting is essential for this operation.

The total cost of the works carried out and some of the projected works to finish off the yard will be over €30,000 excluding VAT, according to Padraig.

The rubber matting costs approximately €900 excluding VAT per pen (12ft 6in slats). Stoning and site works will cost approximately €10,000 excluding VAT.

Rubber matting was the biggest cost

The new cattle handling area will be built inside a loose shed costing approximately €5,000, concrete aprons at the front and back of the shed cost €7,000, a new pump installed in an existing well cost €2,000 excluding VAT and general plumbing cost approximately €1,000.

Rubber matting was the biggest cost here, followed by site works.

General maintenance, however, is not a huge cost and every farmer should try to do a little bit every year to avoid a situation where you face a very large bill down the road. By maintaining your sheds, you will prolong their life ensuring their usability in years to come.