Watch: large capacity suckler shed offers flexibility

A new seven-bay apex-roofed shed is nearing completion on the farm of Mark Lewis, who farms just outside of Portadown in Co Armagh. Mark is one of the NI BETTER farmers and is in the process of increasing numbers on the farm.

A large suckler herd is run on the farm, with more than 110 cows expected to be calved down next spring.

This new shed is designed to be able to cater for finishing bulls and heifers, with all stock brought through to slaughter on the farm. The shed will also be used to house cows and calves in the spring as ground conditions mean that it is often April before cattle get out to grass, according to Mark.

The shed measures 33.5m in length and 21m wide. Internally, it is made up of a 4.8m slatted area, a 5.6m feeding passage and a 4.8m slatted area with a 5.8m straw bedded layback.

The slatted area with the straw-bedded layback is currently being used to house bulls. However, it will be used to house cows and calves in the spring before they are put out to pasture.

Creep gates can be placed between the slatted area and the layback to allow calves access to straw bedding. The layback is bedded from the feed passage with a straw blower.

Currently, Mark does not want to put more than seven to eight bulls in each pen as they are not yet on ad-lib meal feeding so there has to be space for all bulls to eat at the one time. When bulls are on ad-lib meal feeding Mark said he would move this up to around 12 bulls in each pen.

Work to be done

The farm was under pressure for accommodation this winter. However, the shed is not fully complete with, doors yet to be installed. The plan is to install sliding doors at either end of the straw-bedded pens, while roller doors will be installed at either end of the feed passage.

Vented sheeting was put on the gable ends of the shed as the prevailing wind approaches from one gable end. This allowed Mark to put clear sheets along the side of the shed to allow light in. This way, clear roof lights did not have to be used on the roof as Mark feels these can present a safety concern if work ever needs to be carried out on the roof.

Cement fibre sheeting was chosen for the roof for two reasons, according to Mark. “This way, there will be no condensation dripping down on cattle but also they have a longer life and will not need to be replaced. They can be a bit more difficult to fit to a shed but they are definitely worth it.”

Mark is also a fan of the high internal height of the roof as it provides a larger air capacity, meaning that stale air will be able to rise away from the animals. An opening runs along the apex of the shed with a ridge cap fitted, to allow stale air out.

“This new shed will help to simplify the system,” according to Mark. “Not only this but it will be a healthier shed for finishing stock and cows and calves.”

Once completed, the full cost of the shed will be approximately £90,000. Lappin Engineering supplied all of the steelwork. However, it was erected, along with all concrete work and ground work, by Kyle Bailie. The shed was fitted out with the barriers by Mark himself which helped to reduce the overall cost of the project.