Full Shed Design
This full span type shed is an all weather access shed with a race down the center for feeding and sorting calves etc. Note the ventilation along both sides. The ends can be closed, one or both, depending on the climatic conditions. Even with the ends closed the ventilation is complete and even from the side vents.
This ventilation eliminates ammonia build up which in time could lead to pneumonia, it ventilates the shed without having to much airflow. The calves don’t get hot as in a hot house and the calves can be quite cool as long as they are DRY. Another variation of the same type of shed is to have gates along one or both sides of the shed and have the pens go right across the width of the shed,the advantage of this is that you get maximum coverage of the calves.
Cleaning the shed can be done across the width of the shed with a scraper or a bobcat. A race can be made down one or both sides of the shed for feeding or sorting the calves. This is the most efficient utilisation of the shed, the only disadvantage is that on wet days the person feeding the calves is on the outside.
An important aspect to all kinds of sheds is to have a porous floor with good drainage. The installation of novaflow type drainage pipes are excellent for eliminating excess water or urine from the shed. A concrete floor is not desirable unless there is good grating and good water pressure for cleaning which must be done often.
Half Shed Designs
This half span type shed is very simple and rows of these can be made with the low side to the prevailing wind. An over hang at the back prevents wind driven rain from blowing into the shed through the ventilation gap. An eve on the high side would give the feeder a degree of protection from rain.
This calf shed could be built with timber and need not be very high, The limiting factor is the cleaning out of the bedding, The minimum height at the low side would be approx. 1.5 meters ie. completely closed from the floor up to 1 meter then a gap of no more than 300mm then the roof rafters and an overhang off the roof of no less then 400mm.
An important aspect to all kinds of sheds is to have a porous floor with good drainage. The installation of novaflow type drainage pipes are excellent for eliminating excess water or urine from the shed. A concrete floor is not desirable unless there is good grating and good water pressure for cleaning which must be done often.
