Covered sheep yards continue to be smart investments and must-have infrastructure for Australian sheep farmers.
The popularity of sheep yard covers in recent years is no doubt due to the many benefits they can provide.
Benefits such as improved working conditions for you and your staff and greater flexibility for when yard work can be completed (rain, hail or shine!) can make a substantial difference to the day-to-day operations.
If you are looking to take advantage of these benefits, and looking for ideas for covering your sheep yards, we’ve collated information on nine recent sheep yard cover builds.
Or, if you have any questions on the best ways to cover sheep yards or if you would like your site measured up, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team designs, manufactures and installs more than 70 yard cover projects each year – and we would be happy to help you!
9 Covered Sheep Yards Projects To Inspire Yours
Below you will find 9 examples of our sheep yard cover projects.
These include a range of sizes and different design features.
Some of these have been built over existing yards and designed to work in with existing infrastructure. Others have been built on a greenfield site.
We have also included examples of multipurpose facilities and shearing sheds complexes covered yards incorporated into the design.
So, we’re sure you will find ideas and inspiration for your project!
1. An 18 Metre Span Sheep Yard Cover Over Existing Yards
Size: 27m (L) x 18m (W) x 3m (H) sheep yard cover.
Location: Ballyrogan VIC
Build Date: March 2022
This cover was designed and built to fit seamlessly over the existing yard infrastructure. Large 9-metre bay spacings were used which helped create a cost-effective design.
Design features include a gable infill (complete with a custom sign!) which provides protection from the prevailing weather, while still allowing airflow and natural light through the cover.
Project Gallery
2. A 27 Metre Span Sheep Yard Cover For Wallaloo Park
Located at Marnoo in Western Victoria, Wallaloo Park is owned and managed by the Carter Family: John and Jenny Carter and Trent and Kate Carter.
The newly built covered yards are an excellent facility and it is an investment that reflects Wallaloo Park’s reputation as an industry leader.
Size: 36m (L) x 27m (W) x 4.45m (H) with 6-metre canopies on both sides
Location: Marnoo VIC
Build Date: 2022
Yard Supplier: ProWay Livestock Equipment
What makes this facility stand out is the attention to detail in the design, including clear sheet gable infills to maximise available natural light and a ridge vent which helps provide good airflow in a cover of this size. The canopies are another excellent and cost-effective addition.
You can learn more about the project for Wallaloo Park, here.
Or browse the gallery below.
Project Gallery
3. A 30 Metre Span Sheep Yard Cover Addition
This recently completed yard cover build was part of a two-stage project, with the existing shearing shed built by Action in 2019.
Covered yards are a popular addition to shearing sheds for a number of reasons. One reason in particular is that having covered sheep yards is less expensive than having sheep on grating – and a yard cover is more versatile than grating area, too.
Size: 24m (L) x 30m (W) x 3.5m (H)
Location: Amphitheatre VIC
Build Date: 2022
As well as some impressive surrounding scenery, the project has a number of useful design features including a 3.5-metre eave overhang and substantial guttering system.
Click through the gallery of photos below, and you will be able to see how the cover works in neatly with the shearing shed and yard system.
Project Gallery
4. An 18 Metre Span Ram Sale Shed & Covered Yards Facility
On-farm sale sheds have also been popular recently, such as the facilities for Banquet Angus, Mount William Charolais and Athlone Poll Dorsets. These facilities more often than not incorporate covered yards, making them versatile and smart investments.
The ram sale shed completed for Glenlea Park at Brimbago in southeast South Australia is an excellent example of a well-planned facility.
Size: 58.5m (L) x 18m (W) x 4.2m (H)
Location: Brimbago SA
Build Date: 2021
The bay spacings have been adjusted to accommodate the ram sale section and the sheep yards, with three bays at 7.5 metres wide and four bays at 9 metres wide.
A cantilievered canopy has also been installed on two of the bays for additional coverage over the yards.
The practical placement of sliding doors through the shed has been carefully planned to ensure access is convenient, quick and easy. The doors can also be opened to improve airflow if needed, however, a ridge vent has been installed in the sale shed section to assist with this.
We also worked with the yard supplier, ProWay, to ensure none of the columns interfered with the yard design.
Size: 33.5m (L) x 35m (W) x 3.7m (H) with 3-metre canopy to one side.
Location: Pigeon Ponds VIC
Build Date: 2020
One of the more unique features of this project is the strips of clear sheet skylights installed in the gable infills.
Browse the gallery below to view more of the design features and hear from Tim about his experience working with Action.
You can learn more about our work with Paradoo Prime, here.
Project Gallery
TIM LEEMING | PARADOO PRIME on the importance of quality farm shed infrastructure at Cobbity.
6. A 21 Metre Span Multi-Purpose Farm Shed with Covered Yards
Building a multi-purpose farm shed is one way to make sure you get the most out of your investment.
If you are looking to make your build as versatile as possible, this recently completed project at Wareek should provide you with some ideas and inspiration. It includes covered yards, a machinery workshop area and a machinery storage area which could also be used for fodder storage.
Size: 96m (L) x 21m (W) x 6.75m (H)
Location: Wareek VIC
Build Date: 2022
Like many of the projects in this list, the shed includes a cantilevered canopy. One of the reasons that canopies are so popular – whether it is a sheep yard cover, hay shed or calving shed – is because it is typically more cost-effective to add a canopy to your shed to gain extra coverage compared to upsizing the shed.
With multi-purpose sheds, there are a few details to pay attention to though, such as making sure your insurance policy covers co-storing.
This project is a great example of a classic yard cover build with gable infills and partially clad walls.
What worked well on this project was using a standard size span and standard size bay spacings of 8 metres. These aren’t always practical options for yard covers though, so we can make changes to spans and bay spacings to suit your yard set-up.
Size: 40m (L) x 30m (W) x 3m (H)
Location: Ariah Park NSW
Build Date: 2022
One of these details is the amount of fall over the site. For example, with this project, the column lengths have been varied to accommodate the fall over the site – which you can see in the photo below.
This project has also been designed to work in with the existing shearing shed and includes partially clad walls for extra weather protection.
Size: 36m (L) x 27m (W) x 3m (H)
Location: Glenlogie VIC
Build Date: 2022
The single gable configuration incorporates covered yards which are used to keep sheep dry ahead of shearing
Size: 88m x 24m x 5.5m
Location: Skipton VIC
Build Date: 2022
High-bay lights have been used in both the shearing shed and the yard cover to keep the facility well-lit, particularly over the board and in the wool handling areas.
Browse the gallery below and learn more about the project here.
Project Gallery
That’s a wrap on some of our recent yard cover builds! We included a wide variety of project types, so we hope you found some ideas for your project.
Below are some more resources that you might find useful
Useful Resources
- How Much Does It Cost To Build A Sheep Yard Cover?
- What Is The Lead Time For A New Farm Shed?
- Farm Shed Guide (Brochure Download)
For more articles and resources check out our Learning Hub. Or to discuss options for covering your sheep yards, talk to one of our building consultants – we would be happy to help!
