New shearing shed project? Should you cover your sheep yards or have more sheep on grating?
A new shearing shed project or upgrade requires careful thought and attention to detail to ensure the sheep flow safely and efficiently – making shearing time safer, easier and more productive for everyone involved.
Having sheep undercover and out of the weather ahead of shearing is a proven way to avoid frustrating delays at shearing and boost productivity.
There are two main options for achieving this.
- Having additional sheep on grating
- Having adjoining undercover sheep yards.
So, which should you choose?
In this article, we discuss the pros, cons and costs of both options – keeping in mind that every farm will have different infrastructure requirements.
You will also find handy price guides and plenty of project inspiration!
Frequently Asked Questions About Sheep Yard Covers – Answered
Quick answers to the top questions about covering your sheep yards.
Yes. In most cases, existing sheep yards can be covered.
This is achieved by taking several extra steps in the design and installation stages.
Firstly, our building consultants will visit site to measure up and take levels. They may also consult with your yard supplier and request copies of the yard designs and plans.
This allows column lengths to be adjusted to accommodate any fall over the site. Column placement is also taken into consideration with bay spacings varied to avoid columns clashing with gates or working areas.
Then, when it comes to installation, the cover will either be ‘stick built’ or constructed to one side and craned into place.
The best sheep yard cover design depends on a few factors such as:
- Is the cover joining up to a shearing shed?
- Are you covering the full yards or just the main working areas?
- How exposed is the site to the prevailing weather?
- Are you including a sale area?
- What is your budget?
Usually, the best yard cover design starts with a “roof-only” configuration before being customised to suit your operation.
For example, you could customise your cover with:
- Gable infills
- Partial walls
- Skylights
- Hi-bay lights
- Full walls with sliding doors
- Cantilevered canopy (often a good way to avoid inconvenient column placement or join up to an existing shed)
Sheep yard cover sizes are usually determined by details like:
- Are you covering the full yards or just the main working areas?
- Are you joining up to an existing shed?
- Will you include an on-farm sale area?
- How many sheep do you want to have under cover? Do you have sheep on grating as well?
There are also several rules of thumbs and recommendations to consider:
- Allow an extra 1-2 metres of coverage on each side to provide effective weather protection.
- Choosing a standard size span (where practical) helps create a cost-effective design
- Cantilevered canopies can be used to gain extra coverage without changing column placement. This is also more cost-effective than increasing the span size.
- Heights between 3 and 4 metres are most common for sheep yard covers. Keep in mind that features like gable infills, canopies and sliding doors reduce the clearance.
- The length will be determined by the bay spacing (which can be varied throughout the cover) and the number of bays
If you aren’t sure what size cover you require, the building consultants at Action Steel are available to visit site to measure up and provide recommendations.
No, Action designs, manufactures and installs sheep yard covers.
Having said that, we work closely with your chosen yard supplier to ensure the cover works in with the yard design.
Some of the yard suppliers we have worked with include:
Many of these are included here – The Best Cattle & Sheep Yard Suppliers (Ratings & Reviews)
The cost of covering your sheep yards will depend on size, location and how you choose to customise the design.
So, the cost of a sheep yard cover can range from $75,000 for a smaller roof only project to $250,000 or more for a larger facility.
You can find more information on each of these topics, such as sizes and designs, in the 2025 Sheep Yard Cover Guide – check it out here.
Now, let’s get into it!
What is the best way to keep sheep dry ahead of shearing? Should you cover your sheep yards or have extra sheep on grating?
Let’s find out.
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1. Extra Sheep On Grating
Designing your shearing shed to have extra sheep on grating is usually a straightforward exercise. It often involves simply increasing the size of the shed.
As a guide, allow for ~2.5 woolly sheep per square metre.
The most important consideration with shearing shed grating is ensuring that it is laid in the correct direction.
For example, wooden grating in the main holding area should be laid across the flow of sheep. This is to help prevent the sheep from baulking at the light coming through the slats.
Whereas grating in the catching pen should be parallel to the flow of the sheep. This makes it easier to get the sheep onto the board.
You will also need to consider which grating option is best for your shed and your budget, particularly if you are increasing the area.
Options include:
- Traditional wood slats such as Mountain Ash, Cypress or Jarrah (ideal for catching pens and can be sloped towards the board to make it easier)
- Woven wire grating (noisier than the other options, and can increase the light coming up through the floor)
- Plastic tile/panel grating (termite-resistant and easily maintained)
- Fibreglass reinforced plastic grating (not recommended for catching pens)
Advantages Of Extra Sheep On Grating
- Can be labour efficient, having the sheep all in one shed and ready to go for the shearers
- Usually straightforward to achieve this with your shearing shed design
- Frees up your sheep yards for other tasks
Disadvantages Of Extra Sheep On Grating
- Higher cost compared to undercover sheep yards
- Poor design can impact the way sheep flow through the shed
- Not a versatile asset – typically only used at shearing, limiting ROI
- Cleaning out underneath the shed can be time-consuming (depending on the shed size and configuration)
How Much Does Shearing Shed Grating Cost?
The cost of shearing shed grating (usually incorporated into the fit-out cost) will depend on the product you choose and the supplier.
As a rule of thumb, sheep on grating will cost two-thirds more per square metre than a sheep yard cover.
For accurate pricing, we recommend reaching out to ProWay and Commander for information on their grating options.
You might also find this article helpful – How Much Does It Cost To Build A Shearing Shed?
Project Example – McBrides 12 Stand Shearing Shed with 2500 Sheep On Grating
Given the number of sheep moving through McBride’s shed at shearing, it made sense to upsize the undercover grating area.
As a result, around 2,500 head can be penned undercover. There is also the option to cover the yards in the future to provide additional capacity.
Watch and learn about the project below (and read more here).
Sheep On Grating Examples
That’s a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of designing your shed to hold extra sheep on grating ahead of shearing!
Now, we take a look at your other option – covered sheep yards.
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2. Undercover Sheep Yards
Covering sheep yards is a popular option for both lamb and wool enterprises looking to improve working conditions and productivity.
Sheep yard covers can also be used to keep sheep dry ahead of shearing, providing excellent value for money.
There are several ways you can achieve this:
Firstly, by covering new or existing sheep yards located close to your shearing shed.
Or vice versa, building a shearing shed close to your existing covered yards.
For example, Cameron Small upgraded his sheep yard facility before building a new shearing shed alongside it. (Watch the video below)
Or, you can incorporate a yard cover into your shearing shed design.
The two most common designs for shearing shed complexes with undercover yards are.
- Single gable shearing shed and sheep yard cover (most cost-effective)
- Dual gable shearing shed and sheep yard cover (uses a box gutter between the two sheds)
You can learn more about the different design options in the 2025 Shearing Shed Guide – check it out here.
Advantages Of Undercover Sheep Yards
- Cost-effective compared to having extra sheep on grating (usually around two-thirds of the cost less)
- Versatile assets that can be used year-round, not just at shearing
- Provides flexibility with when you do yard work – rain, hail or shine!
- Improves working conditions (and staff retention!)
- Protects your sheep yards
Disadvantages Of Undercover Sheep Yards
There are no real disadvantages of using covered sheep yards to keep sheep dry ahead of shearing – unless your current yards are located away from your shearing shed.
Or if they are not configured to flow into a shearing shed.
Or if you are running a large number of sheep, you may find that you require both covered sheep yards and extra sheep on grating.
How Much Does A Sheep Yard Cover Cost?
The cost of covering your sheep yards will depend on size, location and how you choose to customise the design.
So, the cost of a sheep yard cover can range from $75,000 for a smaller roof-only project to $250,000 or more for a larger facility.
Project Example – Cameron Small’s Yard Cover & Shearing Shed
Cameron Small engaged Action for a two-stage project, covering his new sheep yards, then building a shearing shed to improve working conditions.
Watch the video to learn about the process.
Undercover Sheep Yards Examples
We hope these impressive shearing sheds and covered yards have inspired you!
And we trust this discussion has been helpful – now for the verdict!
The Verdict – Undercover Sheep Yards Or Sheep On Grating
Covering your sheep yards or allowing room for extra sheep on grating both keep sheep dry, reducing downtime and keeping shearing teams shearing!
But which is the best fit for you?
Here’s a quick recap.
Having extra sheep on grating is often a good fit if you are shearing large numbers and need to use your yards at shearing time.
However, the cost is often a drawback, with many wool growers finding better value for money in covering their yards.
Others find that having both covered yards and extra room in the holding pens works well.
The best choice for you will depend on your operational requirements (such as the number of sheep at shearing), your existing infrastructure and your budget.
So, Answer These Questions Before Making Your Decision
- How many sheep will be going through the yards and shed at shearing?
- Do you have any existing infrastructure you want to work with?
- Are there any site restrictions?
- Are you looking to use your set-up year-round or just at shearing?
- What are your operational priorities or goals? Low-stress handling? Labour efficiency? Versatility? Value for money?
- What is your budget? Would a staged project help you work with cash flow?
It may even simply come down to your personal preference!
We have also listed several resources below that you might find helpful in your project planning.
Useful Resources
- 3 Farm Shed Lighting Options
- What Are The Standard Spans For Farm Sheds?
- Bell Group Leads The Way With Lane Delivery Shearing Shed
- The Benefits Of Covering Sheep Yards & How To Capitalise On Them
- Can I Cover My Existing Sheep Yards?
That’s a wrap on our comparison of undercover sheep yards or grating area to keep your sheep dry at shearing time!
And it’s just one detail you need to consider when planning your shearing shed project.
You will also need to consider which shed configuration is best, choose a raised or flat board and decide on a modular or custom fit-out – and more!
Ready to start your project planning? Looking for best-practice recommendations? Call 1800 687 888 to speak with a building consultant – we would love to hear from you!
