If you are looking to build a cover over your cattle yards, you might have a few questions about the installation, such as: What if there is fall over the site? Or, How do I ensure the cattle yard cover doesn’t interfere with the yard layout? If you are asking any of these questions about your cattle yard cover installation, then you might find this article useful.
In this article we answer ten of the most commonly asked questions about building a cattle yard cover, including:
- Can I build over existing cattle yards? Or new yards?
- Do I need insurance during installation?
- How do I ensure the yard cover doesn’t interfere with the yard design?
- How is a cattle yard cover built? Is it ‘stick built’?
- How long will it take to build my cattle yard cover?
- What clearance height will I need for my cattle yard cover?
- What if there is fall over the site?
- What site preparation do I need to do?
- Which yard suppliers do you work with?
- Who will install my cattle yard cover?
If you would like to find out the answers to these cattle yard cover installation questions – keep reading!
10 Questions About Your Cattle Yard Cover Installation, Answered
1. Can I build over existing cattle yards? Or new yards?
Yes, you can build a yard cover over your existing cattle yards.
While it is usually easier to build a cattle yard cover and then install the new yard system afterwards, it is still possible to build a yard cover over existing yards – either by assembling the cover in the air or by building the cover on the ground beside the yards before moving it into place with cranes.
We will also conduct a site measure up prior to drawings and manufacture to ensure that the cover fits in seamlessly with the existing yards and infrastructure.
2. Do I need insurance during installation?
Insurance is an important topic for construction projects, and a cattle yard cover installation is no different.
We recommend having your insurance policy in place as soon as the yard cover is delivered – before it is erected. This means that you would be covered if any materials were stolen during the erection stage – which unfortunately is an increasing risk in rural areas.
3. How do I ensure the yard cover doesn’t interfere with the yard design?
Regardless of whether you are building over new or existing cattle yards, it is important to ensure the yard cover doesn’t interfere with the yard design and flow.
If you are building over existing cattle yards, our team will visit site to measure up and take note of where the yard cover column placement needs to be to avoid clashing with yards, races, gates or working areas.
Similarly, if you are installing new cattle yards, we will work in with your yard supplier and share plans and designs to ensure the cover fits in seamlessly with yards.
One way we can ensure the yard cover doesn’t interfere with the yard design is to vary the bay widths. While standard bay widths for most farm sheds are 8 metres – 8.5 metres, for yard covers bay widths can vary anywhere up to 10 metres to accommodate your yard design. We can also vary the spacing throughout your yard cover too, to ensure the least amount of impact on your yarding.
4. How is a cattle yard cover built? Is it ‘stick built’?
The way a cattle yard cover is built depends on whether the yards are existing yards or not. Limited site access can also determine how the yard cover is built.
Generally, if a yard cover is being built on a clear, level site it will be built on the ground and lifted with cranes. On the other hand, if the site has limited access or existing infrastructure, there are two ways it could be built – it can either be built in the air, also known as ‘stick built’ or it can be assembled on the ground beside the yards and then craned into place.
5. How long will it take to install my cattle yard cover?
While it does depend on factors like the size of project and the project complexity, the average timeframe for a cattle yard cover installation is within two weeks from start to finish.
6. What clearance height will I need for my cattle yard cover?
Clearance height is an important detail to get right as it is near impossible to increase the height of a cattle yard cover once it has been built.
When it comes to cattle yard cover height you will need to consider the clearance height required for any machinery that will need access to the cover. You will also need to factor in the depth of the trusses as this will also impact the final clearance height.
The most popular heights for cattle yard covers are around 4 metres – 4.5 metres so this may work for your project.
When it comes to cattle yard covers, keep in mind the clearance height required for any machinery that will need access to the yards. And don't forget to factor in the depth of the trusses as this will also impact the final clearance height.
7. What if there is fall over the site?
When building over existing cattle yards with fall over the site, the yard cover column lengths can be varied to match the fall of the land. Our building consultants are more than happy to visit your site and take levels to determine the necessary length for each column.
8. What site preparation do I need to do?
We give recommendations for site preparation on a job-by-job basis. Generally, a level site is recommended for a new build (for example, when there is new yards and cover) whereas there is usually no site preparation required if we are building over existing yards – other than trimming or removing trees if necessary.
If your project is a complete new build, watch the video below to learn about our top site preparation tips and reccommendations.
9. Which yard suppliers do you work with?
While we work in with ProWay Livestock Equipment for the majority of cattle yard covers (as well as sheep yard covers and shearing sheds), we also work in with a large number of other key cattle yard suppliers including Atlex, Clipex and Tepari – and we would be happy to work with your yard supplier of choice.
If you are still in the process of researching and choosing your yard supplier, you may like our article – The Best Cattle & Sheep Yard Suppliers (Ratings & Reviews)
10. Who will install my cattle yard cover?
We have more than 30 professional contract install teams constructing our sheds across Australia. For your cattle yard cover installation, you will be allocated the erector best suited to your project.
If you have any questions about this process, give us a call or send us an email – we would be happy to help. Or you can learn more about the five-step operation process for each project, here.
We hope this article has answered your cattle yard cover installation questions!
If you have any other questions, you would like answered, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Alternatively, browse our Learning Hub for more articles like this – as well as the latest farm shed videos and brochures.
