Best Practice Calving Shed Design - Preparing Your Calving Shed - Site 3

Is This The Best Practice Calving Shed Design?

Over the last few years we have built multiple calving shed across south-west Victoria, all using the same simple, straightforward and effective design.

It isn’t a complex design – it is a two-sided configuration with concrete panels and a cantilevered canopy.

So, what makes this design work? Why has it been replicated? Is it best-practice?

In this article we take a deep dive into the details of this calving shed design to understand what makes it so successful.

We have also provided a price guide for this design and suggestions on how you could customise the design to make sure it works for you.

 If you are planning a similar project, we hope you find this helpful.

Best Practice Calving Shed Design - Preparing Your Calving Shed - Site 3

Calving Shed Design Overview

Size: 50m (L) x 27m (W) x 5m (H)

Configuration: Two walls enclosed with a gable infill and a 5-metre cantilevered canopy.

Design Features: Concrete panels, custom gutter system, ridge ventilation, skylights and sliding doors.

Build Locations: Across South-West Victoria including Bungador, Cobrico, Irrewillipe and Terang. You can explore more of the Action shed build in this area, here – South West VIC Farm Sheds Brochure

Why The Design Works

There are a number of key details that make this a functional and effective calving shed design.

We provide an overview of these below and discuss how they work together to prioritise cow comfort and provide operational benefits ranging from effective stormwater management to removing ammonia and heat.

 

Weather Protection

Protection from the prevailing weather is one of the most important considerations for a calving shed design.

This design address weather protection with several features including two enclosed walls, a cantilevered canopy and gable infills.

These features work well because they help find the ideal balance between providing shelter and ensuring there is effective air movement at cow level – which is our next discussion point.

Effective Airflow

Effective airflow is essential for dairy infrastructure such as calving sheds as it plays an important role in keeping cows comfortable by reducing heat, moisture and ammonia build-up at cow level.

One of the reasons this design can be considered best-practice is because it successfully ticks the boxes for both weather protection and airflow.

Airflow through the calving shed is achieved with the two open sides and a ridge ventilation system which helps remove the ammonia and heat. Sliding doors in the enclosed gable end can also be opened or shut depending on the airflow requirements.

Preparing Your Calving Shed - Site 2

Often these features are only as effective as the project planning allows them to be. For example, consider the local climate at calving time and choose the correct site location and shed orientation to suit this. This will help ensure there is both effective weather protection and airflow.

Corrosion Protection

Corrosion protection is important for any farm shed project, which is why every Action shed is fully hot dip galvanised.

Because dairies are a very corrosive environment, when it comes to projects such as calving sheds, it is important to take corrosion protection a step further.

This is why concrete panels are a recommended inclusion for calving sheds and calf sheds. Including concrete panels in your calving shed helps to increase the longevity of the cladding by protecting it from rust and machinery damage. As a result, this helps reduce the time and money spent on maintenance and repairs.

Additionally, concrete panels make it easier to clean out your calving shed and maintain good hygiene. This helps reduce the risk of any diseases of sickness spreading or transferring between calving drops.

Bedding Management

The layout of this calving shed design works well for access and bedding management.

For example, the sliding door in the gable end provides an access point for machinery for cleaning and replacing bedding.

The design also includes an Action custom gutter system, which allows the stormwater to be plumbed to the end of the shed rather than down the face of the columns. This helps avoid downpipes being damaged by machinery and stormwater entering the shed.

Cost-Effective Build

It doesn’t matter what type of farm shed; pricing, cost-saving and value-for-money are always popular topics – and this best practice calving shed design is also a cost-effective design.

Firstly, the design utilises a standard size span which reduces manufacturing costs and time.

Secondly, a cantilevered canopy is a cost-effective way to gain additional coverage without upsizing the span width. For example, a 27-metre span and 5 metre canopy provide a width of 32 metres and would typically cost less than a standard 30 metre span.

Also, using a standard design that we have manufactured and built before can help reduce engineering costs – and just generally speed up the project timeframe.

So, how much does this design cost? That’s what we discuss next!

 

Calving Shed Price Guide

As a guide, a 50m x 27m x 5m two-sided calving shed with a 5-metre canopy costs approx. $240,000 – $295,000 including GST, concrete panels and installation.

You can learn more about calving shed prices, here – How Much Does It Cost To Build A Calving Shed?

 

Best-Practice Calving Shed Design Gallery

Browse the gallery of photos from some of the recent calving sheds completed in South West VIC using this design – and then read to learn about the different ways this design can be customised.

Ways To Customise The Design For Your Project

This calving shed is effective and functional as is, but there are also a number of changes you could make to ensure it is the right fit for your operational requirements.

Here are some suggestions to get you thinking.

  • Swap out zinc cladding for Colorbond to provide an additional layer of corrosion protection.
  • Reduce the span size to 24 metres (arguably the most popular standard span) and upsize the canopy to 6 metres for 30 metres coverage.
  • Or if you choose to upsize the length or width, consider a steeper roof pitch and ridge opening to improve airflow.
  • Depending on the direction of the prevailing a single gable wall or partially walls could work well.
  • Consider including another sliding door for additional access and airflow.

Below are some other articles and resources that might also help you with your project planning.

Useful Resources

For more design ideas and advice for your calving shed project, call 1800 687 888 to speak with one of our building consultants – they would be happy to help!

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