Researching lamb feedlot shed sizes? What size lamb feedlot cover do you need? Are there any industry requirements? Read on to find out!
Australian lamb producers are looking beyond feedlots setups as simply a drought management strategy and are capitalising on the infrastructure for increasing production and profit.
Forward thinking producers are taking this trend a step further and are maximising productivity and profitability gains by installing lamb feedlot sheds.
This infrastructure allows them to take full advantage of the benefits the system provides, from reduced feed wastage to improved lamb health.
We take a deep dive into the topic here – Lamb Feedlots Are The Future & You Should Cover Yours
While the benefits of lamb feedlots for production feeding and optimizing lamb growth are significant, there are a number of details to address in the planning stages to ensure the infrastructure is successfully implemented.
And arguably one of the most important details is lamb feedlot cover sizes – from industry recommended stocking rates to addressing airflow and access.
Read on to learn about:
- Industry size recommendations
- Best-practice dimensions for access, airflow and weather protection
- Addressing your current operational requirements and future expansions
We have also provided some practical lamb feedlot shed size suggestions and price guides.
Let’s get into it!
4 Factors That Influence Lamb Feedlot Shed Sizes
1
Following Industry Recommendations
It is important to consider stocking rates and bunk space requirements in the planning stage as this will shape the size and configuration of your lamb feedlot.
And it is worth nothing that these vary between set-ups and feeders.
For example, a 3-5m² per lamb stocking rate is common for a drought lot or uncovered containment feeding set up.
However, stocking rate of around 1m² is common for covered lamb feedlots, including for partial shade set ups.
When it comes to the bunk space, this will depend on the system used such as self-feeders or troughs. Generally speaking, lambs will require 150mm or more per head of bunk space. However, if you are using lick feeders this reduces to around 50mm.
Details such as the length of time the lambs are in the feedlot and whether the layout includes a loafing area also influences the stocking rate and bunk space requirements.
2
Addressing Animal Comfort With Airflow & Weather Protection
One of the main considerations and priorities for a lamb feedlot shed design is ensuring it successfully addresses animal comfort.
As well as following the recommended stocking rates and bunk space, this involves finding the the right balance between weather protection and airflow. And there are a number of dimensions that impact this.
Firstly, the airflow through the shed is influenced by the roof pitch, ridge vent opening and the height.
Weather protection can be achieved by installing partial or full walls and gable infills. A canopy can also be used to increase the width of the shed and gain extra coverage and protection.
You can find size recommendations for each of these features and details further on in this article.
3
Ensuring Easy Access
Well planned access is essential for a a safe, efficient and future-proof lamb feedlot shed set up.
So, here are the details you need to address.
Firstly, the feed lane location (side versus centre) will determine the width required. For example, a feedlot shed with a centre lane may require a 30 metre width.
However, with a side feed lane you may be able to achieve this coverage with a 24 metre span and a 6 metre canopy over the feed lane.
The is a popular option particularly for smaller scale set ups. The benefits of a canopy includes easy access to the feed lane without disturbing the lambs helping to create a low-stress environment.
A canopy is also a cost-effective way to gain extra coverage and helps avoid inconvenient column placement.
Height is normally dictated by either the feed wagon (if perimeter feeding) or a tractor (for cleaning out pens).
If you do choose to install a canopy, you may need to consider increasing the height to ensure there is still adequate clearance for tractors and equipment. And then to balance the additional height, gable infills are a popular option.
The length (or number of bays) of a lamb feedlot shed will depend on the amount of bunk space your require to work with your chosen stocking rate.
The bay spacings will also impact accessibility. For example, if you choose formed up footings to eliminate sharp edges at animal level, you may consider upsizing the bays to ensure machinery can still safely move in and out.
You will find size recommendations on each of these points further on in this article.
4
Operational Requirements & Set-Up
It is important not to overlook your unique operational requirements and feedlot set up when designing your shed size.
For example, consider;
- Will be incorporating a loafing area? Or an external pen? Or are the sheep 100% contained?
- What type of feeders are you using?
- Are you choosing a side lane or centre lane set up?
- Are you covering new or existing pens?
- Do you have plans to expand the set up in the future? (It is a good idea to start planning with the end in mind as this can save additional costs later on.)
Now that we have an understanding of the factors that influence lamb feedlot shed size, let’s get into some practical suggestions!
5 Best-Practice Lamb Feedlot Shed Size Suggestions
Planning your covered lamb feedlot shed and not sure where to start?
We’ve rounded up five practical size suggestions from our building consultants, on all the main dimensions – length, width, height and more.
1
Choose The Right Height
Choosing the right height in the planning stages is important for any shed project. Why? Height is one detail that can’t be altered once your shed has been built and installed.
So, what height does your lamb feedlot shed need to be?
The most common height for a covered lamb feedlot is an eave height of 5 metres. This provides adequate clearance for equipment such as tractors and feed wagons and also helps facilitate effective airflow through the cover.
2
Start With A Standard Span
A standard span size is the perfect starting point for a feedlot cover design that is both cost-effective and functional.
The standard span range has been developed over twenty years, specifically for the agricultural and livestock industry.
As a result there are a number of standard spans that work really well for lamb feedlot sheds. These include 24 metres, 27 metres and 30 metres.
As mentioned earlier, the best span for your shed will depend on the feed lane location and the stocking density (including whether you are incorporating a loafing area). For example, a canopy is a great option over a side feed lane. A canopy ensure the lane is covered to reduce feed wastage but is also easily accessed without columns in the way – and it’s cost-effective too!
3
Recommended Roof Pitch & Ridge Vent
A feedlot shed roof is the main way we can influence airflow through the shed.
Our computational fluid dynamic studies across the lamb, beef and dairy industry, show that the two details that make the most impact are the combination of a steep roof pitch and a ridge opening.
Based on these modellings and successful projects, the recommended roof pitch for a lamb feedlot is 18 degrees. This works most effectively with a 1500mm ridge opening to draw heat, moisture and ammonia up and out of the cover.
An Action custom ‘pop-top’ ridge vent cover then allows the hot air to exit the shed while preventing the prevailing weather from entering the pens.
4
Best-Practice Bay Spacings
There are several standard bay spacings that work well for lamb feedlot sheds which help create a cost-effective and functional design.
These range from 8 metres to 10 metres, with the 10 metre option being common for larger setups for airflow and access – particularly if the footings have been formed up.
5
Future-Proof Your Feedlot
Future-proofing your feedlot puts you in a position to respond and capitalise on market opportunities.
And one of the best ways to does this is to think long-term and upsize your feedlot shed now (is a shed ever to big?) – or make allowance for expansion in the future.
This can be as simple as selecting a site that will allow you to easily extend your shed by adding on extra bays.
Or it could be planning your bunk space to allow you to increase your lamb numbers.
Or it might be including a loafing pen that could be converted to feeding.
Lamb Feedlot Shed Size Examples & Prices Guide
The recommended size for your lamb feedlot shed will primarily depend on whether you have have perimeter feed lanes and lick feeders or a central feed lane. It will also depend on whether the sheep are 100% contained or if they have an external pen to go out to.
But here are some general size guides.
- For a 1000 head lamb feedlot a minimum of 1,100m² would be required.
- For a 2000 head lamb feedlot a minimum of 2,200m² would be required.
Our building consultants are available to provide recommendations on configurations to suit your feedlot capacity, stocking rate, bunk space and feeding set up.
So, how much does it cost?
As a general rule, a lamb feedlot shed cost around $140/m² including GST which works out to be around $150 – $160/head.
Obviously this does depend on the details mentioned throughout the article such as stocking rates – and typically, the bigger the lamb feedlot the more cost-effective it becomes per square metre and per head.
The configuration of your feedlot will also influence the cost-effectiveness. For example, a longer, narrower feedlot shed usually costs less than a wider, shorter feedlot shed.
Having said that it is important to find the right ratio of length to width to ensure you have adequate bunk space to suit your stocking density – and vice versa.
Curious to know how this will impact your feedlot shed size? Reach out to our team on 1800 687 888 for project specific advice.
We have also listed some resources below which you may find useful for your project planning.
Useful Resources
- 2000 Lamb Feedlot Feature (PDF Download)
- National Guidelines For Intensive Sheep & Lamb Feeding Systems (PDF Download)
- Partial Shade Versus Feedlot Sheds
That’s a wrap on size considerations and recommendations for lamb feedlot sheds! We trust this discussion has been helpful.
Remember, size is one of many details that contribute to a successful lamb feedlot implementation. Book a consultation for project-specific advice on sizing and other important considerations such as orientation and council requirements.
