WHAT ABOUT A SHED?

We have all seen $20,000+ sheds or loafing barns erected, with almost as much spent on flooring and a feeding system inside. They also need a cleanout system and perhaps specific ventilation.

Let's look at the purposes for constructing one on your farm and how costs can be dramatically reduced by using an alternative.

• Feeding - most economical with a "Waste-Not" Feed Pad using bulk feeds - whole roll & whole big squares - filled each two - three days.
• Shade - trees are good and cheap.
• Shelter from wind, the same (and wind shelter is very important, especially when it's cold and wet).
• Mud control - concrete is hard to beat, but there is a need to plan well to minimise amount required.
• "Storing" cows - Pastures are first choice, (They may even eat some feed as well!). If a stand-off is required, the lane or yard may do. For longer periods, a sawdust pad or rice hulls and one electric wire is economical.
• Protecting hay - Now this is the heart of the matter. It appears that most loafing barns are erected mainly to protect the hay or silage from rain while being eaten. It is more economical to have the fodder eaten quicker, before it is spoiled. That's where the batch feeding system is useful. When using a "Waste-Not" system, rolls are usually eaten by 4-5 cows at once and 2-3 batches of cows each feeding session and twice daily. Thus there is very little fodder left after 2-3 days. Hay and silage is still quite palatable in this system, even when the rain pours down. In addition, a roof dramatically changes the cleaning/effluent situation - inside, the effluent disposal and the blade are very important, while outside, the rain, sun and wind, plus a weekly or fortnightly scrape do a very good job!

"Waste-Not" Feed Pads are designed to be used by at least 4 groups of cattle - milkers, springers, maternity and sick bay, the standoff herd (usually much less often than before as extra pasture growth kicks in) and even the dry herd (depending on farm layout and management.)

A "Waste-Not" FAIR GO Dairy Feed Pad

• is used by a variety of mobs in a variety of situations during the year
• to feed a variety of different feeds - hay, silage, fibre, rolls, big squares, front end loaderfuls
• with control over quantity being eaten relatively easy
• without a feedout wagon
• filled every two to three days
• allocating feed fairly between bossy cows and "battlers", (unless you want the "battlers" to have preferential treatment which is easy!)
• without the mud and waste.

The most elegant way to solve a problem is to sidestep it. It's not really hard to sidestep a $20-30,000 "loafing barn" or shed, if a much more attractive alternative is available, one which solves many problems at the same time.

Our suggested priorities are:

1. First dollar on a "Waste-Not" Stockfeeder.
2. Second dollar on concrete.
3. Third dollar on windbreak shelter.
4. Fourth dollar on a trip to Queensland.

Then start thinking about a shed!