Hello

My wife's family began raising cows and now need a cow barn and a hay shed. I know that proper design is important for ventilation, amongst other things or the cows may get sick.

 

The family is planning to have about 12 to 15 cows and calves. I am wondering is there a standard, inexpensive design for a cow shed and hay shed that some one can point me to that is in Thai or Issan so they can read it. 

 

Does any know an approximate cost to construct a cow and hay bar? And do you know quality builders to consult the buildings.

 

I know her father and brother say they can build.  I know they can build a structure, yet the structure would simply be pieced together, rather than well thought out. If I provide the money, I would like it build properly.

 

They live in Village Na Di, Na Ya District outside Ubon Ratchathani. 

 

Thanks,

Robert 

Seems easy to build;

 

You need something like this but a lot more covered area for your rice straw, and pens for 15 cows and followers. Unless the intention is to free run them on grassland?

For one cow you need about 6.5 sq/meters /head ,a calf will need 2-3sq/meters/head ,depending on size ,you will need to add 2-3 sq/meters/head.for a feed area .you can work the size of the shed from this 

Cost?depends on how you are going to do it ,the video clip ,the concrete posts and steel roof joists,just about a standard  Thai cattle shed ,the roof could be tin sheets ,the cheapest ,or the insulated tin sheets ,good for the hot season ,or the fibre sheets .

You could use say 4x4 inch steel posts or 3 inches round posts ,more expensive but more solid. you can find second hand steel posts ,we have a shop that sells grade b steel ,more than good enough for cattle shed ,and cheaper than the best stuff.

What about the floor? for the feed area you will need concrete ,the whole shed down with concrete would be ideal ,but expensive ,stone put down and rolled would do the job .

I live in a big cow area a few cattle sheds are being built ,most now seem to be around 80-100 000 baht ,problem is labour, not cheep any more,  and steel has gone up in price this year a lot,I brought some tin sheets a few months ago 17 baht/running foot .

A straw shed,depends  how big, if you are going to feed straw all the year round ,or grass and just straw in the dry season,buy it when you need it ,or all in one hit when it is cheaper at harvest time ,  the cheapest would be the one-meter concrete posts ,and use eucalyptus posts and eucalyptus roof joists ,and tin sheets ,should do, a straw barn for 20 000 baht ?.

Ventilation is important ,if the shed is high enough air should flow though the shed ,but not that high driving rain comes in.

That shed in the video not good no air flow, cattle would cook in the summer. 

thank you everyone who has contributed.

You can get some inspirations from the pictures and drawings from these PDF. Sorry for the file text in German language...

Stallbau_Guendel.pdf p_41132.pdf rinderprospekt__deutsch_november_2014_ansichtspdf.pdf

I agree with Kickstart's comments about the shed in the video. It will be like an oven producing roast beef. Where's the Yorkshire pudding and gravy? 

 

Even UK farmers have to consider heat stress: https://hydor.co.uk/what-is-heat-stress-and-why-is-it-a-threat-to-your-cow-shed/ 

 

Take a look at this manual: https://dl-manual.com/doc/tropical-beef-production-manual-5zdnm2j61eor 

 

This one for dairy... http://amsacta.unibo.it/4272/1/Dairy_Housing_report_2015.pdf 

 

Lots of relevant info here: https://www.mla.com.au/globalassets/mla-corporate/research-and-development/documents/beef-cattle-feedlots---design-and-construction---web2.pdf 

 

Not specifically about housing cattle but you may find it interesting... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731121001385#s0015