Livestock Care Advice
-
A Single Span Stock-Master is ideal for small to medium animal flocks, especially on hilly farms with limited flat land. These polytunnels offer excellent ventilation due to their favorable vent-to-floor space ratio. For cost-efficiency, choose a wider polytunnel when adding a central passage; e.g., a 9.15m (30ft) wide polytunnel with a 3m (10ft) passage sacrifices one-third of livestock space, while a 6.4m (21ft) polytunnel with the same passage loses nearly half. Wider polytunnels generally cost less per square meter.
-
Multi-Span livestock houses are the preferred choice for housing medium to large flocks, typically numbering around 300 ewes or more. These versatile structures can also be used for raising calves and housing cattle.
-
Our standard multi-span design comprises three bays configured as 30 feet, 18 feet, and 30 feet. This setup dedicates two bays to housing, with the central 18-foot bays facilitating secure access for larger vehicles and feeding wagons.
-
Consolidating a larger number of livestock under one roof streamlines various tasks, particularly when the need arises to be in multiple places simultaneously. This larger, taller structure is gaining popularity in the context of dairy herds and beef cattle, thanks to its enhanced airflow and reduced moisture accumulation.
The Stock-Master offers several advantages that enhance animal welfare and cut costs. For instance, natural daylight's shortwave radiation creates a warmer, drier space, reducing bedding and energy expenses. This warmer environment can enhance livestock food conversion ratios, reducing feed costs and potentially lowering calf pneumonia-related mortality.
These structures are often more cost-effective than traditional buildings and provide a healthier environment by minimizing harmful bacteria, fungi, molds, and odors with abundant natural light and dry airflow. The white polythene used in on the Stock-Master Multi Span polytunnels allows 60% of natural light, including UVA and UVB, aiding floor and bedding drying and natural disinfection.
Sufficient feeding space is crucial to prevent dominant animals from intimidating others, potentially impeding their growth rates.
Our Stock-Master Multispan is perfectly suited to housing cattle as this type of larger, higher structure is becoming increasingly popular for dairy herds and beef cattle as it increases airflow and reduces the buildup of moisture. You should work out the space allowance for cattle housed in groups in terms of, the whole environment, the age, sex, liveweight and behavioural needs of the stock, the size of the group and whether any of the animals have horns.