Reasons Prefab Metal Buildings Are Ideal for Livestock
More and more modern dairy farmers are using prefab metal buildings to shelter their animals.
Raising livestock is a delicate business that requires a lot of things to go right in order to be successful. Those who have been in the game long enough have come to appreciate prefab metal buildings for their simplicity, longevity and functionality. Having a quality shelter means farmers and ranchers can focus on raising healthy herds.
Modern livestock buildings are designed to help producers meet the demands of animal health, productivity, equipment, waste management, ventilation and potential expansion. Here are a few industry-specific examples of how steel barns and other agricultural metal buildings are well suited for this application.
Dairy Barns
Whether it’s a small-scale parlour or a large commercial operation, dairy barns need to provide a number of basic features to promote optimal production:
- Good air quality and ventilation
- A dry resting place
- Access to feed
- Access to water
- Sure footing (i.e. grooved concrete)
Properly planned prefab metal buildings provide this and can easily be configured to suit the most common types of dairy barns:
- Free stall (aka milking parlour)
- Tie stall (aka pipeline milking system)
- Robotic milking system
Regardless of the type of barn desired, pre engineered steel structures offer distinct advantages over conventional building systems:
- Unlike wood, metal isn’t susceptible to termites and other pests
- Metal doesn’t rot
- Achieve longer clear spans
- Requires fewer interior column supports
- Durable and easy to maintain
Beef Barns
Beef barns made from pre engineered steel offer the perfect combination of structural integrity, shelter, ventilation and waste conversion, which are all things you need to run a successful operation.
No matter the nature of your cattle setup, a metal building provides the ultimate in customization. Because these structures can be built with long, open spans, their interiors are easily customizable to accommodate gates and pens of different sizes.
And whether you intend to use an open-wall system or a closed space with cross ventilation, steel buildings are ideal. Prefab metal buildings can also be built with tall entranceways to accommodate large machinery and other equipment.
Hog Barns
Happy hogs are productive, growing hogs, which is something every producer likes to see. That’s why it’s important to provide a comfortable environment for each of the different types of facilities used by commercial pig farmers:
- Breeding
- Gestation
- Farrowing
- Nurseries
- Finishing
By utilizing the design flexibility afforded by metal building kits, you’ll be able to configure your barn the way you see fit.
Taking Care of Business
These days, sharp management skills are just as important to a farmer as the farm itself. To stay on top of things, and to streamline their agricultural practices, many producers are incorporating offices, employee lunchrooms, bathrooms, showers and other facilities into the design of their barns.
For more examples of why pre engineered steel is ideal for farming applications, read our post: 7 Benefits of Steel Barns for Agriculture.
Do you need a dependable shelter for your herd of livestock? Metal Structure Concepts designs and erects prefab metal buildings to suit your specific needs. Call us to discuss your project.