ASSESSING SHEEP HOUSING OPTIONS

THE winter housing of ewes allows pastures to recover and ease management of ewes in bad weather and during the lambing season.

On well-stocked sheep farms, the sheep shed is a critical part of grassland management in ensuring that paddocks closed up in the autumn can remain closed to build up adequate spring grass covers for ewes and lambs at turnout.

Many farmers are planning to improve existing sheep housing, converting existing buildings to accommodate sheep; or planning to construct brand new sheep-housing facilities.

New sheep-housing facilities are eligible for grant aid under TAMS 2, with 60 per cent aid for the young, trained farmer; and 40 per cent for all other applicants.

The location of a new sheep shed is very important. Choose a site that will allow for change, improvement and expansion and is compatible with existing farm facilities.

For convenience, sheep-handling facilities should be close by.

In assessing the suitability of existing accommodation or designing a new sheep house, sufficient feed space must be considered so that all ewes can comfortably eat concentrates at one time, being fed by one person without entering sheep pens.

In general, 10 medium-sized ewes will be able to eat meal together in a standard 4.8-metre bay.

A medium-size ewe will require 1.1 metres of floor space on slats and 1.2 metres on straw bedding.

If pens are, say, six metres in width, then walk-through troughs will be needed to optimise the number of ewes that can be accommodated in pens, balancing floor space and feed space.

Ventilation is extremely important in sheep or cattle sheds to remove any airborne pathogens and other harmful bacteria.

In a well-ventilated animal house, the heat produced by the livestock rises and exits via the roof outlet.

This is then replaced by fresh air coming in from the side of the building.

Poorly ventilated animal houses gather a lot of dust and dirt on the underside of the roof sheeting due to particles sticking to condensation. It is important to carry out the necessary modification if there is a ventilation problem.

In the design of the shed, feed passages must be wide enough for machinery access. All pens should have access to a suitable water supply.

It would be a good idea to have removable penning for ease of cleaning out and the option to use the building for other purposes during the year.

Ensuring the shed has suitable lighting and power sockets is a must in the interest of safety.

All new or existing sheep sheds must have pollution-control measures in place under cross compliance.

Another key consideration which must be made before building starts is whether to build a straw-bedded house or slatted sheep unit.

Taking the cost of construction and TAMs grants into account, the slatted sheep shed costs substantially more than a straw-bedded unit.

However it is a once-off decision, so it’s important to consider the advantages of slatted housing, which are less labour bedding and cleaning out and reduced straw usage – but will still need straw supply for individual pens; less lameness issues on slats; 10 per cent less lying area required per ewe; and the level of feed passage and feed troughs do not change due to straw build up.

The disadvantages must also be considered, such as slats clogging with hay or unchopped silage; limited use of shed for other tasks during the year; slatted floors are colder and generally unsuitable for lambing on; and higher cost of building.

The price of straw has risen in recent years, and is particularly scarce in 2018 due to poorer yields and an increase in demand.

The farmer could also decide on a shed with one half-slatted and the other half solid floor, which would be a happy medium.

In planning to build or renovate an existing structure, it is advisable to visit farms that have such facilities in place to access all the options.

Carry out a lambing review of the previous lambing season to establish the prolificy of your flock and the profitability of the sheep enterprise on the farm.

Check your eligibility for a TAMs grant at 40 per cent or 60 per cent and the borrowing capacity of the farm.

In planning to build or renovate a sheep shed, explore all designs and options before making a decision to begin construction.

Proper facilities should be in place before the lambing season begins.