hoop barn/pole barn floor question

[mncowboy]

Looking to see what folks have used for the floor in pole barns and hoop barns instead of concrete?
Thanks in advance
Barn would be used for steers for part of the summer, calving in the spring and working when needed. Likely bulls in the winter

 

[cowman82]

i'd go with a geogrid .. and probably a 3/4" to fines mix stone to let the urine run through but still be able to scrap. i'd use a rubber tire cut in half to scrape it.

 

[coachg]

We do a chert pad

 

[SBMF 2015]

Clay, wood chips, cornstalks or straw on top. Layered in that order.
Work has 4 hoops and a pole barn that are deep pack buildings. We calve, wean/ back ground in them. Works well. Keeping them well bedded is key to keeping calves healthy during calving season.

 

[cowman82]

Clay, wood chips, cornstalks or straw on top. Layered in that order.
Work has 4 hoops and a pole barn that are deep pack buildings. We calve, wean/ back ground in them. Works well. Keeping them well bedded is key to keeping calves healthy during calving season.

yea if its going to be a full time cow barn I would do a deep bed pack. I was thinking he was wanting a dual purpose barn.

I know in KY they did some really nice research on deep packed sawdust. I think it was like 3-5' layer of it.. but you have to go out twice a day and turn it. only have to replace it twice a year though.

 

[SBMF 2015]

yea if its going to be a full time cow barn I would do a deep bed pack. I was thinking he was wanting a dual purpose barn.

I know in KY they did some really nice research on deep packed sawdust. I think it was like 3-5' layer of it.. but you have to go out twice a day and turn it. only have to replace it twice a year though.

We probably have 12” of wood chips on top of the clay. Then just bed it. Never disturb the base just bed on top. Clean it out once or twice a year depending on how much it has been used. The wood chips make a nice indicator of when to stop digging so you don’t get into the clay.

 

[cowman82]

We probably have 12" of wood chips on top of the clay. Then just bed it. Never disturb the base just bed on top. Clean it out once or twice a year depending on how much it has been used. The wood chips make a nice indicator of when to stop digging so you don't get into the clay.

are they confined in that?

 

[SBMF 2015]

are they confined in that?

Once the calves are weaned they are. At work they have fall calvers and winter calvers so they can go out on corn stalks if they want. We probably bed every 3-4 days during calving and every 7-10 days for those weaned calves.

 

[Dave]

I have a friend with a dairy who keeps his 300 to 800 pound heifers on a bedding pack. Just adds wood shavings once or twice a week. I have heard of people using shavings who run over it with a garden tractor and rototiller about once a week. Uses less shavings and helps it to compost by adding air to the pile. The composting breaks down the fiber and heats the pile up to help keep the critters warm in the winter.