WINTERING & LOAFING LIVESTOCK SHELTER
Make the smart choice for your farm. Choose a SmartShelters wintering and loafing shelter.
It’s a fact – sheltering your livestock from the elements is good for business. Healthy animals are simply more productive, so housing them in the best conditions, whether for the short term or long term, is in a farmer’s best interests. In fact, the benefits of a covered wintering or loafing area extend far beyond the health and productivity of your herd. A SmartShelters covered shelter is easier to maintain, facilitates more efficient management, and allows your pasture to grow, unencumbered by constant grazing.
CUSTOM DESIGNS
What is the best loafing shelter?
The best loafing shelter is one that is built by an experienced team, using the finest materials, and to suit your specific needs. And at SmartShelters we tick each of those boxes. A SmartShelters loafing shelter can be custom designed to suit your herd and your site. With large spans of up to 40m available, a comfortable shelter can be created for your herd (we recommend providing 10m²-12m² per head) without centre poles for livestock to knock and damage. And while they’re designed to protect your herd against the elements during the winter, our shelters also keep your herd 5C-10C cooler in summer.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A SmartShelters structure is an excellent way to provide shelter from the elements.
- Install a membrane liner beneath your drainage system to future proof against regulation changes.
- Ridge vents are required for removal of moisture accumulation
- 10-12m2 recommended space allocation per cow
- 800mm of feed face/cow recommended for fair feeding
GALLERY
TOUGH MATERIALS FOR LONG LIFESPAN
You have peace of mind with the SmartShelters’ 12-year limited warranty against product faults.
We use only the highest quality components to ensure that your shelter stands up to the conditions. SmartShelters structures are engineered to AS/NZS 1170.2:2011 and are rated to withstand wind and snow conditions. By using structural-grade Supergal galvanised steel framing and tough Ripstop roof covers we have built up a reputation for extremely high quality and long-lasting structures.
TESTIMONALS
Smartshelters played a critical role in the recent project to gather information about the Alpine Fault – New Zealand’s biggest earthquake threat.
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION EMPLOYED SMARTSHELTERS TO CREATE A HELICOPTER HANGAR AND ACCOMMODATION SHELTERS FOR USE IN THE MOUSE ERADICATION PROJECT IN THE WILD ANTIPODES ISLANDS. CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO ON LOCATION.
ASK US A QUESTION ABOUT OUR WINTERING & LOAFING SHELTERS
Advantages of a covered loafing area versus uncovered?
In terms of animal health, a SmartShelters covered loafing area offers the following benefits over a traditional uncovered area:
- Improved animal welfare, with better conditions and comfort through the winter
- Improved herd health
- Cleaner udders
- A reduction in cases of mastitis
- A reduction (or elimination) of respiratory problems (thanks to SmartShelters’ industry leading airflow)
But the perks of a SmartShelters covered loafing area don’t end with the animals. A SmartShelters construction will also offer the following environmental benefits:
- Heavily reduced nutrient leaching in the wet months
- Total effluent capture in a fully contained system
- The elimination of pugging and leaching by taking the herd off the pasture
- A reduced overall environmental impact
How do these advantages play out in a business sense? The animal and environmental benefits will increase your bottom line in the following ways:
- An increase in milk production from healthier animals
- A reduction in feed costs from lower energy expenditure (up to 50%)
- A reduction in loafing area management costs
- A reduction (or elimination) of your reliance on expensive off-farm grazing
- More efficient pasture growth
- Winter milking is made viable
What is the production increase from wintering cows?
The major increase in production is in cases where winter milking is made viable. If you can milk your herd at a time when you previously hadn’t, the benefits of wintering your herd in a sheltered space become obvious.
But even if you already milk in winter, or you have no plan to do so even with a wintering/loafing shelter, the cost savings that a SmartShelter construction can offer are compelling. Dramatically reduced feed expenditure, pasture growth and efficient herd management can see the cost of the shelter quickly paid back through savings alone.
Boasting a team backed by 100 years of experience, and working with the finest materials available, SmartShelters are able to rapidly design and construct covered stand off pads of the highest quality, enabling you to work smarter, sooner.
Contact a member of our experienced team today to discuss a truly smart shelter solution for your property.
