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SmartShelters’ feed pad shelter solutions will drastically reduce the amount of liquid you collect by preventing rainfall from being collected on your feed pad, saving time, assisting with compliance and reducing costs
Feed pads bring a wealth of benefits – they reduce feed ration wastage, management costs and animal lameness that come with crowded laneway configurations. But traditional open feed pads have some drawbacks; they expose both animals and feed to the elements, and force you to deal with large amounts of effluent run-off. At SmartShelters we design and construct feed pads that seek to solve these issues, ensuring you and your livestock can enjoy all the perks that feed pads bring, without the pitfalls.
An average cow will excrete 55L of raw effluent per day. With your entire herd concentrated in one spot, dealing with effluent run-off is part and parcel of having a feed pad. This issue is compounded by rain, which dramatically increases the amount of effluent running off the pad. But with a SmartShelter protecting your feed pad from the rain, effluent will tend to crust over and dry out, all but eliminating run-off, and making the process of cleaning the pad far simpler and more efficient.
Improve the health of your herd. Using a feed pad cover to protect your herd from the elements will improve the overall health of the animals. Our high quality covers let in up to 90% of natural light, while stopping heat, rain and snow from entering the structure. Your animals will enjoy conditions that are 3-4C warmer in winter and 3-4C cooler in summer, increasing herd health and reducing your vet bills.
World leading structural fabric covers provide a light, clean environment where cows thrive
Excellent height clearance makes feeding out, cleaning and servicing safe and easy
We can design the layout of your feedpad to your specific requirements
Variable side height options to suit all machine sizes
Design flexibility to accommodate side access gateways and existing infrastructure
10m x 40m are the minimum dimensions for a SmartShelters cattle feed pad or dairy feed pad, making them best suited for herds of 100 cows or more. SmartShelters offers a range of sizes over and above this minimum, going all the way up to huge 50m spans, and lengths limited only by your property and your imagination.
Given the minimum size of 10m x 40m, SmartShelters feed pads are best suited to farmers with herds of at least 100 cows. While small-scale and hobby farmers may not be able to justify a feed pad of this size, there may be a more appropriate option in the SmartShelters range. Chat to our friendly team today to discuss your needs.
A comfortable herd that doesn’t need to fight against the cold, the heat or the rain will expend less energy, and will therefore eat less feed. What’s more, placing a shelter over your feed pad will reduce feed spoilage and wastage, and allows you to load the troughs whenever it suits, rather than when weather permits.
Just as there’s no standard herd size, there’s no standard feed pad size. The size of a feed pad is governed by the size of the herd that you hope to feed there, and the bulk space it requires. For cattle, for example, feed face of 700mm per cow is generally recommended, with the feed pad then built around these measurements. A total of 3.5m-4m2 per cow is a common range. Animal comfort must be taken into account, with pads designed to prevent injury and lameness.
Offering a wide range of spans between 6m and 30m, at SmartShelters we can custom design and build a feed pad to suit your herd.
When designing a feed pad, our expert SmartShelters team will a number of considerations into account, including:
There are a number of layout, structure and location decisions to be made during the design and construction process, so our team will work closely with you to ensure your feed pad performs exactly as it needs to, and the management of your livestock is made as simple as possible.
The best feed pad cover is one that increases efficiency, reduces effluent volumes, and ensures your herd is comfortable and healthy. The best covered feed pad will be one that has been designed specifically for your situation, that uses the finest materials available, and that has been built by an experienced team (ideally one that offers a market-leading warranty.)
As an organisation with 100 years of experience, at SmartShelters we are able to rapidly design and construct a feed pad of the highest quality, allowing you to enjoy the perks of a sheltered feed pad sooner.
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 1170.2:2021 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.
Contact a member of our experienced team today to discuss a truly smart feed pad solution for your herd.
Protect what matters with New Zealand-made shelters built on 100 years of trusted expertise. Contact us today!
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