Livestock
Concrete is not really affordable right now. I know in the long run it will be and will be better, but I need a short-term solution that's affordable now to get me to concrete. What is a good base to use to solidify the cow lot and not have a mud hole?
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We like using lime builds a good base and helps with foot rot
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How deep do you put your lime
Get out some clay and then get crushed concrete for top layer. Give it a good pack it’ll take 50 years to dig it all out if you take tome to slope it right
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Last summer I was picking up concrete fence line bunks from a precast operation here in wc iowa. I knew not every slat that gets cast comes out perfect so I asked him if he had any seconds or damaged slats and what he wanted for them. Couple days later I got a whole semi load of slats that had some kind of imperfection for $10 a 4x10 slat. With a little grading with the skid loader I have a concre...
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On a side note I got a really cheap 1500 gal septic tank that way for a house I built too. It never hurts to ask if there is a precast plant close by.
We have been using stone pads. Put a layer geo etc fabric and then 12” of stone. They hold up pretty good for us we feed on them all winter. This past winter we just put corn stalk bales out and fed on them and it held up really well also. In southern Ohio.
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We use either 304 or crush and run. Just have to be careful when u scrape it off, if it’s really frozen you will take stone up with it. Build it early so the stone can get packed down if not it’ll be soft all winter and loose stone.
What kind/texture rock do you use? That is what I have been thinking about, but a little worried about picking it all up in the manure.
I know what you mean!! I deal with the same situation trying to carry a new born calf in and you loose a boot with the cow hot on your heels lol not fun!!! I have been pondering the idea of trying used wood mats that are used for pipelines and construction sites try laying them out in the high traveled area’s anyway
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Feedlots here in Western Nebraska use hard pan for their pens.
Big time cattle producer from SW Oklahoma. I know systems are different in MN, but we shy away from concrete whenever possible. Concrete is unnatural to cattle, and is often too hard on old feet and fairly slippery when wet, even with a rough surface. We are obviously much dryer than you are, so most of our lot bases are the native red dirt we have. Many sale barns locally use ground up asphalt mi...