The choice of building material for livestock goes beyond the usual considerations of cost and appearance: animal welfare is at stake. Steel buildings are ideal for this, but before we go into detail, let’s make one thing clear: with steel, you will be making the right decision not just for the animals, but for yourself and your finances too.
It is well documented that steel buildings are great for agricultural purposes, and if you look at just about any farm in the US that has erected new buildings in the recent past, you will find steel – because it works and it makes sense. Steel buildings are quick and easy to construct because much of the work is done at the factory where the parts are made.
Once the design has been agreed on, the parts are made before being transported to the site to be assembled. That means you can go from bright idea to excellent reality more quickly than with bricks and mortar. And okay, the old stables and cowsheds may have been made of wood, but only because steel construction had not yet reached the degree of sophistication that has now made it the go-to method for buildings of this type and many more.
We are building health clubs and leisure centers from steel now; entertainment venues, churches and other places of worship, too – and the reason is that steel construction is versatile and provides comfortable, practical spaces for all kinds of activities. It’s not just storage warehouses, aircraft hangars and industrial units anymore: these buildings can be customized to suit a huge variety of purposes.
Why Livestock Housing Quality Directly Affects Productivity
Livestock needs to be looked after, and that means you have to provide these creatures with pleasant, comfortable living conditions. You need to be able to control temperature and ventilation, provide secure, stable conditions underfoot, and allow for proper hygiene.
Anyone who works with animals knows that, while they can’t express their feelings about their living conditions verbally, you can tell when they are happy and when they are not, and whether you are relying on cows to produce plenty of milk or horses to behave and perform well, a happy animal is a productive animal.
That is why we linked two separate considerations in our header: protecting your animals and your investment. One is simply doing the right thing – the decent, caring thing – and the other is a purely practical measure, because if this is a business, you need it to work well and thrive.
Steel vs Timber: Comparing Durability, Hygiene, and Maintenance
Timber is great in many respects. It has a special place in our affections because it looks good with a stylish charm, as well as being versatile and easy to work with. Unfortunately, it has its limitations in practical ways. It can rot, and that is because it is porous – it absorbs moisture. That is not what you want when there is animal waste being produced at all times of the day and night.
Yes, you can sweep up and shovel until things are tidy again, but there will also be mopping to do, and that means more fluids heading for the foot of the walls. Steel is far more resistant in this respect. Wipe it clean, and it’s back to normal. It lasts much longer than timber, too, and you don’t have to keep applying preservatives, painting it, stripping it, and painting it again. Modern steel is low maintenance.
Ventilation and Animal Welfare Design Principles
An experienced steel building constructor will have their own expertise in design and all the related principles, including hygiene and ventilation, to bring your ideas to fruition. They will have done this before, with satisfied customers providing feedback to make for even better work in the future.
Portable vs Permanent Steel Livestock Buildings: Pros and Cons
If what you need is not a huge permanent building but something smaller and more versatile, you may want something portable. That is not a problem for a steel structure because it can be tailored to your requirements and easily moved when those requirements change or are needed elsewhere. Imagine trying that with concrete block walls; it’s almost impossible.
Planning Your Layout for Cattle, Poultry, Swine, or Mixed Use
All creatures great and small can be catered for with a steel building, and an expert company such as Atlantic Steel Structures has experience you can draw on to make your ideas work. Different animals, different clients, varying requirements, but a common goal: happy livestock.
What to Budget for a Steel Livestock Facility
It all depends on exactly what you need and how big it is, but as a ballpark, think of between $12 and $30 per sq. ft. Bring us your ideas, and we will quickly give you a realistic figure to work with.
