If you’re a cattle farmer, sooner or later, you’ll need to build your own cattle yard. It’s not a difficult process, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. In this blog post, we will discuss the steps involved in building your own cattle yard. We’ll also provide tips on making the process easier and more efficient. So if you’re ready to start building, let’s get started!
What Is a Cattle Yard and Why Is It Important?
Cattle yards are important structures on any cattle farm. They provide a space for handling and working with cattle. Cattle yards are also known as corrals, pens, or chutes.
There are many different types of cattle yards, but they all serve the same purpose: to confine and control livestock. Cattle yards can be used for various activities such as branding, castrating, and dehorning. They can also be used for loading and unloading cattle onto trucks or trailers.
Why Build Your Own Cattle Yard?
There are many reasons why you might want to build your own cattle yard. If you’re just starting out in the business, you may not have the budget to purchase a ready-made cattle yard. Building your own cattle yard is also a great way to customize the space to suit your specific needs. And if you’re handy with tools, it’s a relatively easy project that you can do yourself.
What You’ll Need
Before you start building your cattle yard, there are a few things you’ll need:
- A level piece of land that’s large enough to accommodate the size of your cattle yard
- Fencing material (e.g. wood, wire, or pipe)
- Posts and brackets
- Cattle gates
- A water source (e.g. a well or water trough)
Optional:
- Cattle chute
- Cattle crush
- Working table
Building the Cattle Yard
Now that you have all the materials you need, it’s time to start building! Follow these steps to build your own cattle yard:
- Mark out the perimeter of your cattle yard with stakes and string. The size of your cattle yard will depend on the number of cattle you have. A good rule of thumb is to allow about 50 square feet per animal.
- Dig holes for your posts. The depth of the holes will depend on the type of fencing material you’re using. For example, if you’re using wood fence posts, the holes should be about two feet deep. If you’re using metal posts, the holes only need to be about 18 inches deep.
- Pour concrete into the holes and allow it to set. Make sure to level off the concrete so that your posts are level with each other. If you’re using metal posts, you can skip this step and simply set the posts into the holes.
Tie or weld the fencing material to the posts. If you’re using wood fence boards, nail them to the posts. If you’re using wire fencing, make sure to attach it securely to the posts so that cattle cannot push their way through.
- Finish by installing gates and a water source. Your cattle yard is now complete!
Making Your Cattle Yard More Efficient
There are a few things you can do to make your cattle yard more efficient.
- First, consider installing a chute or crush. This will make it easier to work with cattle, especially if you’re doing tasks like branding or castrating. This is because it will help to keep the cattle still and in one place.If you don’t want to install a chute or crush, you can make do with a working table. This is simply a sturdy table that you can tie the cattle to.
- Another way to make your cattle yard more efficient is to have two gates instead of one. This way, you can separate the cattle into different groups depending on what you’re going to do with them.
For example, you might have one gate for the cattle that are going to be loaded onto a truck, and another gate for the cattle that are going to be branding.
- Build a working table where you can keep your tools and supplies. This will save you time when you’re working in the cattle yard. Plus, it will help to keep the area more organized.
- Lastly, make sure your water source is easily accessible. Cattle will need to drink often, so it’s important to have a water source that they can reach. Make sure that you clean and refill the water trough regularly.
By following these tips, you can build a cattle yard that’s efficient and easy to work in. Plus, your cattle will be happy and healthy!
