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Leesburg, Ohio | Thinking about replacing our gravel feeding pad in the pasture with concrete next to the barn yard. Like the idea of not re-graveling every other year, and being able to feed hay without opening pasture gates and slogging thru the mud. Our existing pad is out in the middle of the nearest pasture lot, and has been there for at least 20 years, and been re-graveled several times.
Would like to have a concrete pad next to barnlot fence, with two hay alleys maybe 7-8' wide by 30' long or so, to hold big rounds or big squares. We would open a gate on the barnlot fence end to place bales in the alleys. A gate on the far end to push unused hay out the end. Space on the pad between the two hay alleys and on the outside of the alleys for cattle to stand and eat.
How thick does it need to be? Cows on it, of course, but also big skid loader feeding bales, and 125 HP tractor-loader at times.
Thinking 6" nominal...2x6 form boards. Or is 4" enough?
Probably 3/8 or 1/2" rebar on 3' centers?
I figure roughly 8' each for the alleys, 16' minimum between the alleys to allow two rows of cows eating butt-to-butt, and another 10' on the outsides of the alleys for two more rows of cows eating, plus 10-20' across the far end for piling manure. That's about 52' x at least 40'.
Feeder panels along the sides of the alleys for cows to eat through, or guardrail?
How many cows can eat at once on one side of a 30'long hay feeder? | |
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Garvo or others: concrete thickness/feeding pad dedsign
