Meal trough height.

TUBBY

Hi folks

quick one to throw out to ye.

What height would ye put a meal trough off the ground if you are mounting it on the back wall of slatted shed. Want it high enough that the cattle wont soil it but low enough that weanlings are not overstretching to get the nuts out. It will also be used for bulls to finish
Going to put up a stub wall and put trough on it so as to not use up space in the shed itself.

pakalasa

Could you make it adjustable on the height, with pins etc. You could also hinge it at the back so you could flip it up out of the way when finished. They'll sh1te in it, no matter what height it's at.

PatQfarmer

pakalasa wrote: »

Could you make it adjustable on the height, with pins etc. You could also hinge it at the back so you could flip it up out of the way when finished. They'll sh1te in it, no matter what height it's at.

Agreed, so no funny corners or folds. Keep it easy to clean. Movable/adjustable is a must for different stock, imo.

Muckit

I'm not near a trough now, but when I was making a small one there a week ago I measured the ones we have for out the field.

As far as I can remember they are around 550mm from ground to the bottom of the trough/600mm approx to top of lip. Someone correct me on this if I'm wrong.

A hinged trough would be a necessity if your intent on putting the trough inside. You'd want a trough 4' high off the ground if you wanted to stop them sh**ting into it! Forget the stub wall if you go this route, it's only eating up valuable lying space.

But do you really want to have to go into the pen to feed them? Slippery slats + hungry weanlings =Tubby sitting in sh*t.

Cut a hole out of the back wall and make the trough on the outside. You could build a stub wall there if you wanted to strengthen the existing wall.

P.S. reading your original post again, I think you have it planned to put the trough on the outside? In which case, ignore my babbling above!

TUBBY

Heh lads. No Muckit, you are right.

trough going on top of wall but have flap at back of shed so can feed from the outside.

that way not losing any space but not having to go into shed.

Wall is already there but is near 3ft high so reckon its a bit high to put trough on. Knocking a block off the wall would leave the full height less than 3ft but means knocking off block round full shed.

Thats why I was asking about heights, was wondering would 3ft 4in be too high for lip of the trough for cattle to feed from.

Muckit

If it's only a block wall should be easy enough to knock off a row so. Are the blocks laid normally or 'on the flat'? If they're on the flat, you'I need to take off two rows.

If the wall is plastered, score a line along with the angle grinder with stone disc at joint line. Might save knocking off plaster from the wall underneath

Good loser

Try one bay at 3ft 4ins before continuing.

Plastic gloves?

Or a fringe of that heavy duty plastic.