Pole Barns Designed to Meet the Needs of Cattle

Resources

We're Here For You

Our dedicated sales team is comprised of highly skilled professionals who are always ready to assist you.
red pole barn with metal roof and cupola

Pole barns, sometimes referred to as “post frame buildings,” are particularly compelling for farms. They can be built quickly out of a variety of materials to serve nearly any storage need on a farm, including housing animals. They can be built with less expense than traditional building techniques on ground that might be unsuitable for a more traditional building since they don’t require a foundation. They’re customizable and require less building material, which leads to cost savings for the customer.

Customized Space for Farm Animals

Because pole barns are customizable, they can be built for the needs of specific animals, including cattle. Before building, it’s important to do the math: how many animals are you planning on keeping in the edifice, and how much space each animal needs.

For cattle, the Midwest Planning Service’s “Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook” has some recommendations on minimum space requirements when it comes to barns. For a cow that weighs 1,000 to 1,300 pounds, for example, minimum space is 20 to 30 square feet per animal if they have access to a lot. If the cattle do not have access to a lot adjacent to the barn, then the minimum barn space requirement is 35 to 50 square feet per animal.

Water, Cooling and Airflow

Proper airflow is an important consideration for any pole barn that will house animals. You’ll want to ensure that there is proper air quality inside the barn, that heat generated by livestock is reduced in warmer weather, that noxious gasses produced by the cattle can escape the building, and that there is fresh airflow to remove any dust and contaminants. For this reason, it’s important to work with your pole barn company to design a solution that maximizes airflow with the right configuration of vents, windows, and doors.

You’ll also want to ensure access to water in your pole barn. The barn should be plumbed for clean water, and water troughs should be placed in a way they won’t become stagnant and contaminated or exposed to direct sunlight.

Other Considerations When Building a Farm Pole Barn

Agricultural buildings are the perfect solution for any farming needs. From equipment storage to warehousing, agricultural processing, and even for animal facilities. These buildings can be large or small and extremely accommodating to whatever use is needed. One way to save money, get the building up and running quickly, and ensure it’s durable and customizable is to choose a pole barn for the construction.

The method of post-frame construction that uses large poles buried in the ground and girts for structural support, means you can go as basic or fancy as you need to for your agricultural building.

Today pole barns are used for commercial stores, residential homes, and even sporting arenas. But agricultural buildings are at the heart of where these structures began. If you’re in need of a new design, here are some floor plan ideas to consider.

Flooring Considerations

The great thing about a pole barn is that you have multiple flooring options to choose from. Whether you need concrete, gravel, or even dirt flooring – the option is yours. As an agricultural building used for animals, you may want to stick to the dirt ground for their comfort and ease of clean-up. However, if the building will house heavy equipment or be used to do other work, it’s important to consider the type of flooring that would work best. Extra thick coatings to protect the flooring, as well as moisture and erosion possibilities, should be considered.

Layout Ideas

Again, depending on how you plan to use your pole barn you’ll need to consider things like door size, windows, ventilation, and even if there will be heat and electricity included. All of these ideas in the initial planning phases can save a lot of time down the line. Map out each area and consider how it will be used, and accessed, and the best option for versatility in the future before you decide on a set floorplan.

Exterior Design Considerations

You’ll want to also think about the exterior of your building. For example, think about the type of weather that the area receives – protection from frost or heavy rains for example – and whether or not you’ll need access to the interior of the building throughout the day with heavy and oversized equipment. Using a concrete apron outside is key to easing work when unable to make it through the door’s openings.

Choose an Experienced Pole Barn Partner

When you choose a professional company to design and build your pole barn, you have a partner that can ensure the needs of your livestock are met.

When you're ready, contact CHA Pole Barns to talk about your pole barn project.

Share This Post

Facebook
Twitter
Email