March 27th, 2024
If you own livestock, you know your animal’s well-being is directly tied to their living situation. Whether you own cows for milk or horses for equestrian riding, you want to ensure your animals have a safe place to sleep. While many people choose wood for their livestock shelters, the best material to choose is metal.
Metal livestock shelters are highly durable, keeping your animals safe from the elements. They are also easy to insulate, making them completely climate-controlled. There are endless benefits when it comes to choosing metal for your new livestock building.
If you are thinking about creating a metal livestock shelter for your farm, there are a few key variables to consider. First, you need to think about what type of animals you are going to house. Once you have that figured out, it’s time to consider the dimensions, height, roof style, and the type of insulation and ventilation systems you will use.
How to Choose the Right Metal Livestock Shelter for Your Farm
Metal livestock shelters are durable, versatile, and long-lasting. They offer many benefits at an affordable price, making them the ideal choice for a new livestock building on your farm.
When choosing a metal livestock building, consider the following factors:
Type of Animal
First things first, you need to figure out what type of animal you are placing in your livestock shelter. This can affect factors like the overall dimensions, the height of your building, and what type of cooling and heating systems you will need.
Size
When you are creating a metal livestock shelter you have to consider what size you need. To figure this out, think about what type of animals you will be housing. Next, factor in room for the animals to live, storage for feed, and room for any necessary equipment.
Popular dimensions for prefabricated metal livestock shelters include:
Height
The height of your building should be based on the type of animal you are housing. For example, pigs and chickens might not require very tall buildings, but horses and cows need a little extra head space.
You should always base the height of your building on how much room your animals need. You might also want to consider whether you would like to be able to comfortably move around in their shelter or use any of the space for storage.
Style of Roof
Metal livestock shelters come with many options for roof styles. For example, you could choose an arched or a gabled roof. Arched roofs might be more aesthetically pleasing, while gabled roofs are practical and allow the space you need to walk around.
Type of Building
Another aspect to consider is the type of building. Do you want your animals to have open air or a completely closed-off shelter?
Usually, this decision should be based on the type of weather your area usually experiences. If you are constantly experiencing storms, heavy snow loads, or extreme temperatures, you might want to close off your building.
If you already have a separate shelter that is closed off, you might want an open-air option to move them to during nice days.
Doors and Window Options
You also need to consider the type and amount of doors you need to be able to access your livestock. Typically, you will want at least two doors on your livestock shelter.
Additionally, you should think about the amount of windows you want installed. Some people like having a window for each stall that houses an animal. This gives you the ability to look in at each animal or open their window to allow some fresh air in.
Insulation and Ventilation
Lastly, you need to consider the insulation and ventilation you will be using. It is important to ensure that the building is properly insulated so that you can keep your animals warm during the winter and cool during the summer.
Additionally, ventilation ensures that the building will not become humid and that clean air is being circulated throughout the space. There are several customization options when it comes to insulation and ventilation, so you should always consult with an expert engineer to figure out what is right for you.
Get Connected to a Top-Rated Metal Building Provider
If you are considering creating a new livestock shelter for your farm, you’ve come to the right place. Titan Steel Structures is the leader in the prefabricated metal farm building business. When you work with us, you will have access to expert engineers who can help you during the planning and construction phases of your building.
Contact us today to learn more about choosing the right metal livestock shelter for your farm.