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SmartShelters stand-off pads are wide-span shelters that allow you to keep your pastures healthy and your livestock happy. They are a cost-effective solution to the problem of damaged pastures, while also delivering a wealth of other benefits to your herd.
It can be a never-ending fight to retain the quality of your pasture, particularly in wet weather. Often the only way to avoid costly damage is to keep livestock out of paddocks completely. But where to put your herd? SmartShelters stand off pads are wide-span shelters that allow you to keep your pastures healthy and your livestock happy. They are a cost-effective solution to the problem of damaged pastures, while also delivering a wealth of other benefits to your herd
While a stand off pad can technically be any purpose-built loafing area, and can be as simple as a well-drained open field, the best dairy stand off pads are:
COVERED: To protect livestock from the elements, keeping them healthier and reducing vet bills.WELL DRAINED/EASILY CLEANABLE: To guard against the build-up of effluent.DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED FOR YOU: To make the job of managing your herd as simple as possible.WELL BUILT: To ensure it can handle all conditions and will continue to do so for the long term.
SPACIOUS ENVIRONMENTS
What size is required for a stand off pad?
The size of your stand off pad will be governed by the size of your herd. You’ll need to calculate the maximum number of animals that will be using the stand off pad at any one time, and then multiply that number by the amount of area that each animal needs to be given.
Cows spend around 10-12 hours of the day lying down, so your stand off pad will need enough room to not only facilitate this rest, but to ensure that the stand off pad bedding stays healthy – an overcrowded pad will result in a hard, slippery or wet surface that isn’t suitable for lying on.
While environmental conditions will be an important factor to consider, the space required to ensure the health and happiness of your herd (and the stand off pad badding) is usually in the range of 12m²-20m² per head.
See DairyNZ recommendations.
There are a number of reasons why covering your stand off pad is a smart idea.
Improved efficiency and productivity: With a SmartShelters stand off shelter protecting your herd from the snow, rain, wind and sun, your cows will expend less energy battling the elements, and therefore require less feed. And with your pastures left to their own devices, you’ll maximise grass growth while the herd is sheltered.
Reduced effluent run-off: By covering your stand off pad, you’ll avoid the excess effluent run-off that is generated when rain mixes with waste. The clever design of a SmartShelters deep litter stand off pad also sees effluent absorbed by litter before being dried out by natural airflow, dramatically extending its lifespan as a fertiliser. You can say goodbye to run-off issues, while enjoying a steady supply of friable litter.
Improve the health of your herd: Using a SmartShelter to protect your herd from the elements will improve the overall health of the animals. Our high quality covers let in up to 90% of natural light, while stopping heat, rain, snow and high wind from entering the structure. Your animals will enjoy conditions that are 3-4C warmer in winter and 3-4C cooler in summer, increasing herd health and reducing your vet bills.
By protecting it from the elements, covering your stand off pad will ensure that its bedding, whether soil, grass, wood chips, dried manure or anything else, will last far longer than it would in an uncovered arrangement. While other environmental factors make giving an exact number impossible, you’ll be surprised at exactly how long the life of your bedding is extended!
Boasting a team backed by 100 years of experience, and working with the finest materials available, SmartShelters are able to rapidly design and construct covered stand off pads of the highest quality, enabling you to work smarter, sooner.
Tough materials for longer lifespan
You have peace of mind with the SmartShelters’ 12-year limited warranty against product faults. We use only the highest quality components to ensure that your shelter stands up to the conditions. SmartShelters structures are engineered to AS/NZS 1170.2:2011 and are rated to withstand wind and snow conditions. By using structural-grade Supergal galvanised steel framing and tough Ripstop roof covers we have built up a reputation for extremely high quality and long-lasting structures.
Contact a member of our experienced team today to discuss a truly smart shelter solution for your property.
Protect what matters with New Zealand-made shelters built on 100 years of trusted expertise. Contact us today!
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