Authors:

Shawn Shouse

Area Extension Agricultural Engineer, Iowa State University

Mark Honeyman

Professor, Animal Science, Iowa State University

Jay Harmon

Professor, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University

Contents

Overview 1

When to Consider Hoop Barns 2

Hoop Barn Management 3

Using Hoop Barns for BeefOperations 3

Calving barns 3Open front bull barns 4Other uses 4

Designing and ErectingHoop Barns 4

Using engineered ornon-engineered hoop barns 5

Design and construction details 6Foundations 7Frames 8Covers 9Snow and wind loading 9

Environment and Ventilation 9Ventilation openings 10Endwall ventilation 10Sidewall curtains 11

Bedding 11

Manure Handling 11Removing solid manure 12Storing solid manure 12Applying solid manure 12

Example Layouts 13

Summary 14

References and Resources 15

OverviewA hoop barn is a Quonset™-shaped structure with sidewalls 10 to 12

feet high made of treated wood posts and wood sides. Tubular steel archesfastened to the tops or sides of the posts form a hooped roof, which iscovered with an UV-resistant, polyvinyl tarp.

Figure 1 shows the common components of a hoop barn, and Figure 2shows a hoop barn.

Hoop barns are naturally ventilated and are sited to take advantage ofprevailing winds. In the Midwest, most buildings are oriented in a north-south direction when used for livestock housing to take advantage of summerwinds, which generally come from the south.

Hoop barns may offer an alternative to producing beef in open feedlotswhere concerns exist about runoff and lot manure management. Thebiggest question is can the pollution potential be reduced without sufferinglosses in productivity and production costs.

Hoop Barns for Beef Cattle

M WPSAgricultural Engineers Digest AED 50

September 2004Published by: MidWest Plan Service 09/2004 Reprinted 02/2008

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When to Consider Hoop BarnsHoop barns appear to be most beneficial when

producers have one or more of the following goals:• Want to provide weather protection at

a low cost• Desire livestock housing for cold weather

that can double as economical hay storageduring summer

• Desire to relocate the building in the nearfuture

• Want to utilize a solid floor, bedded-housingsystem

• Want protection from sun and rain withoutfull environmental control

• Want to eliminate outdoor lots and runoffconcerns

• Want full control of manure at low capital cost• Willing to trade management for capital

outlay

Table 1 shows a comparison of various facilityoptions for calving, finishing beef cattle, and housingbulls. Hoop barns may provide needed weatherprotection for cattle in outside lots or pasture.Producers who want seasonal protection for calvingalong with winter storage for hay may find hoop barnsadvantageous. Producers wanting to eliminate theliability and environmental risk from open lot runoffmay find total confinement in hoop barns to be a cost-effective alternative. Confinement operators maychoose hoop barns for a solid manure alternative toliquid manure in pits or lagoons.

If the producer is seeking a facility that hasalternative uses, investing in a hoop barn becomeseven more attractive. The high ceiling, low cost, andquick construction make hoop barns a logical choicefor a number of uses including livestock housing, haystorage, machine storage, feed storage, and workingfacilities’ protection.

Figure 2. Typical hoop barn.

Treated boards

Shade orwindbreakfabricHoop frame

Polyvinyl tarp

Solid wall

Treated posts

Ratchet tie-downs(See Figure 11 for detail)

Figure 1. Basic components of a hoop barn.

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Hoop Barn ManagementEquipment selection, material handling, and

animal handling techniques are important factorsthat affect both the longevity of the structure andanimal comfort.

Structure management issues include:• Managing the structure as a cold barn.• Providing frost-free or no-freeze waterers.• Handling rainfall runoff in an

environmentally satisfactory way.• Providing lights if checking is performed

after dark.• Providing one watering space for every 25

calves, 20 market cattle, or 18 cows.• Developing a maintenance schedule that

includes checking the entire structureevery 12 months and checking the tarpfor tears and tautness every 6 months.

• Designing the floor plan to makecleaning easy.

Using Hoop Barns for Beef OperationsSo far the most common applications of hoop

barns for beef operations have been as calving andopen front barns. Even though these two phases ofbeef operations have been used successfully, otherpotential uses for hoop barns exist for beefoperations.

Calving barns

One advantage of hoop barns is their low initialcash cost if built with on-farm labor, which makesthem suitable for short-term or seasonal uses.Another attribute of hoop barns is their versatilityand potential for disassembly and relocation. In beefcattle production, calving is usually seasonal andoccurs for a short duration.

Some producers have capitalized on the versa-tility of hoops and pursued dual utilizations. Dualutilization is defined as a single facility with twoor more different purposes. An example of dual uti-lization is a 36- x 108-feet hoop barn used for acalving barn that could be converted to hay stor-age (Figure 3). The barn was used for calving inlate February through mid-April and for hay stor-age from June through January. Portable calvingpens made from tubular steel panels were set upalong the hoop barn walls. The hoop barn sidewallswere on 6 feet high posts lined with rough 2-inchoak lumber with some cracks. The floor wasearthen. The hoop barn was oriented east to west.The east end opened into an alley to a calving pas-ture. The east end wall was oak lumber with sheetsteel above it and a large sliding door. The westend had a permanent intensive obstetrics roomwith a concrete floor, heat, electricity, water, anda headgate.

The room was located inside the hoop and had aflat top that was used for storage. After the calvingseason was over, the calving pen gating wasdismantled and the hoop barn could be used for largebale hay storage until feeding during the winter.The hay was fed before calving season when thecalving pens were reassembled. Natural ventilationwas used for the structure. Lights were positionedinside the hoop barn and on the exterior ends to aidin nighttime observation.

Cows were kept in calving pens for a short time,usually 1 or 2 days. Feed and water was providedby hand or by letting cows out to an adjacent grass-covered nursery lot. The purpose of the hoop barnwas to provide for short-term intensive shelter andsupervision for new calves, not for long-termstabling.

Table 1. Comparison of facility types.

Facility Type Thermal Comfort Control Runoff Control Initial Investment Operating Management

Outside lots Poor Difficult Low Medium

Outside lots with steel loafing shed Fair Difficult Medium Medium

Outside lots with hoop loafing shed Fair Difficult Low-medium Medium

Confinement in steel buildingwith liquid manure pit Good Easy High Medium-high

Confinement in hoop Good Easy Medium Medium-high

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Open front bull barns

At the Iowa State University McNay Researchfarm in Chariton, Iowa, a 30- x 108-foot hoop barn isdivided into nine pens (each 12 feet wide) forindividually housing mature bulls (Figure 4). Theoutside pens are 12 x 60 feet. The sidewalls were 10feet high with oak posts on 6-foot centers. The northback wall has ventilation doors. An extra large andheavy-duty holding alley and chute for handling andcollecting semen from the bulls for artificialinsemination is along the north wall. Feeding grain isby hand. Large round bales of hay are placed in freechoice racks at the ends of the pens. Waterers arelocated inside the south wall. Heavy traffic areas areconcrete; the remainder is earthen. Penning is welded1-inch steel sucker rod on 4-inch steel pipe posts.

The individual bull barn is connected by an alleyto a 38- x 48-foot open front hoop barn that is dividedinto two pens for group housing young bulls. Thislayout could be used as an open barn with small lotfacility to feed cattle or calves. The waterers areinside the south wall. Sidewalls are 10 feet highmade of rough, 2-inch oak planking. Two supportposts on the south wall were removed to create 12-foot openings into the outside lots. A header madeof four, 2- x 6-inch lumber was used between theposts to support the hoop arch. Grain feeding is by

hand. Hay feeding is with large round bale racks.High traffic areas have concrete flooring. The northwall has vent doors for ventilation, although acurtain could be used. In both barns, the end wallswere 2-inch oak planks with fabric end panels above.

Other uses

Hoop barns are versatile structures and can beused for a variety of purposes on a beef cattleoperation. Hoop barns with open sides can be set upas cattle shades in pastures or lots. Hoop barns canalso be used as shelter for cattle-handling facilitiessuch as crowding tubs, alleys, chutes, etc. Hoopbarns can also be used for storage of hay, compost,feed, grain, forage, bulk commodities, or machinery.

Designing and Erecting Hoop BarnsProducers who decide to build a hoop barn need

to treat the construction project as they would anyconstruction project involving a new structure.Aspects to consider include what type of structureto build; site selection; and proper access to thebuilding for moving feed, bedding, and animals.Producers thinking about building a hoop barn alsoshould consider the building’s usefulness within anexisting operation, its proximity to neighbors, theavailability of necessary services and utilities, and

OB room

108'

26' 12'

36'18

'12'

12'

Figure 3. Hoop calving barn (36 x 108 feet).

This structure could be converted to hay storage if needed.

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the possibility of using the structure in conjunctionwith existing buildings. As hoop barn widths andsidewalls increase, the height of the peak of the archalso increases. For arch height dimension details,producers should check with their respective dealeror manufacturer.

Using engineered or non-engineered hoop barns

Although hoop barns have been used in theswine industry for many years in the United Statesand Canada, using hoop barns for beef housing isrelatively new. Many hoop models have proven tolast 10 years or more if they are well maintained.Factors influencing the life include the use of strong,tear-resistant tarps; corrosion-resistant structuralmembers; and sidewalls that are well maintainedand not abused.

One factor producers should consider is whetherto purchase an engineered or a non-engineered struc-ture. When a hoop barn is engineered, a qualified de-signer (typically a registered engineer) has analyzedhow each component of the structure will interact withthe other components of the structure. The qualifieddesigner has analyzed how the loads applied to theroof (or tarp) will affect the design of the tubular frameand how the tubular frame will transfer forces verti-cally and horizontally to the sidewall frame.

In addition, the designer has considered the forcesthe animals themselves will exert against thesidewalls and has designed the sidewalls to withstandthe outward push of the frame and animals. In anengineered building, the foundation has been speci-fied to withstand the loads transferred from the wall,and the structure has been designed to meet snow

Figure 4. Hoop bull barn (30 x 108 feet).

Barn divided into nine pens (each 12 feet wide) for individually housing mature bulls. The outside pens are 12 x 60 feet.Large bale feeders are situated so that bales can be placed in them without entering the pens.

108'

30'

48'

30'

Waterers

Waterers

Large balefeeders

Large balefeeders

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and wind loads for the geographic area in which itis to be erected. An important point for producersto consider is that engineered structures are moreeasily insured because they meet weather designconditions. Insurance agents should be consultedabout insurability issues before any building ispurchased and constructed.

An engineered structure typically will includethe frame, tarp, sidewall materials, and materialsto anchor the building to the foundation. Warran-ties for engineered structures range from 10 to 15years on materials and workmanship. Engineeredstructures often are more insurable than non-engi-neered structures, and engineered structures oftencost less to insure.

Some hoop barns on the market have not beenengineered. Hoop barn dealers often sell a roofingsystem instead of a complete structure. Included inmost packages are the tubular frame, tarp, andmaterial to attach the tarp to the sidewalls. The buyermust purchase the wood posts and tongue and grooveboards to construct the sidewalls. Many times, non-engineered structures will have less than a three-year warranty on products and workmanship. Non-engineered structures may have little if any resalevalue after five years.

Producers must ask themselves questions likethe following when considering the purchase of ahoop barn:

• How long do I want the structure to last?• Do I want to have the opportunity to resell

the structure in the future?• Will the extra cost of buying an engineered

structure outweigh the savings of buyinga less expensive, non-engineeredstructure?

• How does having an engineered structureaffect my ability to get insurance on thestructure?

Design and construction details

Hoop barns for beef housing are naturallyventilated and are sited to take advantage of thesummer prevailing winds. For much of the Midwest,the building is oriented in a north-south directionto take advantage of the summer prevailing windsfrom the south. Prevailing summer winds shouldblow into the end of the building. A concrete apronshould be located along the bunk. Slope the apron1 inch per foot away from the bunk.

The remaining deep-bedded area of the structurecan have either a dirt or concrete floor, with manyproducers preferring concrete for ease of cleanout. Acomplete concrete floor will make cleaning mucheasier. In some states, regulations require concretefloors to prevent nutrients from leaching into theunderlying soil and groundwater.

If the bedding area is to be concreted, the soilshould be compacted to prevent differential settling.A 5-inch slab with woven wire, placed in the center(vertically) of the slab, should be sufficient for mostapplications. The concrete floor should have acompressive strength of 4,000 psi. Thicken the edgesof the slab, particularly at the end where vehicleswill drive into the bedding area for cleaning. Placethe concrete flat.

When building multiple hoop barns, provide atleast 10 feet of space between buildings to allow forequipment to travel between buildings and for snowremoval and moisture drainage. This separationdistance may need to be increased to allow feedingin bunks along the side. If sidewall curtains are usedfor ventilation, locate hoop barns 75 feet apart.Obstructions should also be kept 75 feet from openends.

Both wood and concrete sidewalls are relativelycommon, with increasing interest in using concrete.For wood sidewalls, the steel frames are fastened tothe tops or sides of the posts that support the outsidewall. Commonly, pressure-treated 6- x 6-inch posts areused. Pressure-treated tongue and groove 2- x 6-inchlumber is used on the animal side of the posts to formthe sidewalls of the animal space.

Concrete walls can be used for hoop barns but mustbe designed to support the design loads caused by thehoops. See the following section on Foundations formore information on wall design criteria. Concrete forthe sidewalls is more durable than wood but may bemore expensive. Building concrete sidewalls wouldmake the hoop barn a more permanent structure. Ifconcrete sidewalls are used, they must be designed toaccommodate the fastening requirements of theselected brand of hoop barn.

Typically the sidewalls are at least 6 feet high.High sidewalls are recommended to prevent animalsfrom damaging the tarp when a great deal of beddinghas accumulated. Figure 5 shows the inside detailsof a typical hoop barn.

Livestock panels or gates form the north andsouth endwalls at animal level. In the winter, these

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gates are covered with sheets of galvanized steel,recycled plastic, or plywood to reduce drafts. In allinstances, the north wall can be closed relativelytightly to reduce winter winds using commerciallyavailable tarps or plywood sheeting. In the summer,both the north and south ends are totally open, withthe steel, plastic, or plywood panels removed fromthe end gating to increase airflow in the animal zone.

Endwall construction should include posts thatwill be close enough to fasten the end gatesadequately but far enough apart to allow room forfeeding and manure-handling equipment. If the postsextend to the height of the hoops, do not fasten theposts to the end hoop. Hoops can deform during windsand will rub against the posts, which may damagethe tarp material. Commercially available end tarpswill reduce the potential for damage. Figures 6, 7,and 8 show typical endwall configurations for variousweather conditions.

Foundations

The foundations of hoop frames must be able totransfer the loads applied to the frame to the earth.Wind applies horizontal and uplift loads to the sidewallframe, while snow, rain, and the weight of the frameapply vertical loads downward and horizontal loadsoutward to the sidewalls. The foundation anchors thebuilding to the earth and must resist corrosion fromcontact with manure, moisture, and the soil.

The most common method of anchoring theframe to the foundation is to build a post frame wall

Figure 5. Inside of a typical hoop barn used

for calving.

Figure 6. End open during mild weather.

In the Midwest, both ends would most likely be openin mild weather. The prevailing summer wind shouldenter the structure through the feeding end.

Figure 7. End partially open during mild winter weather.

During harsh winter weather, this end would befully closed.

Figure 8. End closed during cold weather.

This is a typical configuration for the north end of ahoop barn in the Midwest during harsh winter weather.

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with the posts extended below the frost level andthen construct a 6-foot high wall along the sides ofthe frame. The pipe frame is attached to the tops orsides of the posts. Figure 9 shows the constructiondetails of the frame and walls. Posts must be setproperly. If posts are set improperly, they can moveout of plumb and affect the structural integrity ofthe building. Posts should be set below the frost lineand on top of concrete footings. The soil around theposts must be tamped properly. Do not set posts inareas that have a high water table. Precast concretesidewalls can be placed on a crushed rock layer oron concrete. The weight must be adequate for thehoop barn to resist wind uplift forces. Followengineered designs from the hoop barn supplier. Ifconcrete walls are to be used, contact the hoop barnsupplier or a licensed engineer to obtain a concretewall design that can resist the lateral hoop loads.

Frames

Hoop frames are constructed primarily from2- to 3-inch O.D. (Outside Diameter) round tubularsteel to form a roof truss system. Steel purlinsconnect the trusses to each other to act as a unit(Figure 10). The thickness of the tubing used inframes ranges from 16 to 12 gauge. (The lower thegauge number, the thicker the tubing.) Frame sizesdepend on building width and frame spacing. Somenarrower hoops use tubing only, without forming atruss.

Frames are spaced at variety of widths. Theseframes support the tarp roof and the trap is attached

Figure 9. Detail of the frame and wall construction.

Figure 10. An engineered truss arch used to support

a wider span and when snow or wind loads are a

concern.

to the sidewall construction of the building. SeeFigure 11 for an illustration of how the tarp isfastened to the sidewall and frame. Galvanized steeltubing 1-3/8 inch O.D. is used for purlins and bracingto span and brace between the frames along thelength of the building.

While frame widths for single-span structuresusually range from 18 to 36 feet, many hoop barnsspan 40 feet or more with engineered truss arches toallow more flexibility for interior layout. Somemanufacturers span 150 feet or more with engineeredtruss arches such as the one shown in Figure 10.Truss arches also are used if high snow or wind loadsare a concern or if a lower roof height is desired. Widehoop barns longer than 75 feet should have an openridge located in the middle of the arch to facilitategood moisture removal.

Because of the corrosive nature of an animalhousing environment, high-quality galvanizing iscrucial. Some manufacturers use hot dippedgalvanizing, which produces excellent results. Othertypes of galvanizing, however, may not be suitablefor use in animal environments. Check the qualityand amount of galvanizing in the frame tubing anddetermine what type of warranty is available fromthe supplier. Aluminum frames are an option withsome suppliers. Aluminum frames used with theappropriate fasteners should experience lesscorrosion than steel in the conditions that exist intypical animal housing.

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Covers

Tarp coverings for hoop barns come with variousoptions, but evaluating what type of tarp to get shouldbe an integral part of the overall design and decision-making process. Generally, tarps are made of wovenpolyethylene fabric that is produced from low-densitypolyethylene extruded over high-density wovenpolyethylene. Due to the woven nature of the tarps,punctures do not tend to run. When punctures occur,they may be patched with a kit the company provides.The better tarps are those that have been treatedwith UV stabilizers and a fire- resistant substance toprovide safety and longevity. Producers shouldconsult their insurance company about whichtreatments are required for insurability.

Tarps generally come in different weights, whichmay include 10.0-, 12.5-, and 14.9-ounce fabric. Manycolors are available, including clear and opaque fabric.Fabrics that have a white underside or are white andallow some light through tend to make a buildingbrighter and make the animals easier to see. Clearfabrics are not a good choice because they allow a high

degree of solar penetration, which will overheatanimals on most sunny days. Reflective tarps that arelight colored are best because they do not soak up solarradiation. Pro-rated warranties for tarps are generally10 to 15 years. Rub points, such as purlin connectionsand end wall connections, tend to wear first. Such rubpoints can be minimized by keeping the tarp tight.

Snow and wind loading

In general, the structure must be able to meetsnow and wind load requirements. Structures thatdo not meet snow and wind load requirements maynot be insurable.

The snow load design should be similar to snowloads for other agricultural building loads for thearea in which the building is being constructed. Theeffect of snow on the structure can vary. Snow mayslide off the roof, or it may accumulate and createthe design snow loads on the tarp and hoops.Generally, snow loads are not seen as a big concernbecause the curvature of the structure minimizessnow buildup.

Wind loads also should be calculated as theywould be for other agricultural structures in the area.Additionally, uplift of the frame under wind loadsneeds to be considered in the design of the frame andthe foundation anchoring. In some designs, diagonalbracing of the sidewalls from the endwalls and alongthe roofline should be incorporated. Outside guy wirescan be important to keep the frame from racking ordeforming out of plumb. Frames that have shiftedoff center are likely to be loaded unevenly and aresubject to premature failure. Some reports of winddamage have indicated that hoops sometimes deformwithout failing.

Environment and VentilationPerhaps the top priorities for hoop barns used

as beef housing are the issue of animal environmentand the related issue of proper ventilation. Realis-tic expectations for these structures are that theyreduce exposure to wind and snow in winter and tosun and rain in summer. Hoop barns are unheatedbarns and should be managed as such. Although thebedded-manure pack generates considerable heatand enhances animal comfort in the winter, hoopsrequire special design and management for hotweather comfort.

The primary goal of hoop barns is to protect theanimals from the weather. In the summer, the

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Figure 11. Tarp properly fastened to frame and sidewall.

Note the space between the wall and the tarp; thisspace acts as a continuous air inlet for ventilation.

10

building should provide shade and allow cross-ventilation by wind pressure. In the winter, thehousing should allow for moisture removal and draftcontrol. In the winter, a cold barn with dry beddingallows cattle to create a suitable, comfortablemicroenvironment.

To reduce risks to animal health from poor airquality, hoop barns must be well ventilated, and theventilation must be well managed. A hoop barn mustbe managed just as any cold, naturally ventilatedstructure. Do not close the structure too tightly. Donot attempt to manage the structure as a warm barn;it is primarily a shelter. Properly managed, air tem-perature in the hoop barn 6 feet or more above thebedding pack is often within 5°F of the outside airtemperature.

At night a hoop barn loses heat to the coldsurroundings and the cold, clear, black sky. Thiscools the air in the structure, lowering its moisture-holding capacity substantially and causing relativehumidity to rise. The result is cold, damp air and,most likely, excessive condensation on the undersideof the tarp. If ventilation is inadequate, animals willbe subjected to wide, day-to-night variations in airtemperature and humidity, which could adverselyaffect animal health.

Because wind is a major force in ventilating anynaturally ventilated structure, orient hoop barns tointercept the prevailing summer wind through theend opening. Do not construct hoop barns wherebuildings, trees, or other large obstructions block theprevailing summer winds. For most structures, theminimum separation distance from obstructions tothe end of the building is 75 feet.

Ventilation openings

Natural ventilation uses openings at differentheights to achieve ventilation in the winter. Buildinga structure with an open ridge will allow the moistair that builds up to escape through the opening atthe top of the structure. Ideally, a ridge openingwould be provided (Figure 12). However, some hoopbarns used for beef housing do not have ridgeopenings. In these buildings, ventilation air entersthrough a continuous space along the sidewall wherethe tarp is attached and exits through the ends ofthe hoop, depending on wind direction. Air exchange,and therefore air quality, will likely be poorer forstructures without ridge vents, especially for longbuildings.

Figure 12. Ridge outlet opening.

Endwall ventilation

Hoop barns without ridge vents are difficult toventilate naturally if they are too long. Typically, ahoop barn longer than 75 feet, without ridge vents,and filled with animals will present ventilationchallenges. Hoop barns up to 100 feet long can be usedin high-wind areas. In all areas, hoop barns rely onendwall openings to aid airflow through the structure.The ends are open most of the year. Figure 13 showsan example of how a 3- to 6-inch gap between the topof the endwall and the frame and tarp acts to aidnatural ventilation when the ends are closed. Thesegaps in the end are very important when no ridge ispresent since it is the only high opening with which to

Figure 13. Hoop frame connected to endwall.

A gap at the top serves as a continuous air openingfor ventilation.

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remove moisture. The south end, or end away fromthe predominant winter winds, should remain openduring cold weather.

Where such devices as hovers or wind baffles ongating are used to reduce drafts, the draft preventiondevices must still allow ventilation and moistureremoval to occur.

Sidewall Curtains

Hoop barns may be constructed with sidewallcurtains to promote cross-ventilation duringsummer. This is essential in barns positionedperpendicular to predominate summer winds.Provide one foot of curtain height for each 10 foot ofwidth (minimum of 4 feet). Take care to ensureanimals cannot chew the curtain as the bedding packgets deeper. Sidewall curtains are likely notnecessary if the hoop is positioned to receive thepredominate summer wind and if animals are freeto move throughout the building. Sidewall curtainsmay also allow solar penetration if improperlypositioned, adding to heat stress.

BeddingBedding is one of the keys to successful production

in hoop barns, especially in the winter. The producermust determine how many acres are available toprovide residue for bedding and then decide how manyof those acres must be harvested to meet beddingneeds. Enough bedding must be provided to keep thesoil under the bedding pack relatively dry if it is notcompletely concreted.

Several materials have been used successfullyfor bedding swine, but there is limited experiencewith these same materials for beef. A starting pointfor estimating minimum bedding requirements is30 pounds of bedding per day per 1,000 pounds ofanimal weight.

A 1,200-pound bale of cornstalks costs $10 to $20for baling, transportation and storage. Besides cornstalks, some producers have used soybean stubblebales successfully. However, soybean bales tend tobe dustier than corn stalks. Other producers usebarley straw, wheat straw, oat straw, prairie hay andwood shavings. Bedding used should be free of molds.Wood products should be used with caution.

While the selection of bedding is based mostlyon what is readily available, many other concernsshould enter into the decision. These concerns varyfrom region to region and include the following:

Soil conservation: In regions where residuecover is required on highly erodible lands, theharvesting of cornstalks or beanstalks may not be agood option. The producer must consider how muchresidue can be removed per acre while still complyingwith existing conservation plans.

Custom baling: Custom baling of stalks maycost between $10 and $15 per ton. Additional costsare incurred in transporting bales. On-farm baling,while requiring less out-of-pocket expense, is not alow-cost option. Additionally, stalk baling results inmore wear on round balers than does normal haybaling.

Bedding availability: During years in whicha wet fall or early snow prevents stalks from beingbaled in a timely manner, they may become lessavailable and more costly. A situation of this typecould require a shift in priorities from doing all ofthe grain harvesting first to a system of harvestingand baling stalks. A variety of bedding sources canminimize the risk of not having enough bedding dueto inclement weather in the fall.

Bedding storage: Bedding baled in the falland used before the spring generally does notdeteriorate if stored outside. However, if stored intothe spring and summer, bedding must be protectedto prevent reduction in quality. Bales that will beused during spring and summer should be storedunder cover on a well-drained area. Bales storedoutdoors will lose bedding quality, therebyincreasing costs. Bedding quality will influence theamount needed.

Manure HandlingBefore considering a hoop barn, producers must

carefully plan on how to handle the bedded pack.The proper equipment to remove the manureresulting from the bedded pack must be available.If direct application to a field is not possible, thenspace to stockpile the manure must be available.Depending on the operation, federal or stateregulations may require this manure stockpile tobe covered.

Knowing the nutrient content of manure isessential for those who have developed a manuremanagement plan for their fields. Bedding from hoopbarns may be drier and have a higher carbon/lowernitrogen status than manure from facilities withsemisolid or liquid manure systems. Manure with ahigh-carbon/low-nitrogen status may lead to

12

nitrogen immobilization and crop stress if appliedduring or immediately prior to the growing season.

Removing solid manure

Management of the manure in the hoop caneither be done by selectively cleaning portions of thebarn or by allowing the bedding pack to build up,hauling it after cattle are sold. If selective cleaning isdone throughout the hoop barn or exterior feedlot,you must have a place to stockpile if it will not bespread immediately. This location must be free ofrunoff and have an all-weather surface. Federal andstate regulations may require the manure to becovered and runoff from the pile to be controlled.

The manure/bedding mixture removed from thehoop barn is either directly spread on fields or storedfor later use. Typically, only a few custom haulers areavailable that will handle solid manure. If a customhauler cannot be located, a manure spreader, loader,and tractor must be available for on-farm usage.Cornstalks are often used in the Midwest for bedding.Cornstalk bedding is not easily handled due to thepotential for wrapping on manure spreader beaters.An ordinary skid loader will probably not be sufficientto tear apart the pack during loading.

Total labor to clean the hoop barn and spreadthe material on nearby cropland is not currentlyknown. The best equipment to remove the beddingpack is a mechanical, front-wheel assist tractor witha grapple fork attachment on the front-end loader.One producer reported using a chisel plow to disruptthe bedding pack before cleaning.

Storing solid manure

If manure is applied directly to the fields, storagerequirements are minimal. If solid manure is notapplied directly to a field after cleaning, thendesigning a space to safely stockpile the manuremust be determined. To properly design the storagearea the amount of manure to be stockpiled isnecessary. Federal and state regulations mayrequire rainfall runoff from the storage area to becontrolled or this storage area to be covered, eitherpermanently or temporarily with a tarp during thestorage period.

As the material comes directly out of the hoopbarn, some variability in the bedded pack makes itdifficult to predict manure nutrient contributionsto crop fertilization needs. Composting is likely tooccur if the manure is stored for any length of time.

Composting will provide a volume reduction of one-third to one-half and cause nutrient stabilizationprior to field application. Such composting will occurwith minimal management if the material is piledin windrows about 6 feet high and 12 feet wide.

Moisture content will influence the ability tocompost. If the material mixture is too wet, the pilewill not allow adequate air exchange and may giveoff offensive odors. Bedding and manure that is toodry will not be actively composted. Mixing thematerial to achieve a higher degree of uniformitywould improve this situation. Mixing currentlyoccurs to some degree if the bedded pack is piled forstorage or composting prior to field application.Additional mixing, as would occur during turnedwindrow composting, may offer a benefit with thismaterial. Contact your local Cooperative Extensionservice for recommendations on composting manure.

Some concern exists about nitrogen leaching fromstorage, especially during high rainfall. Environmentalcontrol agencies are concerned about runoff and willinspect areas of stockpiled manure. Storing manureon a concrete pad can be an effective management toolthat will provide a solid base to make manure removaleasier and can be designed to safely control runoff fromthe area. Runoff control structures may be necessary.Contact state environmental control agencies todetermine proper procedures and requirements forstockpiling manure.

Applying solid manure

In some places in the Midwest, much of theagricultural land base is highly erodible. As part oftheir conservation plan, many producers have signedan agreement with the federal government tomaintain 30% residue coverage after planting. Usinglarge amounts of residue in hoop barns has raisedthe following concerns:

• The properties of the manure may varythroughout the structure. Some areas willhave a high concentration of manure whileothers will be mostly bedding; therefore, thefertilizer value of the manure and residuemixture cannot be estimated accurately andcredited for nutrient content.

• If they are not chopped first, cornstalksspread on fields may interfere withminimum tillage operations.

• If the farming operation plans on using no-till, will the producer be able to land apply

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the residue in a thin enough and uniformenough pattern with existing manurespreaders to minimize planting problems?

• Substantial organic matter will be returnedto the cropland, but will a high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio prevent the nitrogen frombeing fully available for crop use the firstyear following land application?

Example LayoutsHoops used in conjunction with outside lots can

be built in many different configurations. One popu-lar layout is shown in Figure 14. This configurationplaces the feed bunk and feed drive alley inside thebuilding along with 20 to 25 square feet of space foreach animal. The south sidewall of the building isopen for cattle movement while the north sidewallis partially enclosed with a ventilation curtain. Theeast and west end walls are closed. Overhead or roll-up doors allow feed alley access.

One possible total confinement layout is shownin Figure 15. The building is placed with the opensouth end toward the prevailing summer breeze. Thefeed bunk and drive alley are located outside the

Feed bunkFeed drive alley

Runoff control basin

One foot per head12'- 14'

20'-

25'

50-6

0' P

aved

or 2

00'-

400'

dirt

'

Water

Nor

th

Outside lots

Open sidewall on building

Figure 14. Hoop barn with interior drive alley

and outside lot.

Figure 15. Hoop barn total confinement with exterior feeding.

14

14 Alley'36' 14 Drive alley'

8'-1

0'

Ridgeopening

Overhang

12' Gate

Wire panel toprotect curtain

Fabric curtain

2" x 8' Tongueand grooveboards

Frame post detail.

Figure 16. Cross-section and design details of total confinement hoop barn with exterior feeding.

When the curtain is down during the summer, sunlight can penetrate and increase the heat in the building.

sidewall of the building on the side least affected bywinter winds. The building provides 40 to 50 squarefeet of space per animal. Bedding is provided in theback end of the pen away from the feed bunk.

This facility was designed as shown for severalreasons. The building utilizes an interior drive forfeeding. The interior drive is an easily implementeddesign but is more expensive per animal housedbecause of space for the drive alley. If an interiordrive alley is not used, the bunk should be protectedfrom rain and wind using an overhang as shown inFigure 16. Feeding market cattle with the facilityshown is being studied at the Iowa State UniversityArmstrong Research Farm located near Lewis, Iowa.No final results were available at press time. Initialindications show that this approach appears to befeasible.

SummaryHoop barns may be part of an environmentally

sound beef production unit. While this system willreduce runoff potential and provide a good environ-ment for cattle, management of bedding and thephysical structure must be addressed.

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References and ResourcesAvailable from MPWS, 122 Davidson Hall,Iowa State University, Ames Iowa 50011-3080or Fax: 515-294-9589 or www.mwps.org:

• Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook,MWPS-6

• Modern Corral Design, OKE-938• Corrals for Handling Beef Cattle, CAN-723• Beef Cattle Handbook CD-ROM, MWPS-CD-1• Beef Cattle Handbook, MWPS-CD-1P

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Copyright © 2004, MidWest Plan Service,Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3080 (515-294-4337)

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