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Purveyor of Farm and Ranch Livestock Supplies from cattle guards to saddle pads!

Crete-Heat Insulated Floor Panels for Radiant Heat

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Rob

Crete-Heat Insulated Floor Panels make the most of any radiant floor heating system. They make the PEX installation a breeze and provide not only insulation from the ground below, but also contain a built-in vapor barrier, all in one panel.

Read our review of the panels below and visit Barn World today for more information, a quote, or for help planning your project.

What is a Crete-Heat

Crete-Heat insulated floor panels are pre-engineered, modular panels designed to provide insulation for radiant floor heat in residential floors, garages, driveways, and commercial buildings. These panels are made of high-density expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), which is a lightweight and durable material that has excellent insulating properties.

The panels create a grid to hold PEX tubing in place and keep the heat from being lost into the ground.

There are quite a few benefits to using Crete-Heat insulated floor panels with radiant heating systems, but first some broad benefits of using Radiant Heat in your floor:

Radiant Heat Benefits

Improved comfort:

Radiant heating systems provide more stable temperatures when compared to traditional forced-air heating systems. This is because the heat is evenly distributed throughout the floor, creating a steadily warm environment throughout.

There is no blowing air that surges into the room that can dramatically rise the temperature until the blower shuts off. As soon as the fan does stop, the air starts cooling and it’s only a matter of time before the thermostat kicks on the blower again to douse the room with hot air and continue the roller-coaster ride of temperate swings.

In contrast, the electric boiler provides heat to the PEX quietly and consistently to the PEX which heats the floor slab. The slab then silently radiates heat upward without any dramatic temperature swings in the room.

Energy efficiency:

The radiant heat is also more energy efficient when compared to forced-air heating systems because they operate at lower temperatures and do not require the use of ductwork. Crete-Heat panels are specifically designed to provide excellent insulation. It prevents heat loss into the ground and keeps it in the floor where it’s needed and designed to provide the most benefit.

Once you’ve realized the great properties of radiant heat, the use of insulated floor panels makes installation easy and maximizes your savings.

Ease of Installation

The panels are typically 2 feet by 4 feet in size, connect to one another with overlapping lips, and are available in insulating thicknesses of 1, 2, and 3 inches. Those thicknesses create insulating values of R-6, R-10, and R-15 respectively.

side view of a crete heat insulated floor panel for radiant heating

They are designed and cut to fit together like puzzle pieces making installation easy. Cutting the styrofoam panels to fit unique spaces is also straightforward.

Once installed, the panels provide a grid-like surface that contains 7/8” tall knobs to secure PEX tubing for design and also for pouring concrete. They may be walked on and PEX installation can be done with your foot as shown in the picture below.

installing pex into a crete heat floor panel

There’s no need for the time-consuming and laborious task of suspending wires or using foam staples to hold the tubes in place. With the panels, the PEX is pushed into the knobs and held in place.

pouring concrete on insulated floor panels

Versatile:

Crete-Heat panels can be used in a variety of building types, including residential, commercial, and industrial buildings without the need for running ductwork. You can simply pour your concrete floor directly on the panels.

Cost Savings:

The panels are designed to maximize the cost savings on your heating bill. The insulating properties (R-6, R-10, and R-15) keep the heat from being lost to the ground and directed into the slab where it will radiate into the room. The built in vapor barrier will protect against rising moisture.

Not to be overlooked, the grid that allows for the proper placement and spacing of PEX tubing also allows for an evenly spaced design to put the heat right where you want it. You don’t need to measure to keep the PEX perfectly separated for an even distribution of heat. The knobs do it for you!

Crete Heat Floor Panels with pex installed

These insulated floor panels create an energy-efficient and comfortable heating solution for a house, workshop, or even driveway.

Contact Barn Word today to learn more about the benefits of Crete-Heat and how it can be customized for your specific needs and start saving you money right away!

Barn World Sales@BarnWorld.com (720) 238-2190

Cattle Oilers Protect your Animals and your Bottomline

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Rob

What is a Cattle Oiler?

A cattle oiler is a device used to apply insecticide, fungicide, or other types of oil-based solutions to the hair and skin of cattle, in order to protect them from external parasites and pests such as flies, ticks, and lice.

The oiler usually consists of a tank that is mounted on a vertical pole or suspended overhead. The tank contains an oil-based solution, which is dispensed through a series of mops, wicks, or rollers that the cattle rub against as they pass by. As the cattle move through the oiler, their coats become coated with the solution, which helps to repel or kill the parasites and pests that can cause both discomfort and disease.

SEE THEM ALL AT BARN WORLD

What are the benefits of using a Cattle Oiler?

Livestock Oilers are an effective way to protect your cattle from pesky and harmful parasites while also improving your bottom line. Here are some of the benefits of using a cattle oiler on your farm or ranch:

Protects your cattle from external parasites:

Cattle oilers are an excellent way to protect your cattle from external parasites, such as ticks, lice, and flies. The oil-based solutions used coat the hair and skin, creating a barrier that repels or kills these pests. This protection not only keeps your cattle healthy and comfortable but can also increase weight gain and preserve milk production as well.

These pests can carry and transmit many diseases that can affect the health of your livestock. Some of the diseases that can be spread by ticks, fleas, and mites include:

Lyme Disease
Anaplasmosis
Mange
Scabies
Salmonellosis
Spotted Fever
Pink Eye

It’s important for ranchers to control animal exposure to these pests and prevent the transmission of any of these diseases to their cattle. Using a cattle oiler with the proper pesticides is a fairly simple and effective step to managing these issues.

Cost-effective:

Investing in a cattle oiler is a cost-effective way to protect your cattle from parasites. Compared to other methods, such as pour-on insecticides or sprays, cattle oilers are less labor-intensive and require less frequent application, saving you time and money in the long run.

Gathering up your herd to run them through a chute to manually apply insecticide is very labor intensive, dangerous to both animal and man, and can cause undue stress which can affect eating habits and overall health. An oiler is an effortless means of making sure your animals are protected.

Easy to use:

Cattle oilers are easy to install and use. They usually hang overhead and as the cattle pass from one area to another, the mops coat their face and backs with the insecticide. There are many different types in use, but a traditional oil-based solution will be dispensed through a mop or wick that comes in contact with the animals and be ‘self-applied’! Your animals will be applying protection to themselves!

Environmentally friendly:

Unlike some other pest control methods, cattle oilers are environmentally friendly. They use oil-based solutions that are safe for the cattle and do not contaminate the soil or water on your farm or ranch.

Low maintenance:

Cattle oilers require minimal maintenance. Simply refill the oil-based solution as needed, and replace the wicks or rollers when they become worn.

Types of Cattle Oilers

Barn World carries many different types of oilers. All are effective and easy to use and a choice of which one to use usually comes down to personal preference.

Brush Cattle Oilers

The brush design takes advantage of the natural desire for livestock rubbing. Most animals will appreciate the itch relief and scratching action of the attached brushes and rub against them as they pass. So much so that the top brush of the oiler dispenses liquid when agitated and the cows rub it in themselves.
To supply the pesticide to the brush, a Poly Tank Cattle Oiler uses a polyethylene tank above the arms of the brush. The bottom of the tank has a hose that delivers the liquid to a nozzle in the brush.
The translucent tank allows a rancher to see the remaining fluid level and can easily tell when it needs to be refilled. The design is also available as a Steel Tank Cattle Oiler if preferred.

Mop Cattle Oilers

Mop Oilers also use a tank with a slightly different design. The tank has holes drilled in the sides so when it’s tipped by a passing cow, it releases a small amount of fluid. The tank is wrapped in felt to prevent any runout and drips gently down to the mop. The mop strings absorb the pesticide and hold it for the next application.

Because it won’t dispense without being tipped, the tank needs to be installed at a height where the back of the cow will tilt the tank as it passes. This keeps the felt and the mop saturated for future applications.

Cattle Oilers are so popular for pest and disease control that they’re even made for smaller animals like goats. The Goat Oiler uses a steel tank mounted above a curved brush for smaller animals to enjoy and protect themselves.

It’s extremely important to protect your livestock from pest-carried diseases that are easily transmitted by fleas, ticks, and mites. A cattle oiler can give your animals the protection they need in a fairly inexpensive and labor-free way.

Get a Cattle Oiler at Barn World today and keep your animals and your bottom line healthy all year long!

Barn World | (720) 238-2190 | Sales@BarnWord.com

The Benefits of using a Creep Feeder

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Rob

Keeping your animals healthy is essential to your bottom line. Providing the right nutrition to young animals is especially critical for their growth and development. One effective way to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need is by using a creep feeder.

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of using a creep feeder and how it can help keep your animals growing and healthy.

Click here for a complete lineup of Creep Feeders!

Creep Feeder Benefits

Enhanced Nutrition

A creep feeder allows you to provide supplemental feed to your young animals, giving them the additional nutrients they need to grow and develop properly. This is especially important for animals that are still nursing from their mothers, as it can take a toll on their mother’s health and lead to reduced milk production. By providing a steady source of high-quality feed, you can ensure they are getting the nutrition they need to stay healthy.

Improved Growth Rates

Proper nutrition is a critical factor in ensuring desired growth. A creep feeder can provide a consistent and easily accessible source of feed and extra nutrition to your animals. This can result in improved weight gain and growth rates, which translates to higher productivity and profitability for your farm.

Reduced Stress

Competition for feed can be a significant source of stress for young animals, especially in herds with mixed age groups. A creep feeder allows young animals to access feed without the stress of competing with larger, more dominant animals for food. This can lead to reduced stress and improved well-being for your young animals while ensuring they’re properly fed high-nutrient foods.

Cost Savings

A creep feeder can help you save money over time by reducing the time and effort required to supplement the diet of young animals. It can also help avoid overfeeding or underfeeding, which can lead to health issues and other animals being deprived of food.

A creep feeder is a valuable feed and nutrition management tool that allows for the maximization of productivity and profits. It provides a steady source of high-quality feed to young animals, resulting in improved nutrition, growth rates, and reduced stress. Additionally, it can help minimize the time spend feeding while ensuring your animals get the supplements they need.

If you’re looking for an easy way to ensure your younger animals get the proper nutrition and food they need for healthy weight gains and overall health, consider investing in a creep feeder today.

There are many different sizes and feeders designed for cattle, sheep, and even goats.

Contact Barn World at Sales@BarnWorld.com or call (720) 238-2190 and we’ll be happy to help select the right feeder for your animals!

Cattle Guards

Posted on February 22, 2023 by Rob

A cattle guard, also known as a cattle gap or a cattle grid, is a livestock deterrent installed in the ground. It’s commonly used in rural areas to prevent livestock, such as cattle, from crossing a fence line and wandering off.

It is typically made up of a series of parallel steel bars, usually spaced several inches apart, and set in a vaulted area across the road. The spaced-out bars create a gap that vehicles are able to drive over but are wide enough to prevent the animals from crossing.

The flat hooves of cattle have a very difficult time balancing on the small, rounded surface of the top rails which makes it physically challenging for the cattle to put any weight on their legs.

These common barriers are used to keep livestock from wandering out of pastures and fenced containment areas and becoming lost and entering harm’s way. This includes walking onto busy roads, private property, or other fields where they’ll need to be rounded up and returned.

Comparing to Gates

Cattle guards eliminate the need for gates to be opened and closed, which reduces the risk of animals escaping or getting injured by the gate itself. Gates can also be left open accidentally which can lead to cattle wandering away from their pastures. This is especially critical in areas that require public access for people who are not familiar with the importance of closing a gate.

Gates can be damaged by passing traffic, cattle, weather, or even fail from wear and tear with repeated opening and closing.

Gates can also be difficult to open and close in accumulated snow and sometimes will even freeze shut in icy conditions. Cattle guards, on the other hand, are fixed, do not need to be ‘operated’, and require very little maintenance to remain effective.

Imagine coming home at night to an open gate and a pasture “full” of missing cattle! Locating and rounding them up in the dark can be an unwelcome challenge!

Physical and Visual Barrier

Cattle Gaps even act as a visual barrier for these large animals. The open space and gaps between the top rails make cattle very hesitant to cross. Their eyes have trouble focusing on the top rails while ignoring the deep vaulted area below. This depth perception confusion creates an uncomfortable mental issue for the cow and the confusion is a deterrent all on its own.

The combination of both physical and visual deterrents makes these barriers highly effective without much maintenance and no mechanical operation at all.

These structures are also more durable and lower maintenance when compared to gates. They don’t need adjusting over time and there are no operational issues with the installed structure.

For worry-free livestock containment, a cattle guard can’t be beat! With a gate, you’ll need to stop to open it and then stop again to close it behind you. You also need to worry about others leaving it open allowing your cattle to wander off.

Consider installing a cattle guard on your property by clicking here. Barn World has multiple loading ratings for private driveways, public highways, and heavier-than-roadway-rated cattle guards for every type of use.

Please let us know if you’d like any help in planning your project, would like a quote, or if we can help with anything at all and we’ll be happy to help.

Barn World Sales@BarnWorld.com (720) 238-2190

Grain Bins for Storage

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Rob

The Benefits of On-Site Grain Bins for Storage

Working the land to make a living is very much a game of chance. Farmers and
ranchers are often at the mercy of Mother Nature to provide the necessary elements for profitable success.

While there’s no way to control the weather, there are certain steps farmers and ranchers can take to increase the probability that things will work out in their favor. The installation of grain bins as on-site storage solutions is an important one.

The Many Benefits of Grain Bins

In many ways, grain bins have long been a staple of farm and ranch life. As family farms work to thrive across the nation and commercial farming becomes more the standard, these storage solutions are more essential than ever before.

On-site grain bins provide a convenient alternative to working with local grain elevators and merchandisers whose prices frequently fluctuate according to demand. They also provide essential protection from the elements that farmers and ranchers depend on to keep grain in quality condition year-round.

Drying grain can be a costly and time-consuming process. Those who invest in on-site grain bins will cut down on drying time and open up options when it comes to selling in accordance with market fluctuations.

Versatile Bin Options

Traditionally, grain bins were standardized metal structures with little in the way of size variation. Today, the reality is very different.

Farmers and ranchers now enjoy a versatile lineup of grain bin options that range from durable metal structures in varying sizes to lightweight and bulk poly bins. In the modern world of farming and ranching, it’s common for a combination of grain bin styles and structures to work best for operations large and small.

Noticeable Differences

Metal grain bins are often still the preferred choice amongst consumers when it comes to long-term grain storage. The durability of metal surfacing provides the assurance that these structures will pay for themselves over the long-term. Additionally, the ability to add specialized accessories to metal bins such as stiffeners, ladders, and auger kits make it simple to customize a bin according to the needs of a farm or ranch.

Poly bins tend to be excellent choices for feed storage thanks to their semi-translucent façade which provides farmers and ranchers with a clear view of refill levels. Smooth poly surfaces prevent grain clogging and are far lighter in weight than their metal counterparts.

Farmers and ranchers will find that both metal and poly bins provide an exceptional level of successful storage whether they’re looking to place seeds, grains, or pellets. Having these options available allows for fitting your on-site storage needs to your specific land requirements.

More to Consider

The weather and the market may fluctuate but having grain bins right on-site means farmers and ranchers never have to worry about adjusting their prices to meet the demands of communal storage. It’s also important to consider the fact that access to on-site grain bins means more freedom when it comes to determining a profitable harvest schedule.

When you’re ready to install a collection of grain bins on your farm or ranch, you might even see significant benefits within your tax bracket. In many cases, grain bins can be claimed as an expense against income.

For help planning you storage needs, please take a look at all of our grain bins here and let us know if we can help with anything at all.

Barn World (720) 238-2190

How to select a cattle guard crossing

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Rob

There are many factors to consider when choosing a cattle guard for your crossing. Some of the most important are: The type of traffic using it, the speed of traffic, and of course, the type of animal they’re being installed for.

Please note that cattle guards don’t work with all animals. Animals with small, sure-footed hooves like goats can make it across as can soft-padded feet like cats and dogs. We also don’t recommend they be used with horses as their smaller and slender legs have the potential of sliding between the bars.

Below are a few guidelines for help with selecting the right type of cattle guard for your project.

Cattle Guard Top Rail Types

These livestock barriers are typically made of steel with round or flat top rails. There are also concrete designs for lower-traffic areas as well. Each has its advantages and we’ve listed a few here.

Cattle Guards – Flat Top Rails

cattle guard resting on a concrete foundation

Flat-top rails are ideal for roadways with high-speed traffic. While round-top rails tend to be the most effective at stopping the flow of hoofed traffic, they can also be jarring for vehicles, especially at high speeds.

Flat-top rails make for a more comfortable ride and still offer an effective barrier for containing cattle. In addition, the flat-top rail design is easier for humans to walk over if necessary. Our flat rail cattle guards meet AASHTO standards and are rated for loads ranging from 12-30 tons per axle, depending on the product and needed load-carrying capacity.

Cattle Guards – Round Top Rails

One of the most effective methods of keeping cattle in a designated area such as a pasture, or out of an area such as around a home is the round-top rail. They can be used to keep deer out when mounted side-by-side and the rounded surface prevents livestock from balancing a hoof

We’re pleased to offer options suitable for both private and public roadway use in round rails. The private-use design is the most economical and we estimate its capacity at 12 tons per axle to accommodate fully loaded semis. Public roadways and highways naturally require more robust materials, and our products for this purpose meet applicable standards with schedule 40 steel rated for loads up to 16 tons per axle.

Concrete Cattle Guard Forms

As you may know, cattle guards are an effective deterrent for hoofed animals like cows and deer, but they can be downright dangerous for horses. What if you have both on your property? Concrete cattle guard forms are the perfect solution. They’ll keep cattle
contained, just like steel, but the narrowing gap ensures that horse hooves won’t slide down and get caught between rails, creating a risk of broken legs as the animal struggles.

Concrete cattle guard forms also offer the opportunity to create as many cattle guards as you might need, and because they’re rendered in concrete, they act as their own foundation.

The forms are easy to ship and we offer a reusable design. You may pour as many concrete crossings as you like and set them end-to-end directly on the ground. They are their own foundations!

Cattle Guard Foundations and Wings

While you could set steel cattle guards in a depression or directly on a roadway, there are several disadvantages to doing so. The guards could walk, or shift position from traffic driving over an uneven roadway surface. They may also settle into a trench, or settle unevenly, creating hazardous driving conditions. With proper foundations in place, you can avoid these potentially dangerous installations and prevent settling and moving.

Wings are another smart addition as they help you effectively tie in adjacent fencing. Wings prevent livestock from walking around the fence post where it meets the cattle guard. The steel structure transfers the physical barrier of the fence line to the entire edge of the cattle guard, making the ‘walk around’ impossible.

ATV Cattle Guards

There may be areas of your property where you want to get through fencing without the need for a gate, but you don’t necessarily need a cattle guard large and robust enough to accommodate full-sized vehicles.

Small, portable, and affordable ATV cattle guards are the ideal solution. These diminutive structures require no foundations or digging. Simply cut a hole in your fence line, place the guard on the ground, and tie it into your fencing for quick and easy installation. The raised center design provides an effective deterrent to cattle while allowing your machines to easily cross.

They’ll accommodate Gators, Kubotas, and other ATVs up to six feet wide. Larger sizes are available upon request and feature a re-design for the longer wheelbases on 4-place machines.

Be sure to consider the above when selecting the type of cattle guard for your project and let us know if we can help with your decision.

Barn World | Sales@BarnWorld.com | (720) 238-2190

Cattle Guards instead of Gates

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Rob

The cattle guard has been the staple of livestock control on the farm and ranch for decades. Farm gates are the workhorse of animal containment, but the inconvenience for the user created the desire for something better; something that didn’t require extra effort to pass through was needed. A system that allowed for effortless and frequent access through fence lines was needed.

Secure containment without the need to close a gate is paramount in remote and high-traffic areas. Some people may have been granted access to your land who are not related to the ranch itself. These users of the entry are typically not as responsible for latching gates behind them every time they access the area as you are.

The trouble with using farm gates

The traditional metal swing-gate did a fine job of keeping livestock contained in pastures but required some discipline from those using them. The inconvenience of stopping equipment, and climbing down to open a gate while fending off any curious livestock was more than just a pain in the neck to users.

Users would also need to drive through the gate while keeping animals at bay, only to stop again to ward them off and close the gate behind them. They also needed to make sure it was securely latched before leaving.

When making several trips a day through a fenceline, or relying on strangers that access the property to close them, was inconvenient. Livestock containment is not guaranteed. The installation and use of a cattle guard provide ease of use, and peace of mind and is a huge time saver!

Gates are inconvenient are are only as secure as those using them – Cattle guards are FOOLPROOF

Gates require that everyone who uses them be responsible enough to make sure they are secured after being closed. A lot of pastures are in remote areas and need to be accessed by non-ranchers. Land access may be granted to companies that operate cell phone towers, oil wells, or other facilities. These areas require less than frequent maintenance by non-farm-related personnel. The sporadic traffic by those not familiar with livestock, or maybe just more concerned with convenience than keeping animals contained, don’t always do the best job of keeping gates closed. Leaving them open after they enter a pasture because ‘there are no cattle around’, only leads to animals sneaking out. With a cattle guard, there’s no more searching and rounding up escaped animals because someone left a gate open!

No more searching and rounding up escaped animals because someone left a gate open when using Cattle Guards!

Cattle Guards

The cattle guard design was born out of convenience and animal security. Once it was discovered that flat-hoofed livestock needed flat surfaces for secure footing, a design was born. The convenience of not opening and closing gates was here to stay!

Cattle Guards – Effective Livestock Barriers

To effectively keep cattle in the pasture where they belong without the use of a gate, a strong deterrent needs to be present. The standard cattle guard relies on two.

The optical deterrent

The first line of defense is the creation of a visible barrier. Cattle guards with round top rails create shadows and a perception of depth that cows pick up on as treacherous. Some studies show when presented with highly contrasting lines painted horizontally across a roadway, some cattle will be spooked enough not to cross. The optical barrier created by the shadows of the rounded rails, when coupled with the actual physical depth of the vaulted area beneath it, creates a strong disincentive for further exploration and will usually turn a cow before they even consider stepping on it.

The physical deterrent

When coupled with the visual perception of danger, the physical barrier of a Texas Gate usually creates an overwhelming urge to retreat. The most common guards are made with a round top pipe. This is so that when a large, flat-hoofed animal steps on it, it creates an unstable balancing condition for the animal. They instinctively realize it is unsafe footing and realize it is an insurmountable obstruction. They will turn away before putting any real weight on their first ‘test hoof’ and be strongly persuaded to never go near it again.

Dangers and Shortcomings of Cattle Guards

We don’t recommend cattle guards be used with all animals. Some can walk right across (goats), some can leap over (deer) and they can present an outright danger to horses if one ever gets caught up in one.

Horses

With the convenience of using these round pipe crossings as effective barriers, there are also dangers present for other animals. The gaps between the top pipes are excellent at creating unstable footing. They also add an optical impediment to crossing livestock and can create a hazard for other animals. The most at risk are horses and we strongly recommend that they not be used with equine. A horse has smaller hooves and thinner legs than a bovine. Their slender legs can slide down between the rails to the bottom of the vaulted area. This puts the most fragile part of the leg at risk of breaking. When a flight animal such as a horse begins to struggle to try and free itself, it can break its leg trying to get out. There’s nothing worse than seeing a horse stuck in a cattle guard. We do not recommend cattle guard use with equine animals – best to use a gate.

Paws and Small Hoofs

A cattle guard is not as effective with non-hoofed animals such as dogs and cats. Other smaller, sure-footed hoofed creatures like goats and sheep also cross. The soft pad of a paw allows the animals to walk across the rounded surface of the top pipe. Some smaller hoofed animals can also achieve balance on top of the rails for an easy traverse. Goats are great at balancing on almost anything including cattle guards.

Deer

One exception we have seen is with deer. Even though they have smaller hooves, they don’t like unstable footing and will usually look for other paths or routes to roam. However, due to their incredible jumping abilities, we recommend a 12′ or deeper guard to provide a sufficient deterrent for large leaps. They can easily jump a 6′ or 8′ distance but usually won’t attempt a 12′ or longer jump.

Texas Gate Summary

Whether used in a large farm and ranch operation with frequent traffic or a remote area with sporadic traffic, a cattle guard can be an excellent option for keeping your livestock contained. They’ll effortlessly keep them where you want them: grazing and growing. Keep in mind they don’t work for all animals, but they’re a terrific option for cattle and provide the ultimate convenience for vehicles.

Visit Barn World for their large selection and ask their knowledgeable staff if a guard is right for your operation. They’re also happy to put together a quote with shipping right to your job site!

Barn World | Sales@BarnWorld.com | (720) 238-2190

Cattle Guards make livestock containment a breeze

Posted on May 10, 2019 by Rob

Cattle Guards allow easy access to farm and ranch pastures by eliminating the need for gates. They give free and open access through fence lines but keep livestock contained. All of our cattle guards are constructed with heavy wall steel pipe and extra thick steel channel beams. The ends are capped to prevent rust and wings and boxes are available in all sizes.

Different Types of Cattle Guards

Below are a few different designs for standard and specialized uses. Traditional installations mount directly to concrete foundations while the boxed feature allows them to be used without a foundation.

BOXED-STYLE cattle guards

The round-top rail cattle guards are available with a box welded around the perimeter. Boxed styles are designed to lay directly on flat ground on a crushed gravel bed for proper drainage. To help prevent movement and settling, they can be bolted down to buried railroad ties.

In many cases, they’re at construction sites to clean equipment, be used as a wash rack when hosing down vehicles, or as rumble strips to rattle dirt off passing trucks. The lack of foundation makes them valuable in remote locations such as cell phone towers and other low-traffic areas such as driveways or distant grazing land.

In all cases, a local contractor familiar with soil conditions and drainage considerations should be consulted when planning an installation.

Flat Rail Cattle Guards

The flat style is designed to be mounted on cement footings and is the most popular for use in high-traffic areas and public roadways. They are bolted directly to the concrete footings and have a ‘vaulted’ area or space underneath. This provides a visual deterrent to animals and is very effective in dissuading them from attempting to cross over.

For these permanent installations, an optional hinged section made up of three top rails can be swung open to allow for cleaning out the area beneath. It makes it a lot easy to remove debris that may have been collected in the vault. This feature is not available on all guards but may be included with the flat-top rail design.

General Cattle Guard Notes

Below are some general notes, considerations, and guidelines that can help you make the proper selection for your project.

Load Ratings

All of our cattle guards are built to carry the weight of fully loaded tractor-trailers. The most economical is the private-use category, popular for driveways and general farm use. We estimate the load-carrying capacity to be around 12 tons per axle and they’re designed for use on private driveways and with general farm equipment access.

The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) provides guidelines for cattle guards and establishes maximum load ratings. The ratings are designed to match all types of applications and uses. (See the table at the bottom of this article for more details on the load ratings.)

AASHTO Load Design Specifications

H-15 (12 tons per axle)
H-20 (16 tons per axle)
U-54 (25 tons per axle)
U-80 (30 tons per axle)

Rated cattle guards will meet the specifications needed for state and federal requirements such as DOT, BLM, USFS, NP, and US Military installations. They are also used in commercial applications such as mining, forestry, agriculture, and petroleum production. Rated cattle guards are the product of choice for residential usage where city, county, or state regulations require the HS20 rating. Certified structural steel is used in the manufacture of HS20-rated cattle guards.

HS20 cattle guards will be certified by an independent engineering firm to meet commercial standards and are intended for government bids. For use on private land, buying standard cattle guards will save you thousands of dollars, are identical in size, and are made out of the same materials. They just do not come with the certifications and paperwork back to the steel mill that government agencies require. If a non-rated guard for a private drive is needed, use a standard cattle guard.

Cattle guards may be constructed with 3″, 3-1/2″, or 4″-1/2″ pipe. The 4″ pipe allows for an approximate gap of 4″ between each pipe and is built with 9 pieces. The 3-1/2″ outside diameter pipe guards have 11 pieces and are approximately 12-1/2″ tall.

There is no difference in strength between the boxed cattle guard and the flat styles of cattle guards. These cattle guards are designed to accommodate full semi-loads at 10 tons per axle. All cattle guards weigh about 100 Lbs. per foot (a 10′ cattle guard weighs about 1,000 Lbs.). Add approximately 8 Lbs. per foot for boxed cattle guards and about another 200 Lbs. total for winged cattle guards.

Using Cattle Guards with Deer

To use for deer, you may need to place two cattle guards in tandem so you have 16 feet of protection. Cattle guards are easily bolted together to achieve greater distances in the direction of travel and create a larger deterrent for any animal wishing to attempt a jump. Please note that we recommend standard gates be used when containing horses, goats, all small hoofed and sure-footed animals, and animals with paws.

Ordering your cattle guard:

For a shipping quote, please send us an email with your destination zip code and quantity, or feel free to call the telephone number at the bottom of this page with any questions you may have about our cattle guards.

When ordering cattle guards you will pay for the order without the shipping and we will collect the exact shipping cost with a second charge to the credit card used for the order.
Note: You must have equipment available to unload the cattle guards from the delivery vehicle when it arrives. The delivery truck will require you to unload the cattle guard with a loader or forklift or some other means upon delivery.

Note about cattle guard dimensions: Private-use cattle guards are NOT built to exact dimensions. Sizes may vary slightly. Adding the removable box option will add about 7″ to the total length and width of the cattle guard. For example, a 12-foot cattle guard will be about 12′-7″.

If you have any questions, would like a quote with shipping or if we can help with anything at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be glad to assist in any way we can.

Don’t forget, Barn World is your headquarters for all your farm and ranch supplies including hay feeders, livestock scales, saddle pads, and even grain bins. We have a complete selection of livestock supplies for your everyday needs.

Call (720) 238-2190 or email Sales@BarnWord.com today!

What Exactly Is a Bushel? The Question Turns People Into Basket Cases

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Rob

Here’s a great article from the Wall Street Journal about the complexities of measuring and trading in bushels. We all use the term frequently when describing grain bin capacities, but when using the term to trade large quantities or set commodity prices, the actual calculations become quite involved and the quantity traded can become pretty ‘abstract’ as described in the article below.

The Winchester bushel, named for a British town, dates back centuries.

Picture of a bushel of soybeans

Prices of agricultural commodities are quoted that way, even though many have never actually come across the baskets; ‘kind of an abstract amount’

Soybean prices have long been quoted in bushels at the Chicago Board of Trade.

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Lucy Craymer

Updated Dec. 18, 2018 12:37 p.m. ET

Trade tensions between the U.S. and China this year have caused gyrations in soybean prices, which recently climbed above $9 a bushel. They also have people buried in soybean math.

Prices of agricultural commodities have for decades been quoted in bushels at the Chicago Board of Trade, yet many traders and farmers have never actually come across soybeans in the quaint wooden basket that has existed for centuries.

“Most people haven’t seen a bushel basket—I never have,” said Anthony Stinton, a soybean meal trader in Greeley, Colo. Scrawled on a yellow sticky note on his computer is a formula he punches into a calculator multiple times a day to convert metric tons of soybeans grown in Brazil into their American bushel equivalent. “It’s kind of an abstract amount,” Mr. Stinton said.

A bushel of soybeans is roughly enough dry beans to fill eight gallons or 2,150.42 cubic inches of space, the capacity of a traditional bushel basket. That is the equivalent of 60 pounds of soybeans. In the Bible, bushels were used as containers for grains, seeds, and flour. At farm stands and markets, bushels can be found filled with apples, crabs, and raw vegetables. The phrase “a bushel and a peck” is fairly well-known thanks to a popular “Guys and Dolls” song. (A peck is a quarter of a bushel or eight quarts.)

commodity trader keeps the conversion rates for soybeans and corn stuck to his computer.

commodity conversion rate formulas

Trader Anthony Stinton keeps the conversion rates for soybeans and corn stuck to his computer. Photo: Anthony Stinton

In the commodities world, they are a mathematical headache. Ariel Haendler, global head of soybean trading at Chinese state-owned trading giant Cofco International, said he always carries a calculator when he attends strategy discussions with colleagues and uses it to convert metric weights into bushels. (1 metric ton of soybeans = 36.74 bushels.)

During those meetings, there is “always a 10-second break when we make these big calculations on these calculators going back and forth like we’re in the fourth grade,” said the Swiss-based American trader. Even though Mr. Haendler has the formula memorized, getting the numbers wrong could be potentially costly, he added.

To help market participants with their math, CME Group Inc., which operates the Chicago Board of Trade, has a 44-page pocket guide that includes scores of weight-conversion tables for a range of commodities.

For example, it recommends that to convert 11,000 metric tons of soybeans to bushels, users can simply add the conversions for 10,000 metric tons (367,437 bushels) and 1,000 metric tons (36,744 bushels) to get a total of 404,181 bushels of soybeans. Each soybean futures contract is made up of 5,000 bushels.

On the Scott family farm in Delphi, Ind., there isn’t a bushel to be found. “It’s just an idea in our head,” says Brian Scott, who grows soybeans with his father and grandfather along with corn and wheat. “We think in bushels but they don’t measure in bushels,” he said.

Brian Scott grows soybeans on the family farm in Indiana. Photo: Brian Scott

Instead, trucks are filled to the brim with commodities and sent to a depot to be weighed before the produce is sold to trading firms. ”When you deliver, they measure in pounds,” Mr. Scott said, noting they give a receipt with a bushel measurement too. One truckload of beans weighs roughly 1,000 bushels, he says.

America remains an outlier holding on to the old imperial, or U.S. customary system, of pounds and acres when the rest of the world has largely shifted to the metric system of kilograms and hectares. Other countries that use the imperial system include Liberia and Myanmar. In addition to bushels, the U.S. also uses pecks and lugs, which are wooden boxes of no standard size.

Traders say the challenge with bushels is that they are a measurement of volume, so the weight of whatever is in it varies depending on the commodity. While soybeans and wheat weigh roughly the same, corn is slightly lighter.

“If I take the price of Chicago wheat and I want to know what it means for the rest of the world, I multiply it by 36.7437,” said Chris Bird, a senior global wheat trader at Engelhart Commodities Trading Partners, without missing a beat. As he has to do the conversion 20 or 30 times a day, “I have it set up on my screen to do it but honestly, I could almost do it in my head,” he added.

He wasn’t so quick with commodities he doesn’t trade. “Corn is 39 something-something-something…” Mr. Bird said. “It’s very random.”

There’s also confusion between Canadian and U.S. bushels, which have different capacities. The latter is also known as the Winchester bushel—named after a British town—first mentioned in law in the 17th century and was defined as a barrel that is 18-1/2 inches wide and 8 inches deep. The measurement was abolished by the English in 1835, a year before the U.S. Department of Treasury adopted it as a unit of measure.

picture of a bushel

The Winchester bushel, named for a British town, dates back centuries. Photo: SSPL/Getty Images

FarmLead, a Canadian-based online marketplace for soybeans, wheat, and other commodities trades, has a calculator on its website for customers to convert pounds, tons, or other measures to American bushels. The soybeans currently for sale on its site are stored in a flat bottom bin.

Before deals are done, people often need to “scribble out their math” or “double-check the conversion” to make sure buyers and sellers are talking about the same amounts, said Alain Goubau, the company’s chief operating and financial officer. At the end of the day, traders have little choice but to hew to the American system, he said, adding: “It comes down to—do you want to be right or do you want to do business?”

Brian Rohrig’s hog farm outside Des Moines, Iowa, sometimes uses physical bushels made of aluminum to measure soybean meal before it is mixed into feed for the pigs.

The bushel baskets are a decent volume gauge, said Mr. Rohrig, but there’s one downside: they are much heavier than a five-gallon pail. The machine his farm uses to mix animal feed now has its own weighing scale, so there is less need for the bushels, he added.

loading soybeans into a truck

Soybeans were unloaded onto a truck in Illinois. Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg News

Lucy Craymer at Lucy.Craymer@wsj.com

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How to Choose A Cattle Guard

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Rob

Benefits of Cattle Guards

The benefits of having cattle guards on your property drastically outweighed the one-time burden of installation. How do you choose what design would be best for your operation? It commonly boils down to choosing between the style of the top pipe: round or flat and the type of traffic that will be using it.

cattle guard being removed from steel box

Round pipe cattle guards

Physical Barrier Characteristics:

The most aggressive of the steel cattle guards are made with round top pipes and provide a substantial physical livestock barrier. Its curved surface provides the least stable footing possible so your cattle can’t find a balanced or sturdy place to put their weight. The hoof will rock forward or backward and give the most uncomfortable footing possible that’s almost impossible to balance on.

Even if one of your animals does attempt to try a step on the top rail, the experience of the unsettling instability will make them turn the other way and they won’t bother to test it again. The inability to find stable footing on a round pipe is the most effective physical deterrent besides a gate.

Visual deterrent:

Both round and flat pipe cattle guards provide a visual deterrent in addition to their physical barrier. They are traditionally mounted on concrete footings like a bridge which creates an open vaulted area underneath. The drop under the top rails provides a visual cue of depth that in itself, can prevent cattle from attempting to cross.

There have been studies done with visual illusions painted on flat asphalt that resulted in cattle turning away even though the surface was perfectly flat. Researchers painted the illusion of pipes and a corresponding shadow to create the illusion of depth. When the cattle were exposed to the artwork, they assumed it was unstable and elevated and did not attempt to cross.

This optical trick worked for a limited amount of time but eventually did break down after a few days as one of the cattle (the bravest apparently) did place a hoof on it and eventually crossed. The others soon followed and the illusion barrier on its own was defeated.

Boxes for cattle guards:

Barn World offers round pipe cattle guards that have the option of being permanently boxed, an option for laying directly on the ground, or with a removable box for cleaning underneath.

Permanent box

A steel skirt welded around the exterior may be placed directly on the ground. The permanent box keeps dirt from creeping when used without a foundation. It does not bear any weight and is only there to prevent dirt from creeping underneath. The design is simply laid on the ground with a dirt ramp up on either side for vehicle crossings. It’s very popular for low-traffic areas and use in construction sites as wash-outs and rumble strips. It can be used to clean construction equipment before going out on a public roadway.

Removable box

The standalone box stays in the ground so you can lift the guard and clean it underneath. The design keeps the surrounding area from being disturbed! It’s a nice feature that allows for a complete cleaning if you have the equipment to lift the guard.

The round pipe design is available in an economical private-use or highway rating. The HS20, public highway rating is 16 tons per axle and is required for use in public roadway projects.

Flat Pipe Cattle Guards

The flat pipe provides the benefit of allowing high-speed traffic to cross more smoothly than a round pipe design. The pipe is flat on top with a large space between each rail. This design is still very effective against hoofs but provides high-speed vehicles with a smoother ride.

flat pipe cattle guard with concrete foundations

These cattle grids are also available to ship with precast concrete cattle guard foundations that can be lowered directly into the ground without the need for pouring concrete on-site. The foundations come with anchor bolts already poured into them. The grid may be bolted down to the concrete in the field. The precast foundations are useful in remote areas where concrete is not available.

Flat-top pipe guards are available in a wide variety of load ratings for all types of different projects:

Flat Top Pipe Load Rating Availability

H-15 (12 tons per axle)
H-20 (16 tons per axle)
U-54 (25 tons per axle)
U-80 (30 tons per axle)

Secure your livestock and provide easy access to pastures with the right cattle guards for your property. You don’t always need to open a closed gate to keep your animals secure!

For more information or help with planning, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help. Contact us at Sales@BarnWorld.com or (720) 238-2190.

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