This customer came to us looking for a finishing cattle building, with a strong focus on saving time, cutting down labor, and helping cattle grow efficiently.
A slatted deep pit barn allows feeding and daily chores to move much faster than an open lot or bed-pack barn. With less room to move, cattle put more energy into gaining weight and tend to finish quicker.
Project details:
- Location: North-central Minnesota
- Use: Finishing cattle
- Barn type: Slatted deep pit cattle confinement
- Head Space: 400 head
- Timeline: September 2024-January 2025, ~120 days due to winter conditions
- Customizations:
- A portion of the building devoted to working cattle
- Steel posts instead of wood for long-term durability
- Posts painted and color-matched to the roof and trim
This was a project that used EQIP, and so we worked closely with the engineer and NRCS throughout the process. The producer provided a floorplan that already worked well for their operation, and we followed that layout to keep things familiar and functional.
The end result is a practical finishing barn that saves time every day, supports steady gains, and fits how the operation actually runs.