Check out the top 5 reasons we think our Hay and Fodder Sheds stand out among the rest.
1. More Clearance
There is no room for wasted space when it comes to hay and fodder storage. That’s why we’ve designed our hay and fodder sheds with no knee braces. Knee braces are very common in farming sheds and are generally used by shed systems to reduce the size and gauge of the columns and rafters on the shed, therefore making the shed more economical for the shed company to produce.
Unfortunately, these knee braces can be quite large (up to 35% of the column height) and intrusive when loading from the gable end. This can get especially tricky when loading in large hay bales, as running into these braces with hay and/or the loader can weaken the structure and in extreme cases cause the portal to collapse.
Now Buildings mitigates the use of knees’ by using larger columns and rafters and heavy duty haunch brackets. Our design maximises the space you have for stacking hay, as you can stack right to the roof and load and unload your hay with no worries.
Image: Knee braces can decrease the amount of storage space you have for your hay and fodder.
Running into these braces with hay and/or loader can weaken the structure and in extreme cases cause the portal to collapse.
2. Stronger Design
From severe storms to severe droughts, the right shed is vital to ensuring your hay and livestock feed are protected from the harshest weather conditions. Hay and fodder sheds need to be strong enough to withstand the elements as well as house your hay safely. When dealing with organic matter like hay, we understand that it doesn’t always stack neatly and hay stacks can shift overtime. Hay bales and even entire stacks of hay can fall and lean on your shed walls, and for that reason, they need to be strong enough to support the hay without compromising the integrity of the shed.
That’s why we’ve come up with a number of ways to increase the strength of our hay and fodder sheds:
- We have reduced the spacing between the side and end walls girts. Decreasing these structural battens help distribute any extra load that may be placed on them.
- Our hay and fodder sheds are designed with 4.5m bay spacing, which not only better accommodates the average Australian hay bale size, but also provides a closer and greater fixing point for your wall girts.
- All our wall sheeting is a 0.47 TCT (Total Coating Thickness) BlueScope Steel sheeting. This high tensile cladding is thicker and stronger than the 0.35 TCT sheeting which is often used in farm sheds as a cost cutting measure.
Image: Reduced wall spacing between the girts helps distribute any extra load that may be placed on the walls (such as leaning hay stacks).
3. Large Open Access
Having large, open access to your hay bales is essential to storing and accessing your hay with ease. Our hay and fodder sheds are designed with both gables open, so you can access your hay from either side. Not only does this make it easier to load and unload your hay, but it also helps with cycling through your hay efficiently. Only loading hay from one opening can make it much more difficult to rotate your produce, ensuring the hay bales at the back don’t deteriorate and become hazardous to the new bales.
Image: Our Hay and Fodder Sheds feature large, open access at both ends.
4. Custom to Suit Your Needs
The needs of every farmer and their farm are very different. From environment and climate to the layout of the property itself, we know that your shed must suit your specific needs. That’s why all Now Buildings sheds are able to be customised to suit your produce storage requirements. Talk to one of our farm shed consultants and they can help you choose the right height, clearance, size, sheeting type and colour to best suit your property.
5. Extendable
We understand that as primary producer your storage needs will change over time, so your shed should be able to change with it. When your business or need for storage space grows in the future, your Now Buildings shed can too. As with all our sheds, our hay and fodder sheds are easily extendable. You can add to your existing structure at any time in the future. We can easily add leans to’s and extra bays to the front or back of your Hay and Fodder Shed to match your existing colour and structure.
Did you know?
Australian farmers can claim accelerated depreciation on fodder storage? To find out more about deducting the cost of your new Hay and Fodder shed, click here.
Want to see one of our Hay and Fodder Sheds in action? Check out the video below documenting the day we spent on the farm in Jingellic, NSW chatting with farmers and checking out their Now Buildings sheds.