[beulah]

Hi, we're looking to erect a steel-frame agri shed, which will be used for wintering cattle amongst other things. We'd planned on having concrete block walls for the first 5 feet because of the cattle, but wondered if there are any alternatives which might be cheaper? Thanks

[Buttermilk]

Gates sheeted over with either galvanised sheets or stockboard or some such.  Removable, replaceable and flexible.

[YoungRasher]

I recently put up a steel framed shed and used 6 inch hollow block. I chose to do this because I could do it my self and got a good price for the blocks. however now i've seen how cheap the pre stressed concrete sections are I would go with them. They fit together very quick and cattle will find it had to damage them compared to gates/ blocks etc. When I say cheap, they might seem a lot for what they are at first but the labour you save is massive.

[SallyintNorth]

If you can afford them, the concrete panels are the bizz.

If you use corrugated iron, or stockboard, there will be damage, then potential for escapes and/or damage to the livestock.  Dung will rot the bottoms of the panels, too.

BH says if he couldn't use concrete panels, he'd choose stockboard over corrugated iron.  (But you'd have to expect to replace panels, with either material, on an ongoing basis.)

Edited to add, we used to have breeze blocks, filled with rubble with some concrete poured through in places for extra strength and stability, which lasted nearly 30 years.  But yes, lots of labour to erect, and also they seep, which became a problem for us.  So we've replaced them in the sheds with the concrete panels, and in the pens with flexible stockboard.