How to Build a Cattle Shed

Flooring and Framing

1). Pour a concrete floor as the foundation for the shed. Concrete is preferable to dirt as it is easier to clean and reduces the risk of hoof infections. Plan on 50 to 60 square feet of floor space for each cow or bull.
2). Sink 4x4 posts every six feet, properly rooted in up to three feet of concrete, around the perimeter of the foundation.
3). Use the 2x6 planks along the top of the vertical posts to square off the roof level. Ensure that the planks are level, and trim the posts to be flush with the planks.
4). Nail bands of the 2x6 planking to the inside of the support posts, at 3 feet and 6 feet, to serve as bracing supports for the walls.
5). Put the pre-built trusses on the roof and use nails to secure to the top of the framed-in walls. Trusses should be 3 to 4 feet apart.

1). Use plywood on the trusses to form the base of the roof and nail or screw the plywood into place. Staple the felt to the plywood.
2). Shingle the roof as per the shingle-manufacturer instructions, paying careful attention to the shingle overlay pattern.
3). Nail the siding (e.g., corrugated aluminum panels) to the outside of the wall.
4). Paint the siding, if desired.

1). Two opposite sides of the shed should be open for the cattle to enter or exit through a door. Cut the aluminum between two exterior wall posts and install a hinged door, using heavy-duty hinges on a 2x4 frame and using the leftover siding as the door panel.
2). Mount the door to the wall posts and install a slide bolt to secure the door. One door should have the slide bolt on the inside, and the other on the outside, as a safety precaution.
3). If open-air windows (ventilation portals) are desired, they can be framed with 2x4s and mounted between wall posts. Make sure that the siding material does not pose a cut risk to the cattle. The leftover material from making the hole can be re-used to make a storm shutter for the window.
4). Bring in any troughs and feeding racks necessary to provide for the cattle.