| | This is a fact sheet from the Facilities and Environment section of the Alberta Feedlot Management Guide, Second Edition published September 2000. The 1200 page guide is available for purchase on CD-ROM.
The cost of materials for feedlots and corrals is calculated by adding up posts, lumber, concrete and equipment once the plan and dimensions are in place. Labour costs will be quite variable.
The following are material costs for typical feedlot and corrals of treated wood posts, rough lumber and the basic concrete bunks and feed aprons. Unit prices assumed for posts, lumber and concrete used in the cost data are in Table 1. Check with your suppliers for up to date costs.
Table 1. Material Prices (based on 2000 material prices).
| Material | Prices |
| Slabs ($/MBF) 1 | 410.00 |
| 2 x 6 Rough ($/MBF) | 605.00 |
| 2 x 6 Planed ($/MBF) | 630.00 |
| 3" Nails ($/lb) | 1.20 |
| 5" Nails ($/lb) | 1.10 |
| Concrete ($/m3) | 110.00 |
| Post Prices: |  | | |
| | length | | Top Size (in) | |
| | feet | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | 7 | 6.00 | 7.50 | 9.00 |
| | 8 | 8.00 | 9.50 | 12.00 |
| | 10 | 11.00 | 15.00 | 20.00 |
| | 12 | 16.00 | 19.00 | 24.00 |
|
|
| Slab price in $/chord x 1.25 = $/MBF |
Table 2. Cost for Feedlot, Corral and Windbreak Fencing (based on 2000 material costs).
| Fence | | | | | |
| Description | Length | Post
Cost1 | Lumber
Cost | Total
Cost | Cost
Per Foot |
| Porosity (%) | ft | $ | $ | $ | $/ft |
| 8 ft vert slab (25%) | 96 | 135 | 411 | 548 | 5.72 |
| 8 ft vert board (25%) | 96 | 135 | 523 | 659 | 6.88 |
| 8 ft solid board (0%) | 96 | 136 | 639 | 774 | 8.09 |
| 10 ft vert board (25%) | 96 | 215 | 668 | 882 | 9.19 |
| 2 x 6, 3-rail | 96 | 136 | 174 | 310 | 3.19 |
| 2 x 6, 4-rail | 96 | 136 | 232 | 369 | 3.85 |
| 2 x 8, 3-rail | 96 | 136 | 232 | 369 | 3.85 |
| 5 ft horiz plank (solid) | 96 | 178 | 581 | 759 | 7.92 |
|
All posts 6" x 8' except 10' vertical board fence which uses 6" x 10' posts. All posts
are spaced every 8' except 5' horizontal plank where posts are every 6'. |
Construction costs
Total construction costs are variable. Labour may be 50 to 75% of material costs. For example 4 - rail fence labour cost may be $2.50 to $3.50/ft with bids coming in anywhere from $2 to $7/ft. A $10,000 feeding area will cost another $8,000 to $12,500 in labour for a custom builder. The big variables are labour and earthwork. The latter may go up to $25 - 30/head depending on the topography. The $110/head to $140/head will represent 35 - 40% of the total cost. The infrastructure such as wells, silage pits, feed storage, processing, cattle handling, office, trucks, electrical services are not included in this cost.
Table 3. Feeding Pen Cost (148' x 200' units).
| Rear fence (4 rail) | 550 |
| Side fence (windbreak) | 1,540 |
| Feed bunk fence | 440 |
| Nails | 110 |
| Two 16' gates | 770 |
| Waterer | 770 |
| Concrete feed bunk | 2,310 |
| Feeding Pad Paving | 1,870 |
| Water, lights | 880 |
| Labour | 5,500 |
| Earthwork | 2,200 |
| Total | 16,940 |
|
Table 4. Material Cost for a Typical 148' x 200' Feed Unit.
| | Capacity | $/head |
| 150 ft 2/head | 200 head | 90 |
| 200 ft 2/head | 150 head | 110 |
| 250 ft 2/head | 120 head | 140 |
|
Dennis Darby |
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