Looking to build secondary bunk silo, need some advise!

[gzfrt9]

Small cow/calf operation, and I'm looking at putting in a second bunk silo. 24x36. This would be for overflow. We are looking to use bin blocks or some call them mafia blocks. Has anyone built one using blocks. The questions are how high did you go? Did you seal between them? If so, what did you use? How does it store silage?
Any pitfalls or advise?

Any input is welcome.

 

[DT86]

No help from me but a question or two, no to be mean either.

How can you afford to put up silage for cow/calf?

What part of the world are you in?

 

[gzfrt9]

Location: Just north of Detroit, very city here. So pastures are small.

Now the how can you afford to: simple. Calfs at over 2.50 a pounds

Thanks

 

[rockinmywaypa]

what makes people think it's so expensive to put up silage? We're doing it for a flock of sheep. I find fuel usage is about the same as when we round baled, we aren't as dependant on the sun shining, we have a huge amount of choices on feed mixes when tmr is considered. I consider it better all the way round. We have made some pretty shrewd purchases on used equipment to keep overhead low.
We we're looking at blocks too and only thing I can say would be to hang plastic on the wall to seal air away. Most are doing this with any wall they use.

 

[zzvyb6]

They are pretty common around here (north of Brighton). Local cement company sells giant interlocking blocks that would make a good bunk storage area (Livingston Concrete). What about a used shipping container ? All you need is something to get a loader bucket in. And, if it were stacked and anchored on end, you could use a conventional blower/loader and an unloader to feed out with. There have been a few ads on Craigslist for various sized shipping containers.

 

[zzvyb6]

Actually, there are hundreds of 20, 30, and 40' shipping containers for sale in the Detroit metro area. Many sellers offer free delivery. Dimensions are in their CL posts.

 

[gzfrt9]

Rockinmywaypa, I to keep the cost low, I plant forage sorghum, which allows me to cut it twice. I also use a flail chopper, with 6 knifes, instead of the standard three. This allows me to chop in one pass. The reason for the second bunk is for the two different times we cut.

 

[rockinmywaypa]

have you looked into precast walls that are an upside down T shape, have seen them around but not sure how high they pack with a tractor next to them. I'd like to know how an A shape wall would work made out of pipe and covered with 3/4 plywood covered with plastic sheet. never seen this and figure there's a reason if I haven't seen it before.

 

[gzfrt9]

Last year we went to the science review in OH, we looked at the T's . They were around 1000, without trucking. That portion could be huge, when coming from OH.
The T's are 8 feet width and 12 tall. $1000.
The bunk blocks are 2x2x6 so to make the same size wall (roughly) would take 12 blocks. The cost at $60 per block is $720. That's why I looked at the bunk blocks.
The other thing about bunk blocks are that we could add additional sides or length if we wish to add (a little at a time)

 

[DT86]

Location: Just north of Detroit, very city here. So pastures are small. Now the how can you afford to: simple. Calfs at over 2.50 a pounds Thanks

Please don't misunderstand me. I know that cattle are really high right now.

I don't even put up my own hay anymore because I couldn't afford the upkeep on equipment.

I do things a lot different than most and I was just asking a question.