High Quality Steel Framed Straw Shed Buildings

Straw Sheds

A Straw Shed is the bread and butter of a farm, so of course it is one of the buildings we offer here at Thorburn Group. We can handle the whole process from the design and approvals, to fabrication and erection, and have been doing so for Farmers across Scotland and beyond for over 50 years. But what is a Straw Shed used for? The answer is simple, it is a basic steel frame made up of posts and a roof with the purpose of protecting your straw from the elements. It is the most standard farm building we do, as it is the quickest to fabricate and erect.

However, just because a Straw Shed is a simple building doesn’t mean it can’t be customised to suit your farm, by choosing a paint colour for the steel or opting for a galvanised finish for longevity and even choosing between our different cladding, flashing, guttering and roof style options. You can also opt to add on side or gable cladding for extra weather protection. The possibilities are endless, and our sales and design team will help you make the decisions best for you and your farm.

A well designed and built Straw Shed is a small cost to pay in order to save you money in the long run by protecting your feed. Whether you produce it or buy it, straw is a significant cost to your business, and protecting and managing it efficiently will only impact your business profitably in the future. Especially in Scotland where the weather is so unpredictable, a structure of this kind is an essential.

What to consider when planning your new Straw Shed?

Do you want your shed to be multi-use? Or solely for straw storage?
Do you want to store machinery in off-season?
How much access do you need?
What kind of airflow is required?
Would you need a concrete floor? (Creates a flexible shed)
Where does the shed need to be located on the farm for maximum efficiency?
How will you position the shed?
- Where on the farm has the most sunlight exposure?
Do you want it to be completely open? Or will you add gable and side cladding?
How will you get your straw in and out of the shed?
How will you load into the shed?

If you know exactly what you want and are ready for a FREE quote, then get in touch today and someone will be in touch to discuss your building needs.

Not quite decided? Then take a look at our FAQ’s to gather more information, or browse our project gallery below for some inspiration.

FAQ's

What is a Straw Shed?

A Straw Shed is a basic steel frame building used to protect straw from damage. It is normally made up of steel posts and a roof, however some farmers do choose to clad a side or gable (or both), either flush to the floor or part way, to create extra protection from the weather. You will find a Straw Shed on most livestock farms.

What is a Straw Shed used for?

A Straw Shed does exactly what it says on the tin, it is a shed used to protect your straw from the unpredictable weather we are all so unfortunately used to these days. However, some people do like to think of their straw sheds as multi-purpose, using the building to store machinery and tools in the off-season. All in all, a Straw Shed is a pretty essential building to any Livestock Farm.

What are the benefits of a Straw Shed?

There are a number of benefits to investing in a Straw shed, but the main one would be protecting your straw from the elements. It is a known fact, that bales stored outside are impacted greatly by the weather, sometimes leaving a number of bales unusable, and therefore costing you a significant amount of money.

Not only that, but bales that are affected by the weather also lose their nutritional value, as water and wind can impact hay quality up to 12 inches deep. So not protecting your straw, could end up harming your animals health in the long run, causing a further hit to business funds.

Another benefit, is that a straw shed is multi-purpose. A large number of farmers use their Straw Shed to store machinery in off-season, protecting it from the weather. Making it a two in one investment!

Finally, a Straw Shed, like any new farm building, can have fantastic tax benefits as a farm asset investment.

What kind of farmer would need a Straw Shed?

It would only really be a livestock farmer who would require a Straw Shed, as they use straw for feed and bedding in the winter. It is essential they protect this from the weather so that it does not get damaged or lose it’s nutritional value.

Although an arable farmer would grow the straw, it is unlikely they would need a Straw Shed to store it, as they are more often than not selling it on as they have no requirement for it on the farm.

What should you think about before building your Straw Shed?

There are a number of different factors to consider before you build your new straw shed. The main thing is how much straw do you need to store right now, and also how much will you need to store in the future, as considering future plans for your farm is just as important as considering your immediate need, so as to get the most out of your investment. If you are predicting that you are going to be storing more in the future, then ensuring your shed has height and span is essential.

You should also consider access. What kind of machinery will you be using to load the straw in? Will it be a tractor and trailer? A forklift? Your shed must be designed so that there is easy manoeuvrability for your machinery, if not this could increase the time taken to load and unload. As well as this, if it is not designed efficiently, it could cause an increased chance of damage, as poles could be hit. Ideally, if you can get away with it a nice open plan shed, with next to no poles is optimum.

Where should your shed be placed on your farm? It is essential that your shed is built in an area which has good access for machinery, but also in a sheltered area which reduces the chance of weather damage.

Ventilation is the final essential factor. Each farm will have different requirements when it comes to ventilation, based on what they are using their straw for, but this will impact the design dramatically. You can either opt for an open sided shed, allowing full ventilation, or if weather is a concern, you could close up 1 or 2 sides and include openings in the eaves to help airflow.

Where should my Straw Shed be built on the farm?

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding where to build your new Straw Shed, the first is the access you require. Is there space for machinery to get in and out? This is essential, as you won’t be able to load your sed in the first place, if there is no room or machinery to access it.

How close would you like it to your animals? The close you are, the easier it will be when it comes to feeding time.

You will also want to select an area that is relatively sheltered from the weather, to give your straw even better protection. And also, a sheltered area shouldn’t get as flooded, which will help to protect straw and improve access.

Future proofing this new investment is crucial, this looks like considering how your farm will change and progress in the future. How much storage you need just now, could vastly increase in the coming years, and you should build a shed that has the capacity for this growth, or build in an area that has the space for an extension. Ensuring you make the most from your investment.

You should think about all these factors before you start the design process, as the location you select could have an impact on the size of building, depending on how much space you have.

What size should a Straw Shed be?

The size of Straw Shed you choose to build really depends on the size of your farm, how many animals you have and if you are expecting any growth in your business in the coming years. You will know yourself what your capacity is, but it is really worth sitting down and mapping out how the next five years will look, so the size of your new shed can accommodate this.

The average straw shed tends to be 3-4 bays long, but we have erected straw sheds on a much bigger scale, for farms who are scaling at a rapid rate and have a large stock.

Other Types of Buildings

Sheep Shed

Grain Store

Equestrian

Cattle Court

General Purpose

Silage Pit

Industrial Building

Feed Store

Get a Quote

Testimonials

After seeing the advert for Thorburn’s, we made initial contact and from start to finish we were extremely impressed with the service of design, build and completion. The standard of work, and knowledge of what was required for our specific purposes has been second to none. A very professional outfit.

High Quality Steel Framed Straw Shed Buildings

Straw Sheds