Stockyard Covers – South Gippsland

Bairnsdale Engineering Transforms Operations for Leading Beef Finisher with Custom Stockyard Covers

With multiple large-scale livestock properties, Graham, a beef finisher in South Gippsland, needed a series of stockyard covers that could enhance efficiency, protect infrastructure, and improve livestock handling.

Managing thousands of cattle within tight seasonal windows, he required tailored solutions that would work with the existing yards across different sites – without demolition, delays, or a one-size-fits-all approach.

Bairnsdale Engineering delivered exactly that, providing customised stockyard covers across his properties, each designed to integrate seamlessly with their specific requirements.

The Challenge: Battling Weather, Livestock Stress and Worker Safety

Frequent rainfall turned open yards into mud pits, delaying livestock handling and creating unsafe conditions for cattle and staff. With 4,000 cattle to drench within a month during autumn and winter—realistically only 15 viable working days per month due to weather conditions—delays were not an option. Constant exposure to the elements accelerated wear on infrastructure, driving up maintenance costs.

Beyond drenching, the operation needed reliable, year-round protection – a shelter to cover incoming stock, reduce cattle stress, allow overnight holding, and improve efficiency. Without proper coverage, travel stress increased, processing times slowed, and feeding transitions became harder.

Graham needed high-quality, custom-built solutions that integrated seamlessly with existing cattle yards – no demolition, no delays, just flexibility for large-scale operations. Bairnsdale Engineering delivered exactly that.

The Solution: Custom Stockyard Covers for Efficiency and Safety

Bairnsdale Engineering delivered fully customised stockyard covers designed to improve efficiency, safety, and durability without disrupting existing operations.

Each structure was tailored to suit the individual property and existing yard set-up, ensuring seamless integration and long-term reliability.

Key features included:

Seamless Integration & Custom Design

• Each stockyard cover was designed to fit its specific property layout, eliminating the need for major modifications or demolition
• The structures were engineered for unobstructed cattle movement, ensuring efficiency and safety for handlers.

Weather Protection & Durability

• Built with hot-dipped galvanised steel, the stockyard covers offer long-term resilience against weather damage, reducing maintenance costs.
• Each roof had a customised gutter design, ensuring optimal drainage and protection based on its environmental conditions.

The Results: Increase Productivity, Improved Livestock Welfare, and Long-Term Cost Savings

Since installing Bairnsdale Engineering stockyard covers, Graham has seen a complete transformation across the properties.

Key Outcomes:

• Year-round operational reliability, eliminating weather-related disruptions.
• Reduced maintenance costs, as infrastructure is not longer exposed to constant weather damage.
• Improved livestock welfare, with cattle settling faster and experiencing less stress.
• Enhanced efficiency, ensuring health programs are completed on time without setbacks.

Additional Customisation Options

Bairnsdale Engineering offers a range of structural designs to meet different operational needs.

For smaller stockyard setups, features such as skillion roofs and pipe columns provide efficient water management and a streamlined layout. For larger spans, alternative designs ensure structural integrity without compromising functionality.

Graham’s installations incorporated different configurations to suit each property, demonstrating the adaptability of Bairnsdale Engineering’s solutions to diverse farming operations.

Why Bairnsdale Engineering is the Preferred Choice By Farmers

Bairnsdale Engineering provides custom-engineered stockyard covers that enhance productivity, livestock welfare, and infrastructure resilience. Their local expertise and tailored approach ensure every project meets the unique demands of large-scale livestock operations.

If you’re tired of battling mud, rain delays, and deteriorating infrastructure, it’s time for a proven, long-term solution.