Stockyard Covers
Bairnsdale Engineering:
Stockyard Covers
Efficient livestock handling is critical for modern beef and dairy operations, particularly when large numbers of cattle need to be processed within tight seasonal timeframes. Wet weather can quickly disrupt planned animal health programs, create difficult working conditions, and reduce the efficiency of day-to-day yard operations.
Rainfall often turns open yards into muddy, difficult-to-manage areas that can impact livestock movement, staff safety, and overall productivity. Ongoing exposure to the elements can also accelerate wear on yard infrastructure, increasing maintenance requirements for crushes, gates, drafting equipment, and other yard components.
Bairnsdale Engineering designs and manufactures custom stockyard covers that help create a more reliable and efficient working environment for both livestock and staff. Every project is tailored to suit the specific requirements of the operation, site layout, and existing yard infrastructure.
Our stockyard covers are manufactured from hot-rolled universal beam (UB) steel, with connection plates factory-welded to rafters and columns for strength, durability, and efficient installation. All primary steelwork is hot-dip galvanised to provide long-term corrosion resistance in demanding agricultural environments.
Where high cattle densities are expected, circular hollow section (CHS) columns can be incorporated into the design. These smooth, rounded columns can eliminate the need for wall bracing in many applications, improving cattle flow through the yards while helping reduce the risk of bruising.
Skillion roof designs can be configured to direct water runoff to a designated discharge point, helping minimise water accumulation around working areas and reduce mud build-up within the yards.
If you’re tired of battling mud, rain delays and deteriorating infrastructure, it’s time for a proven, long-term solution.
Stockyard Cover
Options and Features
Universal Beam Rafters
Provide a clean yet heavy-duty design, offering increased height clearance and less places for birds to roost.
Flexible Post Locations
Work in with individual yard layouts, reducing snag points and avoiding gateways.
Overhangs
Are easily achieved with the UB rafter, providing additional weather protection while also simplifying any unequal post locations.
Skillion Roof
Ideal for making the most of the morning sun and rainwater harvest to one side.
Gable Roof
A cost effective design when large clear spans are required.
Hot Dip Galvanised Columns & Rafters
Provides ultimate corrosion resistance in high-ammonia environments for long-lasting performance.
Gable Infills
Offer weather protection while maintaining excellent airflow.
Skylights
Allows extra natural light into the yard cover without creating harsh shadows.
Performaflow® Gutter
Reduces the amount of onsite plumbing eliminating downpipes in yards or near gateways.
Awnings
Built in conjunction with a main shed, providing additional cost effective cover for larger yards.
Client Outcome
Wet yards in winter and intense summer heat were making cattle handling uncomfortable and unsafe for both stock and staff.
Bairnsdale Engineering manufactured a custom designed yard cover so all support columns were placed outside the yard footprint to create a completely open working space underneath. Pipe columns and flexible post placement reduced snag points while eliminating the need for wall bracing.
The thing that I really liked about the design was that there are no internal posts within the yards. All the support posts are on the outside, so it gives you a blank canvas underneath. You’re not configuring your yards to match poles and there’s no internal structure impeding the design.
