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"Built It Yourself" Bottomless Guard Rail Feed Bunk
These new ębuild-it-yourself' bottomless feed bunks are designed to bolt together using guard rails that you supply.
Steve Pickart, Steve's Welding & Repair, Stickney, S. Dak., says used guard rail is cheap and widely available from a number of sources.
The bottomless bunk measures 44 in. across the top,
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"Built It Yourself" Bottomless Guard Rail Feed Bunk LIVESTOCK Feeding Equipment 29-5-16 These new ębuild-it-yourself' bottomless feed bunks are designed to bolt together using guard rails that you supply.
Steve Pickart, Steve's Welding & Repair, Stickney, S. Dak., says used guard rail is cheap and widely available from a number of sources.
The bottomless bunk measures 44 in. across the top, 38 in. across the bottom, and 2 ft. deep. Length can be either 13 or 26 ft., depending on the length of your guard rail. Pickart supplies the bunk's ends and middle divider (required for strength on 26-ft. models). The ends and middle are made of 3/16-in. plate steel and come with pre-drilled holes. An optional top rail that runs lengthwise about 1 ft. above the top of the bunk is available.
"They're wider and deeper than conventional bunks, which allows more animals to feed from them," says Pickart. "Our bunk has room for 20 animals but holds enough feed for 30. Such capacity makes it much more practical to use big bale processors that deliver fluffy, high rough rations with ground hay and silage. You may only have to feed your animals once a day. And, you don't need as many bunks in your feedlot."
The reason they can use such a wide bunk, says Pickart, is that the sides angle slightly outward, which allows cattle to stand closer to the bunk and reach farther in as they eat. The sloped sides also keep the animals from putting their front feet in the bunk. And guard rail is tough. It'll stand up to years of abuse.
The bunk can be easily lifted out of the way by any front-end loader, allowing the bunk to empty itself out without the need to do any cleaning out.
A guard rail bunk kit, not including top rail, sells for $195 for a 26-ft. bunk.
The company also sells a pre-built, one-piece 30-ft. long feed bunk with sloped sides and a top rail. It's made from 2-in. well casing pipe and 12-gauge sheet metal. Sells for $650.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Steve's Welding & Repair, P.O. Box 335, Stickney, S. Dak. 57375 (ph 605 732-4615; steves welding@midstatesd.net).
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