Precast Concrete for Dairy & Livestock Buildings
Strong, hygienic walling that saves farmers time and money
Why Choose Precast for Dairy & Livestock Buildings?
When you’re building or upgrading livestock housing, you need walls that are quick to install, tough enough to withstand daily impact, and easy to clean. Precast concrete panels give you a practical, long-term solution that’s better value than traditional blockwork and is designed to make farm life easier.
Key Benefits of Precast in Dairy & Livestock Buildings
Quick installation – Panels arrive ready to install between steel columns, enabling faster construction with less labour.
Hygienic surfaces – Smooth front face is easy to wash down, helping to improve cleanliness and biosecurity.
Stronger than blockwork – Reinforced, prestressed concrete withstands knocks and movement from livestock.
Value for money – Built to last, with minimal maintenance needed over the lifetime of the building.
Flexible sizes – Range of heights, lengths, and thicknesses to suit standard bay sizes in agricultural buildings.
Suitable Products For Dairy & Livestock Buildings
Best for: Cost-effective, hygienic, and long-lasting walling in new or existing livestock housing.
Our prestressed concrete panels are the go-to choice for livestock buildings. Installed between steel columns, they create strong, durable walls for cattle sheds, sheep pens, and general agricultural structures.
- Heights: from 1m to 6m
- Lengths: up to 6m (common steel centres of 15ft and 20ft)
- Thicknesses: 100mm (typical for livestock), 150mm, 180mm, 280mm
- Finish: Smooth mould front face for livestock side, hand-floated rear face
Key features:
- Stronger and quicker to install than blockwork
- Easy to clean and maintain with a pressure washer
- Custom heights and lengths available on request
- Delivered across the UK, ready to install
Jame Boulton - Rase Steels
What to Consider Before You Build Dairy & Livestock Buildings
- Foundation & Steelwork Alignment – Ensure your steel stanchions and foundation levels match the panel lengths you intend to use. Accurate spacing (often 15ft or 20ft centres) and level bases help prevent delays when slotting panels into position.
- Installation Method: RSJs or Face-Fixing – Panels can be fitted between steel columns or slotted into the web of RSJs (Rolled Steel Joists). Both methods work well – make sure the steelwork is set out to match the panel height and thickness.
- Choosing the Right Panel Thickness – 100mm panels are typically used for general livestock housing, while heavier-duty areas, such as dividing walls or machinery-access zones, might benefit from 150–180mm panels.
- Hygienic Surface Requirements – Panels are manufactured with a smooth mould finish on the livestock-facing side, making wash-down and hygiene routines easier. Consider full-height walling if regular pressure washing is planned.
- Building Layout & Ventilation Flow – Consider how the panel height integrates with your shed’s ventilation design, especially if you’re using Yorkshire boarding, open sides, or ventilation gaps above the wall line.
- Access for Installation Machinery – Make sure there’s clear access for telehandlers or loaders during installation. Allow room for lifting, manoeuvring, and safe working zones along the building line.
- Flexibility for Future Changes – Prestressed panels can be removed or repositioned if the building’s use changes. Choosing flexible heights now can save time and money if the shed is repurposed later.
- Drainage, Moisture & Run-Off Management – Plan how wash-down water, surface water, and muck will flow through the building. Good drainage around the wall line helps maintain long-term performance and keeps livestock areas cleaner.
Dairy & Livestock Building Questions We Get All The Time
Yes, panels can be fitted between new steel columns or retrofitted into existing sheds to replace blockwork or timber walls.
Absolutely, the smooth mould finish on the livestock-facing side creates a clean surface that reduces the risk of injury and is easy to wash down.
100mm panels are most commonly used in agricultural buildings, but thicker panels (150mm, 180mm, or 280mm) are available if additional strength is required.
Do panels need much maintenance?
Panels are made from high-strength concrete, with a 50-year design life as standard, meaning they’ll serve for decades with minimal upkeep.