Metal Barns

If you are planning to build a barn for your animals, you will need to calculate the amount of space that each animal requires to keep them safe and healthy. Horses have different needs than cattle or goats or sheep and vice versa, so there is no one-size-fits-all barn. VersaTube has 8 standard barn kits ranging from 36’ x 36’ x 13’ to 36’ x 72’ x 13’, but we also have a customizable design-your-own option that gives you practically limitless options for your barn, should your requirements be outside the standard dimensions. While we’d all like to give our animals a maximum amount of space, we have to work within a realistic budget and spatial considerations. Here is how to calculate how much space you need per animal in your barn:

•     Horses – A standard stall size for a large horse (over 1,000 lbs.) is 12’ x 12’. If your horse is smaller, you may opt for a 10’ x 12’ or 10’ x 10’ space. Plan more space if your horses are going to be spending long periods of time in their stalls.

•     Cattle – According to Mississippi State University, cattle should have between 14-20 square feet of space per animal. If they are going to be in the pen overnight, then triple this number. You will also need to factor the behavior of your animals into this equation, so if one is hostile to the others you will need either a larger space or a separated area. One of the challenges with cattle is that they are a lot messier than horses or goats, so keep cleanliness in mind when planning your barn size. 

•     Goats – If you have goats in your barn, they will need about a 4’ x 5’ space each, or about 20 square feet. Again, if they are going to be spending long periods of time in their pens, it’s a good idea to plan for 30 square feet or more per goat. 

•     Sheep – Sheep don’t require as much space as the aforementioned animals, but the amount of space you plan for will depend if they are lambing. Plan about 16-25 square feet for a ewe and her lambs. If your sheep aren’t lambing, they should be fine with 8-10 square feet each. Sheep are very docile animals, so you won’t need to be as concerned with keeping them separated as other animals.

Now that you have an idea of how much space each animal requires, think about the other functions your barn will need to serve, such as equipment storage or whether you will choose to have a separate cleaning or milking station, etc. VersaTube has barns for every farm, you can inquire for more information by giving us a call at (888) 245-1691. Choose VersaTube to house your animals with easy-to-build barn kits.