Farm Structures, Buildings and Fencing
Why structures matter
Farm structures protect animals, produce and machinery from sun, rain, wind, predators and theft, and they improve management. Candidates should be able to name a structure, its purpose and one design feature.
Types of structures
Know animal housing: cattle kraal or crush (handling and treatment), poultry house (ventilation, protection from predators), pigsty (solid floor, drainage), goat and sheep pens (dry bedding, shelter). Know store and produce structures: grain store (dry, raised, ventilated, rodent-proof), silo, feed store, and cold storage for perishables. Know machinery sheds (dry, secure, adequate headroom) and support structures such as dips, water troughs, boreholes and fences. Traps: confusing a crush (restrains one animal for treatment) with a kraal (holding pen), and forgetting ventilation in poultry housing.
Siting and materials
Key siting factors: well-drained ground, away from flood paths, near water and access roads, downwind of the homestead, and secure. Materials include poles, thatch, corrugated iron, brick, concrete and wire. Local materials reduce cost but must still give strength and weather protection.
Fencing
Know fence types and uses: barbed wire (cattle), stock-proof mesh (goats and sheep), electric fence (temporary grazing, predator deterrence), game fence and live hedges. Understand fence line, strainer posts, droppers and gates. Traps: using wire spacing too wide for small stock, and ignoring regular fence inspection.
Worked example
Design a poultry house for 50 layers: raised floor or dry litter, wire mesh sides for ventilation, solid roof, secure door, rodent-proof walls and a feed store nearby. Justify each feature by the risk it controls - heat, predators, damp or theft.