This set of plans is for a simple set of yards, suitable for the average small lifestyle block. A loading ramp can be added off the front of the headbail area at some point in the future if needed.

The yards are designed to fit into a corner in a paddock where 2 existing fence lines meet at right angles on reasonably level ground. Cut back one of the fence lines to accommodate the side of the yards with the headbail in it. It you are able to, have the topsoil scraped away and put down a compacted base of metal or lime rock before building the yards.

Posts

Use strainer posts for all the 2.7, and 2.4m posts in the yards - don't scrimp by trying to use smaller than 175mm SED posts - you might save a few dollars a post by using skinnier ones but they cost more if cattle break them (and they can). The 1.8m posts in the sheep handling area can be a little thinner. If posts are being driven with a tractor & rammer, posts need to be in ground as follows:

2.7m posts	1.0-1.2m in ground	slightly less if concreted
2.4m posts	0.9m in ground	in cattle pens
2.4m posts	1.2-1.4m in ground or 1.0m in ground & trimmed down to suit	in sheep pen where 150x40 rails are attached
1.8m posts	0.7-0.8m in ground	in sheep pen where 150x40 rails are attached
1.8m posts	0.9m in ground	the 4 posts in sheep drafting race

Spacing inside race and crush

The inside measurement between the boards in the sheep drafting race is 425mm - posts will need to be set further apart than that to allow for the thickness of the boards. The same applies to the 660mm spacing inside the crush area for the cattle - when hanging the gate that forms one side of the crush.

Timber Rails

Use 150x50mm roughsawn H3 or H4 pine for rails in cattle area. 5 rails evenly spaced so that the top rail is 1.5-1.6m high.

Use 150x40mm roughsawn H3 or H4 rails in the sheep handling areas (135x32mm or similar can be substituted for 150x40). Use dressed or gauged timber rather than roughsawn in the sheep drafting race.

Nail all rails to posts with 125mm flathead galv nails - use 3 nails at every join. Use 100mm nails for the 40mm (or 32mm) thick rails.

Gates

Wooden stockyard gates should be available from your local rural timber supplier and can be made to order to fit the gate opening. Whilst they're cheaper and suitable in sheepyards, regular paddock gates aren't high enough or robust enough to use as cattleyard gates. Steel cattleyard gates are also an option and are easily ordered through most rural retailers. Use bolt through gudgeons for yard gates - screw in gudgeons aren't strong enough. Make sure gates are pinned through the gudgeons to stop cattle lifting them off, the only exception being the sheep drafting gate.

The easiest way to stop cattle lifting gates off their hinges is to secure them through a long pin gudgeon - in this case with a 5 inch nail into the strainer post. (click for larger image)

 

The plywood gates at both ends of the sheep drafting race are made from 20-22mm thick ply - 2 sheets doubled and bolted together with 600mm hingestraps and galv coachbolts. Make the ply gate at the wide end of the drafting race 1.4m high to deter cattle from trying to jump in to the sheep drafting race. The ply panels on the drafting gate at the other end of the race only need to be 700-800mm high.

Simple & solid small gate in the yards- 2 sheets of ply bolted together with 2 heavy duty hinge straps. (click for larger image)

The 3.6m (12 foot) gate on the optional sheep drafting pen can be a standard 1.05m high paddock gate.

Headbail

There are a wide range of options available - depending on whether you need to restrain cattle (eg for AI work, eartagging etc) and how much you want to spend. If your needs are simple, check with your local engineering firm or try a search on Trademe. Make sure the headbail is pinned through the gudgeons to hold it in place.

A simple headbail. (click for larger image)

 

Getting animals into the yards

It isn't always easy to convince cattle or sheep to go through a gate into a pen. If the yards are going in the corner of a large paddock there are a few ways to make life easier:

1. Run animals along the fence line towards the yards. Make sure the approach fence line is in good repair so that animals don't see 'going through it' as an escape route.
2. Add a "wing" fence to funnel animals in to the main pen. To eliminate the sharp corner you create between the wing fence and the side of the sheep pen - fence out the triangle and plant a shade tree - poplar or willow is a good option because any prunings can be fed to stock.
3. Split the larger paddock down to create a smaller paddock that the yards are in. Yard your animals in 2 steps - get them in to the smaller paddock, let them settle down, and then run them in to the yards.
4. If it all goes pear-shaped and you & the animals are running around the paddock getting wound up - walk away. Go inside, have a cuppa or a cold one, let everyone settle down, then come back out and have another try.

Optional drafting pen for sheep

Adding a drafting pen is well worth it - it's achieved with very little extra materials: approx 17m of 150x40mm rails, 1 x 1.8m post & 1 or 2 x 2.4m strainers, plus a 3.6m standard gate. You may want to add a water trough - or a portable one that clicks onto a standard hose fitting - so you can hold animals overnight in the pen.

Materials list:

 

Description	Qty	optional drafting pen
2.7m No2 Strainer Posts	6
2.4m No2 Strainer Posts	5	2 extra needed
1.8m Posts 135-150mmSED	7	1 extra needed
3.6m lengths 150x50mm R/S H3 rails	15
4.2m lengths 150x40mm R/S H3 rails	4	4 extra needed
6.0m lengths 150x40mm R/S H3 rails	2
4.8m lengths 150x40mm M/G H3 boards	6
2.5m stockyard gates	2
3.6m paddock gate		1 needed + gate latch & staple
Gate Gudgeons 275x20mm Lock-thru	3	1 extra needed
Gate Gudgeons 275x20mm thru-post Long Pin	3	1 extra needed
Stockyard gate latches	3
20-22mm H3 ply sheets 2400x1200mm	2
Heavy Duty 600mm x 20mm Hinge Strap	4
Gudgeons for ply drafting gate: 275x20mm thru-post (doesn't need pinning)	2
Galv Coachbolts & Washers - 60mm x M10	24
125x5.3mm Flathead Galv Nails	3kg
100x4.0mm Flathead Galv Nails	3kg
Headbail + gudgeons to suit