FARM BUILDINGS

Identify materials used for the construction of farm buildings

Describe the properties of building materials
Draw plans for building suitable for livestock
Calculate cost of construction
Determine the cost effectiveness of each material
FARM BUILDING
On a typical farm there are several buildings for different functions.
There are chicken houses (fowl –run) pig sties, crush pens, dip tanks,
storerooms for chemical fertilizer and seed, tobacco barns, rabbitry
and granaries.
MATERIALS USED FOR CONSTUCTION
Timber (wood)
For roofing buildings, fencing posts, rails, kraals, pole and dagga
structures.
Metal (iron steel)
Can be used as fencing post, roofing post, supporting posts and
reinforced concrete, making doors, windows frame.
Thatch grass
Used as roofing materials for houses, shed, livestock houses,
granaries, calf pens, goat houses
Can be combed or combed, combing increases durability and lifespan
of the thatch grass. Long fibrous tough grasses are to be used
Cement
Used for making concrete and is mixed with mortar used during
building construction bond bricks
Bricks
Common bricks
Can be made on the farm using ant heap soil which is made into
paste using water and put into moulds firmed and emptied then
dried.
Face bricks
Engineering bricks
Fire bricks
Insulation bricks
Cement blocks

ASBESTOS
Zinc/iron roofing sheets

Properties of building materials

Good insulation properties
Offer protection from rain and adverse weather conditions
Should be easily renewable
Easily obtained
Easily available
Not expensive
Durable
Easy to work with
Cut to usable sizes
Not brittles under heavy loads

Designs for livestock buildings

Livestock building have different shapes and designs but should be
big enough to accommodate animals without overcrowding them
Once idea is conceived in the head, it must be drawn on paper as a
plan
Drawing a plan assist in calculation of materials needed

PLAN FOR CHICKEN HOUSE

The house can have a low wall made of bricks with net mesh wire on
top.
Walls can be built up to the top to make a storeroom
Building can be roofed with asbestos or thatch
Low wall prevent cold weather
Mesh wire improves ventilation and lightning
Nest boxes, feeders and perches are put inside

SPACE REQUIREMENT FOR ANIMALS

Floor space area required by an animal is needed when designing
farm building as this determine the size of the building
animal Floor space/area needed
Chicks brooding 50 cm2 each
Laying hens (big) 3birds/m2
Laying hens (small) 4 birds/m2
broilers 6birds/sq
pigs 1.5sq each
rabbits 2 rabbits/sq

Cost of materials
Costing is the calculation of all the cost of materials to be used when
constructing a building
Materials needed to construct a building are taken from a building
plan
To do costing .a list of all materials needed is compiled and the cost
worked out
Example
List of materials
7 treated poles
3 m by 1 piece chicken mesh wire
Door
1kg by 6 inch nails
2 door hinges
1 padlock
1locking hinge
6 bags cement
Labour cost
River sand
Pit sand
Stone quarry
Write the expected cost of each material against it
Add the total

DETERMINING THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH MATERIAL

Shows whether a product is worth the cost .it is calculated by
comparing cost against returns which will be obtained from the
purpose of the building, for a building to be cost effective ,it should
be durable and last for many year so that costs are recovered during
the use of the building.