Madison Co. Virginia | S Frisch - 6/21/2019 13:54
The price of free stall loops has always been crazy in my opinion. A few years ago I saw in a dairy magazine where a guy used a single 2x10 board, rounded at the rear. U bolted the neck rail on. Seems like a good easy cheap alternative.
Shoot, if you're doing that, I wouldn't worry about a metal neckrail. Nail a 2x4 to the top of the 2x10. Strong enough, and easy to adjust. I'd be more skeptical of getting the 2x10 mounted solidly enough to a post to handle the stresses. Obviously, it would work best in a head-to-head stall, with a single 2x10 spanning both stalls. I still think you'd be shearing lag bolts and breaking boards on a regular basis.
Personally, if I was in a position to build a freestall barn, I wouldn't consider new. You basically have your pick of abandoned barns that have a full matching set of hoops in good shape. Put out an advertisement within a day's driving distance, saying "$35 if you pull, $15 if I pull. Text me the dimensions and number you have available." I'd bet you get results. Edit to Add: If they pull the stalls, be sure to specify that they include every bracket and the majority of the bolts. No sense paying twice.
Edited by kipps 6/21/2019 15:27
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GreenFreestalls?
