Jennifer MacKenzie is an agricultural photo journalist with almost 30 year's experience. Operating from her base in Cumbria, Jennifer undertakes mainly industry-related freelance writing and photography.
Roundhouse wins top CLA award
What has been described as “an ingenious concept for housing livestock” has won the CLA President’s Award for the best new build in England and Wales.
Designers of the Roundhouse, Geoffrey Simpson and John Allinson received the prestigious national award from regional CLA president Charles Harle at the farm of one of their clients, John Hodgson, at Summerhouse, near Darlington, on Friday January 18th 2008.
Mr Hodgson started using the building for finishing cattle in October 2006 and he is delighted with the health of his animals and their ease of handling in the revolutionary building at Summerhouse Grange.
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| CLA regional resident Charles Harle, left, presents the award for best new> build in England and Wales to John Allinson, centre, and Geoff Simpson. |
The Roundhouse concept dates back to the Bronze Age, making full use of natural air flows with its modern design and materials not only optimising welfare but reducing operational costs as well as blending into its surroundings.
The open-sided building is divided into segments, each opening into a central handling pen area which can be adapted to individual producer’s requirements.
And such is the interest in the award-winning concept that three new installations have been made in the last three months.
Roundhouse Building Solutions, a separate company set up by steel framed buildings manufacturers Simpson and Allinson in Barnard Castle, now has its 12th order for the unique building – recent builds include one to house suckler cows and calves in Dalrymple, Ayrshire and another for organic pigs in Lambourn, Berkshire.
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| At the CLA award for the best new build in England and Wales, left to right, John Allinson, John Hodgson, Charles Harle, Nick Hodgson, Raby Estate agent Jeremy Greenside, Nick's wife Claire and baby Harriet and Geoff Simpson. |
Angus
Collingwood-Cameron, CLA Director North East and one of the judging panel,
said:
“All the judges were extremely impressed with the Roundhouse and
felt that the National Award was clearly justified for this ingenious concept
for housing livestock, based on a design which actually goes back to the bronze
age.
“Its modern design and materials have created a unique building, not only
optimising animal welfare, but significantly reducing operational costs. The
roof is made from tensile fabric of high strength and designed to blend into
its surroundings.
“The design allows easier, safer handling, better air flow therefore reduced
veterinary bills, and initial results indicate an increased weight gain so a
reduced finishing time. I am sure that this design will become a common site
on UK farms and will also find other applications.
“It is precisely the kind of building that we hoped the Awards would uncover;
one that demonstrates a contribution to both environment and economy, and is
one that thoroughly deserves public recognition.”
The award comes five years
after the first prototype building and Mr Simpson is delighted with the
win. “A
lot of time and effort has gone into the design by myself, John Allinson, others
in the team and by the prototype owning farmers too,” he said.
“From the start we knew that round would be a winning shape and we have
persevered to bringing the concept to market,” he added.
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| Front, left to right, Charles Harle presents John Allinson and Geoff Simpson with the CLA award for best new build in England and Wales at a Roundhouse building at Summerhouse Grange, near Darlington. |
John Hodgson finishes around 500 heifers a year, buying them in as strong stores and finishing them over a three month period at 18 to 20 months old on a total mixed ration and selling them through Darlington market.
The Roundhouse will house
up to 150 animals based on 20 cattle weighing 450kg in each of the segment
shaped pens.
“When we first saw a Roundhouse my son Nick and I immediately said this
is the building we want. It is so easy for handling cattle but the health benefits
are probably the most important.
“We don’t have a vet’s bill now except for vaccination! “We
have no cases of pneumonia and the cattle are always content. They are also cooler
in the summer.
“Handling the animals is much safer. We can feed the cattle in less than
half an hour and we can muck out the whole building in under five hours.”
The Roundhouse, which is constructed in a standard size with a high strength tensile fabric roof, is of comparable cost to a conventional building but has the added benefit of the central handling area which can be fitted with a weighbridge or crush or other extra equipment.
