In general, the method of constructing feeding troughs and mangers for
horses and cattle is practically the same as for WATERING TROUGHS AND
TANKS, page 74. An outdoor trough, suitable for feeding grain or silage
to cattle and horses, is shown on page 48. (However, most farmers will
prefer not to locate a feeding trough in a fence corner.) This trough
is 10 feet long and 2 feet 2 inches wide, outside measurements. The
bottom is 4 inches thick as also are the side and end walls at the top,
but these walls slope on the inside to a thickness of 6 inches at the
bottom. This extra thickness makes not only a stronger feeding trough,
but also one more easily cleaned out. The entire trough is reinforced
with heavy woven wire fencing laid within 1 inch of the bottom and the
same distance from the inside face of the side walls. The trough is
held 1 foot 4 inches above ground by concrete benches, 2 feet 2 inches
wide, 1 foot thick, and extending 3 feet below the ground or feeding
floor surface.
In locating troughs, follow the same principles laid down under FEEDING
FLOORS. Dig the trenches for the concrete supports and carry the
concrete (mixed 1: 2: 4) to the necessary height by means of open box
forms similar to the one shown on page 36. Use a spirit level to get
the tops of these supports even. Immediately set the outside trough
form, previously made with openings in the bottom board, to match the
concrete supports. Provide a 2-inch drain hole, corked with a greased,
tapering wooden plug long enough to extend through the concrete. Place
1 inch of concrete over the bottom, lay the heavy woven wire fencing
so that it will extend up into the side walls. Tamp in the bottom the
remaining 3 inches of concrete. Finish this concrete with a steel
trowel. At once set in the sloping inside mold, built as one piece
and without a bottom. Fill the space between the inside and outside
forms with wet concrete. After the concrete is hard enough to bear
considerable pressure of the thumb (usually five to seven hours),
carefully remove the inside mold. No painting with neat cement (cement
mixed with water) or plastering will be needed if the inside form is
smooth. Do not take down the outside forms for two weeks. To make this
same trough of suitable height for small calves or sheep, place around
it a fill of gravel of the necessary depth. Two men can build such a
trough in less than a day.
=Materials Required=
Crushed rock or screened gravel 1 cubic yard at $1.10 $1.10
Sand ½ cubic yard at $1.00 .50
Portland cement 1½ barrels at $2.50 3.75
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$5.35