Written June, 1996
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File B3-10





Livestock Facility Construction Costs

Jay D. Harmon, extension agricultural engineer, 515-294-6360, jharmon@iastate.edu


Livestock facility construction cost information included in this publication can be used for developing business plans and determining the expected investment requirements and profitability of constructing new or remodeling existing facilities. Estimates of the construction costs of livestock buildings and the cost of equipment used in livestock buildings are included in the tables.

The information can also be used for developing estimates of the financial feasibility of new construction and remodeling projects. Cash-flow and other financial projections can be made by using this information.

The facilities and equipment costs should be used only as initial cost estimates for business plans and financial projections. Actual cost and construction estimates for your specific project should be used in final business plans and financial projections.

Swine building survey

Surveys were sent to 196 Iowa swine producers that had constructed swine facilities in the last few years. Seventy-five surveys were returned, many with answers for multiple buildings. Questions were asked about cost, ventilation, cooling, and manure handling for breeding and gestation, farrowing, nursery and finishing buildings. The compiled information is listed in Tables 1-5. Some categories had few responses and therefore are less dependable. These tables are presented in the accompanying "pdf" file that you can access by clicking here or on the icon above.

Table 1. Finishing Buildings

Table 2. Nursery Buildings

Table 3. Farrowing Buildings

Table 4. Breeding and Gestation Buildings

Table 5. Outdoor Manure Storage

Swine equipment costs

Table 6 is a summary of an informal survey that was conducted to determine estimates of cost equipment used in swine production. This table is presented in the accompanying "pdf" file that you can access by clicking here or on the icon above.

Table 6. Swine equipment cost estimates.