Easy to Build DIY Mobile Shade Shelter for Livestock

This Easy to Build DIY Mobile Shade Shelter for Livestock will help your livestock cool off while being rotated. As summer approaches, prioritize shade for your livestock with this DIY.

Easy to Build DIY Mobile Shade Shelter for Livestock

I made This Easy to Build DIY Mobile Shade Shelter for Livestock last year while rotationally grazing my sheep. The portability of this shade structure offered them comfort on those hot, sunny days. It was excellent for daily moves. You can see here, I had a friend help me move it which was nice 🙂

This mobile shade shelter was made for my 3 sheep. They loved it as it provided shade, but transported their minerals too! They would rub against the panels and scratch off their shedding hair in the heat.

Rotational Grazing and Pasture Management

Using this Easy to Build DIY Mobile Shade Shelter for Livestock has been pivotal during the summer of rotationally grazing my sheep. It helped manage my pasture with ease and gave the sheep much comfort.

I chose to rotate my sheep because it allows the pasture to rest and regrow with healthier root systems, until the next time they were on that paddock. There are so many benefits of rotating animals daily to help build soil health and fertility. I made a video about it here.

It was so easy to train my two ewe lambs to the electric fence and move them. They were perfect and docile… I did this for a whole year, except for the winter months.

Here is a video of my two ewes content in their paddock before being moved again.

The Results of Rotating Animals-One Year Later

After a year of careful pasture management, my land exploded with new growth and fertility. You can see a difference in this video!

This picture was taken May 5, 2023, & the video above is from May 5, 2024.

Rotational grazing not only helps with soil health but also for the health of the livestock. I haven’t had any parasite issues because they were moved onto new pastures every day or every other day. I did boost their immune systems with herbs and oils which I talk about in this video.

The trees benefit from this past season of rain and irrigation, too!

Current News on the Homestead

This February, my ewe gave birth to two ram lambs and a lamb ewe. We then processed my perfect ewes, pink and pepper, who taught me how to become a shepherd. You can read more about the beautiful circle of life in this blog post.

Since then, the ram lambs have tested the electric fence that I sometimes forgot to turn on. Other times, when it was on they would squeeze right through it, unphased.

They almost strangled themselves doing this and taught my mama ewe to do the same. It became a matter of safety so I took down the nets.

Eventually, they got a little bigger, and without being banded/castrated, they were always raming my LGD and eventually me. I am currently 7 mo. pregnant and could not have this happening. So, I had to return these two rascals to my neighbor, the ultimate shepherd!

The ram lambs taught me valuable lessons about shepherding:

• training them to electric fences diligently is very important while they are young
• castrating ram lambs will help their aggressive male behaviors

Here is a short video of them being wild and unruly without their fencing.

How to Fix a Broken Mobile Shade Shelter

I repaired the mobile shade shelter because it broke two weeks ago. The wind swept it up and it went tumbling across the pasture. Despite this crazy storm, this mobile shade shelter lasted a good run.

I took this opportunity to relax on the rotational grazing of my sheep (a mama ewe and her lamb ewe) while this was being repaired.

Being 31 weeks pregnant, I decided to reinvent my rotational grazing method to help minimize me doing a lot of work. The fencing and Easy to Build DIY Mobile Shade Shelter for Livestock are heavy and I need to save energy!

However, I still wanted this repaired for future use. My dad helped me take off this 2×4 and replace the fixtures.

Step-by-Step Instructions To Build A Mobile Shade Shelter

• Measure and mark 12″ on both ends of the 10′ 2x4s
• Cut the 12″ off of each board
• Measure and mark 6′ on the 12′ 2×4 to make 2 pieces
• Set the frame of the shade shelter by placing the 4 pieces of wood into a large rectangle
• Measure and mark 2.5″ at the front ends of the 9′ 2x4s
• Drill a 1/4″ hole at the 2.5″ mark for the eye bolt pull system
• Repeat for the other 9′ 2×4 board
• Screw the 9′ board to the (L) to the 6′ board (W) together with (2) 3-1/2″ screws to form one corner
• Repeat to make the other 3 corners
• Once you have the frame built, drill on the back ends of the boards a 5/8″ hole for the tires
• Attach (4) corner braces to each corner using the 1″ screws
• Attach the cattle panels with either fencing staples, cut hanger straps, or both. See Notes*
• Secure the two cattle panels together with zip ties
• Cover the sharp edges with duct tape so they don’t shred your tarp
• Place the tarp over the cattle panels, then zip-tie it to secure it to the cattle panels
• Brace the corners on each side with a plank of wood. Mark the piece of wood underneath to form diagonal ends. Cut and Screw into place with 3 1/2″ screws on both sides
• Place tires on each side and secure them with the nuts and bolts
• Optional: Screw in the extra 12″ board you cut off of the 10′ 2×4 and attach it to the front so the frame is even with the wheels.
• Secure your eye bolts in the pre-drilled holes at the front of the frame on both ends
• Slide your cable wire through the eye bolt and attach the cable wire clamp at a comfortable placement. See Notes*
• Make sure everything is tight and secure.

FAQs