A 20 ft cattle bunk of 2x6 boards on 4x4 skids, with head rails 30 in above the trough, for ten cattle.
Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
240 inLength
10Cattle
11 x 5.5 inTrough
8 to 12 hrBuild time
~$379.63Materials, part estimate
Drawings All dimensions in inches
3D viewfinishedFront elevationRight elevationPlan viewfrom above
Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted
Qty
Stock
Length
Part
Cut
1
2x6 GC
120
Bottom 1a
laid flat
1
2x6 GC
120
Bottom 1b
laid flat
2
2x6 GC
120
Side left
on edge
2
2x6 GC
120
Side right
on edge
1
2x6 GC
120
Bottom 2a
laid flat
1
2x6 GC
120
Bottom 2b
laid flat
2
2x6 GC
120
Head rail left
on edge
2
2x6 GC
120
Head rail right
on edge
3
4x4 PT
50
Head post left
bolted to the skid ends
3
4x4 PT
50
Head post right
bolted to the skid ends
5
4x4 PT
18
Skid
cross skid
Cut list: sheet goods
Part
Stock
Size
Note
End front
3/4 ply
11 x 4
End back
3/4 ply
11 x 4
Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Bottom 1a 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Bottom 1b 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Side left 1 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Side right 1 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Bottom 2a 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Bottom 2b 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Side left 2 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Side right 2 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Head rail left 1 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Head rail right 1 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Head rail left 2 120
2x6 GC x 12 ft
Head rail right 2 120
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Skid 1 18Skid 2 18Skid 3 18Skid 4 18Skid 5 18
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Head post left 1 50
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Head post right 1 50
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Head post left 2 50
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Head post right 2 50
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Head post left 3 50
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Head post right 3 50
Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out
Sheet 1: 3/4 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Shopping list $355.63 checked / $24.00 estimated
Item
Store
Qty
Each
Line
Note
2x6x12 ground-contact pressure-treated
Home Depot
12
$14.18
$170.16
see lumber cutting diagram
4x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treated
Home Depot
7
$11.28
$78.96
see lumber cutting diagram
23/32 in (3/4 in) CDX plywood, 4x8 sheet
Lowe's
1
$46.57
$46.57
see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb box
Home Depot
2
$29.97
$59.94
Carriage bolts, nuts and washers, 12 pack
Home Depot
2
$12.00
$24.00
Total before tax
~$379.63
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.
Build steps
Cut the trough boards in halves of 120 in, the end pieces and the 4x4 cross skids from the cutting diagram.
Lay the five cross skids on level ground, 60 in apart, and screw the two bottom boards across them for each 10 ft half.
Screw a side board on edge to each outer bottom edge, and the two plywood ends inside.
Bolt three 4x4 posts to each side of the skid ends and screw a 2x6 head rail on edge to the outside, 30 in above the trough.
Fill from the side with a loader. Fence the bunk so the animals eat from one side only, or leave both sides open for 20 head.
Before you start
A 20 ft bunk feeds 10 cattle at 24 in each. The trough is 11 in wide and 5.5 in deep, enough for grain and pellets, or loose hay.
The head rails stop animals from standing in the bunk and let them reach the feed. Set them 24 to 30 in above the trough for cows.
Move the bunk every few months, or lay a gravel pad under it; the ground gets churned and wet.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.