homestead.fyi / MINERAL-CATTLE

Cattle Mineral Feeder

A covered plywood mineral box, 48 x 18 in, on two 2x4 legs, with a lip, a back and a sloped roof.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
48 x 18 inSize
cattleFor
2 to 3 hrBuild time
$47.88Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
Front elevation
Front elevation 50 in 38 1/2 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 21 in 38 1/2 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 50 in 21 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
22x424Legon edge, under the floor

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Floor1/2 ply48 x 18
Front lip1/2 ply48 x 4
Back1/2 ply48 x 12
Left end1/2 ply17 x 12top cut at the slope
Right end1/2 ply17 x 12top cut at the slope
Roof1/2 ply50 x 22 7/8leans back, shelters the minerals

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 x 8 ft
Leg 1 24Leg 2 24

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Roof22 7/8 x 50Floor48 x 18Front lip48 x 4Back48 x 12Left end17 x 12Right end17 x 12

Shopping list $47.88 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x8 stud, SPFHome Depot1$4.15$4.15see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$32.26$32.26see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 1 lb boxHome Depot1$11.47$11.47
Total before tax$47.88
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

  1. Cut the plywood floor, lip, back, ends and roof from the sheet layouts.
  2. Screw the floor to the two 2x4 legs, then the lip, back and ends around it.
  3. Screw on the roof so it leans back, with 2 in of overhang at the front.
  4. Stake it to a post or screw it to a fence at a height that clears the animal's back, away from the water.
  5. Put in loose mineral for cattle, 1 to 2 lb at a time.

Before you start