Housing and pasture

In short

• Standing for a 600–700 kg cow: 1.75–1.85 m long and 1.10–1.25 m wide, falling 1–2 % towards the channel.
• Dung channel 40–50 cm wide, 15–25 cm deep; passage behind the cows at least 1.2 m.
• Calving pen 3 × 3 m with deep bedding; the calf in its own dry pen, out of draughts.
• Dry and airy, but no draughts. A cow copes with cold better than with heat and ammonia.
• Muck heap on concrete, roughly 4–5 m² per cow for 6 months, well away from and downhill of any well.
• Always keep a way out in the shed. Never stand between a cow and a wall without an escape route.

What's inside

Chapters

1. Where to put the shed and muck heap
2. Tied or loose housing
3. Sizes: standing, trough and channel
4. A shed for two cows and a calf
5. Floor, bedding and the muck heap
6. Air, light, winter and summer
7. Water and water bowls
8. Calving pen and calf
9. Fences and electric fencing
10. Pasture and yard
11. Safety in the shed
12. Common mistakes
13. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Shed shopping list
• Bedding, muck heap and fence calculator
• My shed: measurements and sketch
• Safety and cleaning check
• Shed and pasture maintenance calendar