4 row barn, head to head or tail to tail?

[Farmer_1994]

We are starting to throw ideas around for new barn, pretty simple really but the great debate seems to revolve around this question on our farm. Head to head or tail to tail stall layout? Head to head narrows the barn up a bit and reduces over all cost. Other opinion is that tail to tail is more preferable for the cow. What is the opinion of the masses? Is there any credible research on this question?

 

[Jamer]

I like tail to tail for the flexibility of shutting cows in/out of a passage if needs be on a regular basis.

 

[mixed breed]

Im currently doing my shed too. Although the gable posts are annoyingly already positioned for head to head I'm going for tail to tail, as the shed also has a feed passage, I will in effect be able direct cows to feed and shut them out of the cubicles for a while post milking... which I'm hoping is a good thing.

 

[upnortheast]

This is ours, Works extreemly well.
My opinion is to avoid "head into the walls" cubicles. They lack lunging space

 

[upnortheast]

Is there any credible research on this question?

Wilson agri https://www.wilsonagri.co.uk/videos-and-gallery/ & Ifor Davy https://www.cowplan.com/cow-cubicles have some vids & info on cow behavior & comfort on their web sites

 

[Farmer_1994]

This is ours, Works extreemly well.
My opinion is to avoid "head into the walls" cubicles. They lack lunging space

View attachment 891721

I like that, our climate doesn’t allow for a cubicle shed with outside feeding like that. Winters would be brutal haha

 

[vantage]

My opinion is to avoid "head into the walls" cubicles. They lack lunging space

I’m making my new shed cubicles against the wall 10’ , inside shed 8’ open fronted. My cows are likely about 600kg average.