Building Refurb - cubicle and passage dimensions

[RJ1]

After your advice on a building we're looking to refurb.

Building currently has a row of cubicles against a wall, then passage, another single row of cubicles backing into the first passage and then another passage onto a feed barrier.

Cubicles need lengthening and feed barrier now unnecessary. So, seeing if we can squeeze another row of cubicles. It would work out something like this.

Cubicles against wall 2.4m
Passage 2.5m
Head to Head cubicles 4.2m
Passage 2.5m

Cows are 500kg, dry for most of the housing period. Would have a separate feed area. Shed is 18m, poss extended to 27m long.

Would you put the extra row of cubicles in?
Thanks

 

[vantage]

For small cows that are dry, I’m sure it would be ok. Bigger lactating cows probably a bit tight.

 

[Beef farmer]

Fill the shed with beds if your a 5.5k spring calver

 

[dairyrow]

should be fine on length. but make sure the width are right. AHDB dairy building specs might be of use to you

 

[Blue.]

After your advice on a building we're looking to refurb.

Building currently has a row of cubicles against a wall, then passage, another single row of cubicles backing into the first passage and then another passage onto a feed barrier.

Cubicles need lengthening and feed barrier now unnecessary. So, seeing if we can squeeze another row of cubicles. It would work out something like this.

Cubicles against wall 2.4m
Passage 2.5m
Head to Head cubicles 4.2m
Passage 2.5m

Cows are 500kg, dry for most of the housing period. Would have a separate feed area. Shed is 18m, poss extended to 27m long.

Would you put the extra row of cubicles in?
Thanks

Dimensions aren’t ideal,but what you must religiously do is scrape twice a day,or put auto scrapers in.

 

[upnortheast]

I know it`s difficult with an existing building but my opinion - in an ideal world - 2.4 passages are too narrow.

I would also avoid cubicles facing a wall, ( Been there, got the teeshirt ) cows like to have plenty lunging room when getting up. Less likely to get stuck

Depends on your priorities ?

 

[Moorlands]

Too tight on space for me. Just put 2 rows in there and let them
Have some room your cows will thankyou for it.

 

[Grassman247]

I know it`s difficult with an existing building but my opinion - in an ideal world - 2.4 passages are too narrow.

I would also avoid cubicles facing a wall, ( Been there, got the teeshirt ) cows like to have plenty lunging room when getting up. Less likely to get stuck

Depends on your priorities ?

I’ve got cubicles against a wall and it’s fine, just have to leave plenty of lunging room that’s all, we only ever get cows stuck in head to head cubicles

 

[RJ1]

I’ve got cubicles against a wall and it’s fine, just have to leave plenty of lunging room that’s all, we only ever get cows stuck in head to head cubicles

I appreciate that the dimensions are not ideal, hence the conundrum.

I think 2.4m against wall is sufficient. I was more worried about the passage widths.

Would be interested to know if the responses suggesting that there's insufficient room have larger cows?

 

[Beef farmer]

I appreciate that the dimensions are not ideal, hence the conundrum.

I think 2.4m against wall is sufficient. I was more worried about the passage widths.

Would be interested to know if the responses suggesting that there's insufficient room have larger cows?

People in your system are happy with outdoor cubicles. If i was a 520kg cow, id prefer to have a slightly narrower passageway but a roof.

 

[Tarw Coch]

that’s a difficult one, two rows of cubicles leaves a lot of passage width but 3 is too much a squeeze for my liking. How much space is in the feeding area, if going with 3 I’d want plenty of loafing space in the feed area.

 

[RJ1]

Th

that’s a difficult one, two rows of cubicles leaves a lot of passage width but 3 is too much a squeeze for my liking. How much space is in the feeding area, if going with 3 I’d want plenty of loafing space in the feed area.

They could have a loafing yard as big as the shed itself.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Th

They could have a loafing yard as big as the shed itself.

I think you’d be ok with a good sized loafing area, your shed isn’t particularly long which does affect the number of cows that could be in the passegway at any one time.