Interactive lesson

Housing and pasture, step by step

Interactive lesson: where to put the shed, a standing and tether that fit, bedding and the muck heap, air and water, the calving pen, fencing, pasture and safety beside the cow.

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The whole lesson as text

1. Where to put the shed

A good shed starts with the site: dry, close to the house and well away from the well.

Dry, well-drained site — The shed should be on dry ground, a little higher than its surroundings, close to the house for milking and night-time calving.
Long side to the south — A long side facing south or south-east gives light and warmth in winter. Shelter the shed from the south-west and west weather and the cold north and east winds, and keep the openings on the lee side.
Muck heap away from the well — The muck heap and dirty-water tank go well away from and downhill of wells, springs and streams. Roughly at least 30 m, more on free-draining soil and limestone.
Track and gate — A tractor or trailer must be able to reach the shed and the muck heap. A track at least 3 m wide, a gate 3–4 m.

Why: A shed close to the house saves steps at milking and night calving. A muck heap above a well or spring can pollute the water for the whole house.

Rules on distances and water protection differ by country, state and council; check with the competent authority before you build.
A new shed or a major conversion may need planning permission or a building permit. Ask the council before you dig foundations.

2. Standing and tether

The sizes are rough, for a cow of 600–700 kg; for a Dexter count roughly 20 % less.

A standing that fits — For a large cow the standing is 1.75–1.85 m long, from trough to channel, and 1.10–1.25 m wide. The partition between cows runs to half the standing.
Fall to the channel — The standing falls 1–2 % towards the channel so urine runs off. The dung channel is 40–50 cm wide and 15–25 cm deep.
Trough and passage — Trough 0.60–0.80 m wide, smooth so it's easy to clean. Passage behind the cows at least 1.2 m, for the barrow and milking.
Sliding tether — A chain or strap round the neck, on a sliding tether, so the cow can lie down, get up and lick her flank. A flat hand fits between strap and neck.

Why: Too short a standing means hind feet in the channel and a dirty udder. A cow normally lies 10–14 hours a day, so the tether and standing must allow it.

Watch how the cow gets up: hind end first, and she needs roughly 60–70 cm of space in front of her for the lunge.
If she hits her head on the trough or lies half in the channel, the standing or tether is wrong.