Types of dairy housing

A. Stanchion/barn/confined /stall:

• It is modern farm having large herds as the large number can be handled in one farm house. There are separate stalls for each animal and individual feeding and management of animal is possible.
• For 8 or more than 8 cows two types of barn are designed:

a. Face to face

• The manure alley can be eliminated in this barn since open space is used for this purpose.
• Thus it give saving of 20% floor area and cost of construction reduces approximately.
• Facing types is preferred for bullocks.

b. Tail to tail

• This type is preferred because most of the jobs are done from this type and also provides easy supervision.
• Such barn are constructed 10-11m with sufficient length to accommodate all the animals.
• Central drive is kept at sufficient width so the farm tractor can driven easily along to collect the manure from the gutter

B. Loose house barn

• Animal are kept untied.
• This type is suitable for large number of herds .Success of the farming depends on spacing.
• Feed manger should be70-75cm /animal Cows are milked in the separate milking room.
• Space is 9-11m.sq per cow and there is long continuous manger in the covered area.

Advantages of head to head

• Suitable when house is without wall and open space can be used as manure alley. Self sanitization process prevails as the gutter is exposed to the sun directly.
• Feeding is possible from the single feed alley.
• Visitors can inspect cows in the two rows at the same time.

Advantages of tail to tail

• Better inspection.
• Less chances of infection. Cows can get fresh air.
• Central passage can be utilized while milking.