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COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 80
Stalls:
Stalls can be made up of panels to partition barn space into several sections – make movable partitions from poles, boards, or metal gates. You can convert an existing building, i.e. a shed, garage, old chicken house, or build an inexpensive barn by using poles, logs or straw bales.
A pole barn can be built with tall posts set deeply into the ground. Walls can be rough lumber or pole and particleboard. Roof rafter can be lumber or poles that support a galvanized metal roof. If you live in a snowy area, the roof should slope so that the snow will slide off rather than build up and collapse. You may want windows for light and solar heat.
Large straw bales or even small ones stacked up can make sides for a calving barn if you have a pole structure and roof. Straw is an excellent insulation, and panels or poles keep cows from eating or rubbing on the bales. Another solution is that of chipboard sheets with wood-shavings between them to make a water-proof wall if you cover the outside wall with rough-cut slabs, metal, or even a tarp to protect it from moisture.
If you have sufficient space in your barn, create an alley between rows of stalls. You can have 4 or 6 stalls, each row of stalls being an alley itself if the stalls are made of moveable panels.
Stalls should have enough room so a cow won't get into trouble lying against the wall, it should also have enough room for you to work with a calf-puller if needed. Stalls 12 by 12 feet are minimum, 12 by 14 feet is better. If panels are moveable rather than solid partitions, this can give some leeway if you have a tight situation when using a calf-puller or have a cow lying too close to the wall. Another advantage of moveable partitions is that you can catch a cow behind one, pushing it tightly against her, with a rope behind her holding the panel so that she is unable to back-up. If this is the situation then you do not have to tie her up or take her to a head-catcher or chute for checking, or correcting a backward position birth or pulling the calf. Just swing the panel away when finished or if she goes down.
When making panels for the stalls, make the bottom half solid by using plywood or boards so that a calf cannot stick its head through and get hit by an aggressive cow in the next stall.
Stall maintenance:
Stalls should be clean. Use lots of clean bedding to reduce the risk of infection. If the stall is not clean manure can get on the udder and the calf will then have a dirty udder to nurse from.
Do not leave the mother and calf in the barn longer than 24 hours, put them in a clean pen or small pasture after the
Stalls can be made up of panels to partition barn space into several sections – make movable partitions from poles, boards, or metal gates. You can convert an existing building, i.e. a shed, garage, old chicken house, or build an inexpensive barn by using poles, logs or straw bales.
A pole barn can be built with tall posts set deeply into the ground. Walls can be rough lumber or pole and particleboard. Roof rafter can be lumber or poles that support a galvanized metal roof. If you live in a snowy area, the roof should slope so that the snow will slide off rather than build up and collapse. You may want windows for light and solar heat.
Large straw bales or even small ones stacked up can make sides for a calving barn if you have a pole structure and roof. Straw is an excellent insulation, and panels or poles keep cows from eating or rubbing on the bales. Another solution is that of chipboard sheets with wood-shavings between them to make a water-proof wall if you cover the outside wall with rough-cut slabs, metal, or even a tarp to protect it from moisture.
If you have sufficient space in your barn, create an alley between rows of stalls. You can have 4 or 6 stalls, each row of stalls being an alley itself if the stalls are made of moveable panels.
Stalls should have enough room so a cow won't get into trouble lying against the wall, it should also have enough room for you to work with a calf-puller if needed. Stalls 12 by 12 feet are minimum, 12 by 14 feet is better. If panels are moveable rather than solid partitions, this can give some leeway if you have a tight situation when using a calf-puller or have a cow lying too close to the wall. Another advantage of moveable partitions is that you can catch a cow behind one, pushing it tightly against her, with a rope behind her holding the panel so that she is unable to back-up. If this is the situation then you do not have to tie her up or take her to a head-catcher or chute for checking, or correcting a backward position birth or pulling the calf. Just swing the panel away when finished or if she goes down.
When making panels for the stalls, make the bottom half solid by using plywood or boards so that a calf cannot stick its head through and get hit by an aggressive cow in the next stall.
Stall maintenance:
Stalls should be clean. Use lots of clean bedding to reduce the risk of infection. If the stall is not clean manure can get on the udder and the calf will then have a dirty udder to nurse from.
Do not leave the mother and calf in the barn longer than 24 hours, put them in a clean pen or small pasture after the