6 – 20 cows
A small commercial dairy supplying local processors or direct retail. Worth investing in a simple milking parlor, basic cooling, and a structured feed ration. Typical land: 1 – 1.5 ha per cow with rotational paddocks.
Climate adjustments
Switch climate to see how the design changes.
Temperate. Distinct four-season climate (mean 8–18 °C). Standard free-stall designs apply directly.
Sample farm layout
Schematic top-down view. Final designs are tailored to your land and climate.
What changes in temperate climate
Housing
4-row free-stall barn, natural ventilation with adjustable side walls.
Ventilation
Natural year-round; supplemental fans in summer; close side walls in winter.
Bedding
Sand or deep-mattress. Sand handling system must tolerate occasional freezing.
Water
Frost-proof automatic waterers; insulated supply lines.
Waste handling
9-month covered slurry lagoon; scrape in winter / flush in summer.
Also consider
- •Lighting plan: 16 h ≥ 150 lux in cow lying areas to maintain winter yield
- •Snow-load rated roof structure
Housing systems
- •Free-stall or loose-housing barn (8 – 9 m² per cow)
- •Open sides with curtain side walls
- •Concrete alley with rubber mats over cubicles
- •Separate sick / fresh-cow pen
Feeding arrangements
- •Drive-by feed alley with locking head-rails
- •Simple TMR delivered by tractor-pulled mixer wagon
- •Mineral block + concentrate top-dress at milking
Water systems
- •2 – 3 automatic waterers (40 L tipping type) per pen
- •Insulated lines in cold climates
Waste management
- •Daily alley scraping into a 3 – 6 month slurry pit
- •Solid-liquid separator (optional)
- •Land-application schedule by season
Farm management
- •Tandem 2 × 2 or herringbone 2 × 4 parlor
- •Bulk tank (300 – 800 L) with pre-cooling plate
- •1 – 2 operators per shift, two shifts/day
- •Monthly vet + nutritionist visits
Want this tailored to your land?
Try our AI preliminary design — instant — or request a full consultation.