Dairy Event 2010: Cattle housing for less than £1000 a cow
A light, well ventilated cattle house that, from start to finish can be built for less than a £1000 a cow is not perhaps a bad price by modern standards.
The New Zealand sourced Herd Home housing system uses a steel framework covered in a polythene film as its roof, with the side structure made from timber. Vents in the roof can be specified to automatically open and shut and a shade cloth is also available to assist with temperature control and air flow.
Concrete slats, which make up most of the floor area, cover a sunken trench – the holding volume is determined by its depth. Cattle can be bedded on straw which helps to form a non-slip surface on the slats. For cleaning out, the slats are lifted clear and a loader moves in.
