Barn Planning Checklist

ADULT COW NEW BARN AND BARN REMODEL PLANNING CHECKLIST

1. Limitations to expansion, enterprise sizing
   • Manure storage
   • Parlor capacity and throughput
   • Holding area capacity
2. Group sizing
   • Lactating cows – parlor throughput to return cows to pen within 1 hour
   • Transition cows – 1.3 to 1.4 times the weekly average rate of calving times target pen stay duration
   • Hospital pen
   • Heifer pens – breeding management, mortality rates, sex ratio, 20 to 40% overbuild to allow for surges and down-time
3. Barn layout and ventilation style
   • Natural ventilation barn spacing
     • H-style
     • T-style
     • Other
   • Mechanical ventilation barn spacing
     • Cross-vent
     • Tunnel-vent
4. Maternity area design
   • Group pen
   • Individual pen
5. Pen configuration
   • Rows of stalls
   • Stall size
   • Alley widths
   • Crossovers and water access
   • Feed bunk design
6. Stall configuration
   • Surface
   • Resting Space
   • Lunge obstruction
   • Loop design
7.  Flooring
   • Grooving
   • Rubber
8. Cooling systems
   • Fans
   • Soakers
   • Ventilation
9. Miscellaneous areas
   • Hoof trimming area
   • Footbath