While recommendations for adult cow freestall dimensions have changed dramatically over the last few years as a result of research, similar interest in the design and sizing of stalls for heifers has not yet been shown.
We do not recommend that heifers under 400 lbs (181 kg) be kept in freestalls, but prefer bedded packs for the management of these animals.
For heifers between 400 and 1,200 lbs (181 to 544 kg), freestalls can provide a comfortable lying surface sufficient to persuade the heifer from lying in the alley. The design must accommodate the resting body space of the animal, and not obstruct their normal lying and rising movements. Most importantly, the design should limit the risk for injury.
Heifers are generally fitter and less lame than older cows, so they tend to be more tolerant of different stall surfaces. Comfortable mattresses, manure solids, and other organic bedding materials do not pose the kind of issues that we face when housing mature cows. While we certainly do not want to make the lying area unhygienic, heifers are not lactating so stall use and comfort must be the main priority.
The recommendations for dimensions below come from trial and error rather than rigid science, and at best they may be considered a work in progress. However, they do represent our best estimates based on several heifer-rearing facilities constructed over recent years.
Heifer Freestall Dimensions
| Stall Dimensions | Body Weight (lbs) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400-600 | 600-800 | 800-1000 | 1000-1200 | |
| Approximate age, months (large-size Holsteins) | ~6 to 10 / ~11 to 13 / ~14 to 16 / ~17 to 21 | |||
| Approximate age, months (small-size Holsteins) | ~6 to 10 / ~11 to 14 / ~15 to 18 / ~19 to 22 | |||
| Stall width (on center) | 34 | 38 | 42 | 45 |
| Total stall length facing a wall | 80 | 88 | 96 | 108 |
| Outside curb to outside curb for a head-to-head platform | 156 | 168 | 180 | 192 |
| Distance of the rear curb to the brisket locator | Not Recommended | 64 | 66 | |
| Width of rear curb | 6-8 | |||
| Horizontal distance of neck rail from rear curb for mattress stalls | 46 | 55 | 64 | 66 |
| Horizontal distance of neck rail from rear curb for deep bedded stalls | 40 | 49 | 58 | 60 |
| Distance from divider loop to curb | 9 | |||
| Height of brisket locator above curb | Not Recommended | 3 | 3 | |
| Height of bottom stall divider above curb | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Interior diameter of stall divider loop | 24 | 28 | 30 | 33 |
| Height of neck rail above curb | 34 | 38 | 42 | 45 |
| Horizontal distance from brisket locator to loop angle | Not Recommended | 20-22 | 20-22 | |
| Rear curb height | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |