That’s where building components like an insulated warm barn environment becomes critical – after all, you want your cows to eat for production instead of eating to stay warm. In the north, for example, where winters can be long and harsh, cows still must be kept warm even when they’re inside for extended periods. However, one main design consideration for cow comfort is climate. Ron: We’ve built dairy barns all over the country, and I can tell you that no two are alike because so many details are involved. What building factors does Lester take into consideration to ensure a herd is safe and comfortable? Q: Cow comfort is everything to a successful dairy operation. For robotic barn facilities, discussion takes place on cow movement, milking centers, and all the support data that takes place with robotic computerized milking processes. That’s followed by designing the parlor and whether the owner wants a subway included – which is trending now – where much of the equipment is stored to declutter the actual milking parlor. Next, we move on to other details such as the owner’s plans for manure handling, hospital pen and holding barn specifications. It’s interesting to note that the largest freestall dairy barn Lester ever built houses and will milk 10,000+ cows to date, with larger yet freestalls currently in the design phase.
#Parlor dairy barn design plus#
Then, we discuss size: Does the owner want a four, six, twelve plus rows or a larger barn? Different design and engineering elements coincide with each. Once we are all together, we review different design scenarios, starting with whether the owner wants a conventional dairy barn or a robotic one. We start the design process by organizing and managing roundtable meetings between the owner and all of the construction partners. Ron: Dairy barns can be complicated buildings, requiring your builder to coordinate construction efforts with other contractors and vendors – the concrete folks for pouring floors and lagoons, excavators, electricians, plumbers, and representatives from all the equipment providers, i.e., milking parlor and other robotics equipment, like feed spreaders and manure handlers if you are going that route). Q: Once property, finances and permits are lined up, what comes next? If you are constructing a large facility to accommodate 2,500 cows, for example, the state will require an environmental analysis before it issues any permits.
#Parlor dairy barn design upgrade#
Q: If a dairy farmer wants to upgrade their facility, where should they start? We asked Ron a few questions about contemporary dairy barn construction: “We’re a full-service design, engineering and manufacturing company with a lot of knowledge in dairy.” “As dairy barns have become more complicated, Lester has evolved right along with them,” said territory manager Ron Foust, who has 40 years’ experience in dairy barn sales and design. Lester Buildings, however, has been in the business of building dairy barns since 1947. Because dairy barns are considered a specialty construction item, not every building company in the market has the engineering, design capabilities and sales know-how to meet the unique needs of farmers looking to upgrade their facilities today.