Lesson 1Cow waste handling and drainage: walkways, channels, scraping paths, collection spots, and safe storage sitesDetails on waste walkways, channels, scraping in small sheds. Covers collection areas, gravity drains, and placing storage away from water to cut smells and allow farm growth.
Alley slopes and gutter cross-section designManual versus mechanical scraping routinesTransfer channels, pits, and pump locationsLocating storage away from wells and homesRunoff control and access for emptyingLesson 2Sizing and space planning: cow counts, crowding levels, stall or free space calculationsLearn to size a 20-cow shed, figure stall or open space, set crowding. Links cow ease, waste paths, feed areas to daily work and herd increases on Botswana farms.
Determining herd size and growth assumptionsCalculating stall dimensions and alley widthsLoose housing space per cow and group pensStocking density targets for small herdsLayout examples for 20-cow barn footprintsLesson 3Worker safety and easy-use design: clear paths, no-slip floors, lights, handling gates, and cow hold pointsCovers worker safety in small sheds with clear paths, grip floors, good lights, simple gates and holds that cut effort and injury on rural dairy farms.
Safe worker paths and cow–human separationNon-slip walkways, steps, and thresholdsLighting levels for milking and night checksErgonomic placement of tools and outletsHandling gates and basic restraint pointsLesson 4Shed facing and position: sun track, main winds, distance from home and waste, access pathsPlace your small dairy shed right on the farm. Think sun path, winds, space from house and waste, paths for feed, milk collection, and emergency access.
Using sun path to warm or shade barn areasOrienting to prevailing winds for ventilationDistances to house, wells, and property linesAccess routes for feed, milk, and service trucksFuture expansion space and biosecurity zonesLesson 5Milking spots for small herds: hand or bucket in shed, movable or fixed parlours, milking path setupCompare milking for small groups, from shed hand-milking to basic parlours. Covers cow movement, clean areas, gear spots, paths for calm, safe routines.
Hand and bucket milking in stall barnsDesigning simple parlor-less milking alleysMobile versus fixed parlor considerationsPlacing vacuum lines, buckets, and wash areasCow flow and holding space near milking areaLesson 6Bases and floors for animal sheds: strip, pad, ground slabs, frost guards, grip finishesReviews base and floor options for dairy sheds like strips, pads, ground slabs. Handles frost safety, water slopes, tough grip surfaces for cows.
Soil bearing checks and simple site prepStrip and pad foundations for light barnsSlab-on-grade thickness and reinforcementFrost protection and perimeter insulationNon-slip floor textures and drainage slopesLesson 7Cow comfort layout: feed paths, rest spots, trough shapes, bedding types, drainageLayouts for cow well-being with feed paths, rest areas, troughs, bedding, drainage keeping rest spots dry and feet healthy on farms.
Sizing feed bunks and head spaces per cowDesigning resting areas and stall placementBedding materials, depth, and maintenanceDrainage around beds and crossoversMinimizing competition and stress at feedingLesson 8Roof setups and rain/snow handling: slopes, overhangs, channels, basic roof air flowRoof shapes, slopes, materials for rain and snow in dairy sheds. Overhangs, channels, vents protect walls, yards, insides.
Choosing roof pitch for rain and snow loadsEave overhangs to protect walls and alleysGutter sizing, downspouts, and outletsSnow shedding and ice management detailsRidge vent openings and weather protectionLesson 9Air flow and natural light plans: side-to-side air, roof vents, wall gaps, clear roof sheetsNatural air and light for small sheds: side air flow, roof vents, wall opens, clear panels control heat, wet air, light inside.
Cross-ventilation using openings and orientationDesigning ridge vents for warm, moist airAdjustable sidewall curtains and panelsTranslucent roof and wall panels for lightBalancing airflow with winter heat retentionLesson 10Frame systems and materials: wood frames, steel portals, brick fills, budget mixesCompares wood, steel, brick frames for sheds. Spans, post gaps, braces, mixing materials to save money while strong and easy build.
Timber post-and-beam frames for small barnsLight steel portal frames and trussesMasonry stem walls and infill optionsHybrid timber–steel cost-saving strategiesBracing, anchoring, and lateral stability
