Lesson 1Frame systems and materials: wood frame, iron portal frame, block fill, and cheap mixesThis part compares wood, iron, and block frame systems for small barns. It explains spans, post gaps, bracing, and mixing materials to cut cost while keeping strong and easy to 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 stabilityLesson 2Dung handling and water flow: paths, channels, scraping, collection spots and safe store placeThis part details dung paths, channels, and scraping ways for small barns. It explains collection spots, gravity flow, and placing stores to guard water, cut smells, and allow growth later.
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 3Air flow and day light plans: cross air, top vents, side openings, clear roof sheetsThis part explains natural air flow and day light for small barns. It covers cross air, top vents, side openings, and clear sheets to control heat, wet air, and inside light.
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 4Roof systems and rain/dry management: slope, overhangs, channels, and simple top air flowThis part covers roof shapes, slopes, and materials for rain in small dairy barns. It explains overhangs, channels, pipes, and simple top vents guarding walls, yards, and inside spaces.
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 5Cow comfort layout: feed paths, rest areas, trough design, bedding types and water flowThis part focuses on layouts for cow ease and health. It covers feed paths, rest areas, trough design, bedding types, and water flow keeping rest spots dry and cutting foot troubles.
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 6Base and floor systems for animal buildings: strip, pad, ground slab, dry spell protection, no-slip topsThis part reviews base and floor choices for small dairy barns, like strip, pad, ground slabs. It covers dry spell protection, water slopes, and tough no-slip tops for cow safety.
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 7Milking spots for small herds: no-parlour hand or bucket milking, movable or fixed parlours, milking path planningThis part compares milking ways for small herds, from barn hand or bucket to simple parlours. It covers cow flow, clean ways, tool spots, and planning milking paths for safe, calm work.
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 8Barn facing and spot: sun path, main wind, distance from home and dung area, access tracksThis part explains placing a small dairy barn on the farm. It thinks about sun path, main winds, distance from home and dung store, and tracks for feed, milk collection, and emergencies.
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 9Worker safety and easy design: safe paths, no-slip floors, lights, handling gates and cow hold basicsThis part covers worker safety and easy design in small barns. It includes safe paths, no-slip floors, lights, and simple gates and hold points that cut strain and hurt risk.
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 10Sizing and space planning: cow count, space per cow, stall or free area sumsThis part shows sizing a 20-cow barn, summing stall or free space, and setting space per cow. It links cow ease, dung paths, and feed space to daily work and herd growth.
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 footprints
