How much space do they need

[Melhan]

Just wanted to know how much space people allow per animal for under cover winter housing . Im planing to put up more barn space and was wondering about pros and cons of more space under cover or hard yard area.

Regards Simon

[Rob R]

Our cattle have about 43 square feet/4 square metres per animal, averaged over all ages of stock, straw bedded and fed at outside feed barriers. The new building is just over (on the straw side) half and half straw & scraped concrete and it worked well last year so we're going to keep that up in the future and convert the old building to the same system (it currently has 1/4 of the shed as a feed 'passage' and the whole of the pen bedded with straw) which will give us an extra bay for cattle.

One of the biggest cons with a hard yard is that you'll need sufficient storage for the dirty water, particularly if you're in an NVZ.

[SteveM]

we find that the more space they have the less mess they make, we seem to have to bed up based on number of animals rather than area. one pen we normally split into two was left open last winter and the bedding wasn't anywhere near as deep at end of winter as normal. with us its just a case of adjusting pen size to suit who is getting on or disagreeing, and separating cows about to calve or with new calves.

[Jac]

Loose housing overall space requirements quoted
Up to 100 kgs = 2.6 sq metres
Up to 200 kgs = 4.4 sq metres
up to 350 kgs = 7 sq metres
above 350 kgs = 1.75 sq metres per 100 kgs (min 8.7 sq metres)

.... then do as you think best in the winter

Our in-calf heifers\cows and those with calves at foot are housed individually about 10 sq metres each, having access to large uncovered yard during the day.