Considerations For New Builds
All passageways should be wide enough to prevent deep slurry build up and minimise bottlenecks and bullying.
Feed Passage
- 4-5m, wide enough for 2 cows to pass side by side at the rear of a feeding cow. Allow more space if cows are large.
Cubicle Passage
- 3-4.5m, wide enough for a cow to stand ½ in ½ out of cubicle and still allow 2 cows to pass. Should be wider if double alley, larger cows or if there are minimal cross passages.
Falls on Alleys
- Yards with falls on them will drain better and conditions will be drier under foot
- Flood wash systems need 3% falls
- Tractor scraped systems can benefit from a 5% fall
- Automatic scraper systems are at a major disadvantage with a typical limit of 1.5%
- Avoid falls across the width of alleys as much as possible (to avoid pools next to kerbs or feed barriers where standing occurs most often)
