Action dairy barns are keeping farmers like Michael Armstrong of Kallista Holdings ahead of the game by protecting paddocks and making management easier.
Action dairy barns are keeping farmers like Michael Armstrong of Kallista Holdings ahead of the game by protecting paddocks and making management easier.
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Since purchasing their farm at Korumburra two years ago, investing in infrastructure to improve management and profitability has been a priority for Michael.
Infrastructure projects include a 166-metre-long Action loafing barn and a 76-metre-long Action calving barn.
The loafing barn comfortably accommodates 350 cows, or up to 380 cows if stocked at 10m2 per cow.
One of the major advantages of Action loafing barns and calving barns is the ease of management, particularly during wet weather or heat events.
Michael said rather than cows being stuck at the back of a muddy paddock or bunching up due to heat stress, your cows were literally right where you wanted them.
This provides significant labour savings and reduces mental strain, giving peace of mind that the cows are safe and comfortable.
For a pasture-based dairy like Kallista Holdings, protecting paddocks in wet and dry seasons is critical for maintaining pasture.
This is where an Action loafing barn proves invaluable, allowing Michael to remove cows from pasture at the right time before any damage is done.
“When it gets too wet, we can bring the cows off the pasture, preserve the paddocks, put them in here (the loafing barn) and maintain our grass,” Michael said.
With land values increasing, smarter land management pays.
Effluent management is a key consideration for a compliant barn system, and when handled correctly, it delivers substantial operational benefits.
The two most crucial factors for barn design are weather protection and airflow.
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Michael is seeing these benefits first hand. The nutrient helps the compost process, and any other effluent is captured in the pond.
The barns also allow storm water run-off from the roofs to be captured via the Action custom gutter system.
The loafing and calving barns could capture around 9,873,600 litres annually, based on Korumburra’s average annual rainfall.
The secret of the success of these projects is the barn design and layout.
Kallista Holding’s barns use a standard 24-metre span, a cost-effective and functional choice.
The 10-metre bays are also considered best practice for barns, providing easy access, working well with formed up footings, and allowing the barn to be converted to a freestall setup in the future.
The result is a barn design that addresses cow comfort and functionality, while removing unnecessary complexity and cost.
Action building consultant Jason Stone shares the two most crucial factors for barn design are weather protection and airflow.
“Get them wrong and you will quickly see the negative effects in cow comfort and bedding management,” Jason said.
Kallista Holding’s barns achieve the right balance by using a steep roof pitch, side walls, and partially open gables.
Barn location can be just as important as design.
Michael positioned his barns close to the dairy to prevent production loss, and the site had a natural 1.5 per cent fall which was ideal for floodwashing and reducing earthwork costs.
If you are planning a similar barn project, engage the building consultants at Action for project specific advice on airflow, design, orientation, and site layout.
To book a consultation, visit actionsteel.com.au or phone 1800 687 888 .
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