Making the best decisions around infrastructure development investment is all about sound analysis of your available options.
This section covers the various infrastructure types, the benefits and limitations for each along with specific design considerations. It also looks at on farm case studies where actual Australian dairy farmers talk about their experience of infrastructure investment.
What to Consider?
No matter if your proposed investment is big or small, it is important that your eventual design takes into account of these multiple factors.
Development Types
Permanent Feedpad
This type of feed pad is used for regular supplementary feeding of cows on an area of land that is either formed with a solid foundation and/or concreted to establish a permanent facility.
Dairy Shelter - Slatted Floor
A fully covered facility with a concrete slatted floor that covers an effluent holding bunker. The bunker is made of concrete and is large enough to hold or store effluent for extended periods.
Dairy Shelter - Loose litter
This is a fully covered facility, usually built with plastic film over a framed roof. The base is a soft bedding material such as straw, sawdust or woodchips, capable of absorbing some effluent.
Composted Pack facility
Compost bedded pack is an alternative loose floor system or approach for dairy housing facilities that is typically suited to warmer and dryer climates. The set up often utilises centralised cow alleys and feed alleys.
Freestall facility
These are permanent, engineered structures in which dairy cows are housed and usually provided with their daily feed requirements and water. They may be open air, partially or fully enclosed.
Case Studies
Moving to a Concrete Feedpad
Read about Matt and Renee’s experience in moving to a concrete feedpad to improve production and deal with wet conditions more effectively.
Moving to an All Season Shelter
Read about Simon and Pep’s experiences moving to an all-season shelter with a loose woodchip floor to protect their pasture no matter what the weather.
Moving to an Earthen Feedpad with Concrete Troughs
Read about Jamie and Jacinta’s who farm in South West Victoria and have recently moved to an earthen feedpad with concrete troughs.
Moving to a Grazing and Free Stall System
Lee and Gary farm 430 ha at Cooriemungle in South West Victoria and have moved to a grazing and free stall system. Read about their experience.
Moved to a Concrete Feedpad with Feed Bunker and Yard Sprinklers
Tony and Ellie farm in Northern Victoria and have moved to a concrete feedpad with feed bunker and yard sprinklers.