Shed design
5-Cow Dairy Farm Shed Design
A compact, low-cost layout for a family farm with 5 cows: covered standing area, calf pen, calving pen, feed store and a small paddock.
5 cows need about 17.5 m² of roofed space, 35 m² of open yard and 3–3.75 m of manger. This plan fits that, plus calves and calving space, on a 10.5 m × 10.75 m plot.
What is in the plan
| Area | Size | Standard it meets |
|---|---|---|
| Cow standing area (covered) | 4.5 m × 4 m = 18 m² (manger excluded) | 3.5 m² per cow × 5 = 17.5 m² |
| Manger along back wall | 4.5 m | 60–75 cm per cow (90 cm given) |
| Calf pen (covered) | 3 m × 4.75 m = 14.25 m² | 2 young calves × 1 m² + 1 older × 2 m² = 4 m² |
| Calving pen (covered) | 1 × (3 m × 4.75 m) | 12 m² each, about 1 per 10 cows |
| Open paddock | 7.5 m × 6 m = 45 m² | 35 m² cows + 8 m² calves = 43 m² |
| Water trough | 1 m | 6–7.5 m per 100 adults = 0.30–0.38 m |
| Feed and fodder store | 3 m × 4 m | Dry storage for concentrate and fodder |
Building tips for 5 cows
- Build the covered area first and add the paddock fence later if money is tight.
- One calving pen is enough; it can house a sick animal when no cow is due.
- A 1 m water trough or two large tubs is enough for 5 cows, but keep it clean and full all day.
- Leave space at one end to extend the shed by 4–5 m if you plan to grow to 10 cows.
Other herd sizes: 10-cow design · 20-cow design. For buffaloes, bulls or a mixed herd, use the dairy shed size calculator.
Questions farmers ask
How big should a shed for 5 cows be?
About 17.5 m² of covered area and 35 m² of open yard for the cows alone. With calves, calving pen and a feed store, this layout uses a plot of 10.5 m × 10.75 m (112.875 m², about 1,215 ft²).
How much manger length do 5 cows need?
3 to 3.75 m, at 60–75 cm per cow. This plan gives 4.5 m (90 cm per cow), so all cows can eat at once.
Can I keep 5 cows in a smaller space?
The covered area should not drop below 3.5 m² per cow (about 18 m² for 5 cows), plus 7 m² of open yard each. Crowding raises injuries, mastitis and fights at the manger.
Sources
- TNAU Agritech Portal, Floor space requirements for dairy animals
- ICAR floor space table (via Agridots lesson)
- Teagasc, Calf and calving facilities farm survey
Last reviewed 2026-10-10.
This plan is a planning guide, not a construction drawing. Ask a local builder or engineer to check the roof, posts and foundations for your soil, wind and rainfall.