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Monoslope barns feature
a roof truss that is most typically sloped to the north,
revealing the open side to southern exposure. They often
include a solar face that allows sunlight in the barn and
keeps rain out. This particular barn is for lactating cows
on a bedded pack. A significant benefit to the monoslope
is that rainwater from the roof is not comingled with outside
yard manure. |
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The monoslope truss is commonly used
with heifer barns, but is flexible enough for use with
all types of dairy cattle. In this photo it is used for
up-close cows and heifers. |
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By and large the barn is most popular
as a heifer structure for heifers 4 months - freshening.
Many barns of this type are seen around the country. |
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They are now also appearing as calf
barn building shells as well, with good natural ventilation
in most locations and a flexible size to fit into various
locations. |
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Typical of this barn type is outside
watering and feeding on a concrete yard. |
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Also drive-by feeding featuring either
a post-rail configuration or headlocks as pictured here
on this lactating cow barn. |
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Bedding can be stored in an unused bay
for expansion potential and convenience of location. Other
items may also be stored in such an area that are handy
to have close by. |
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Some heiferbarns have group pens specifically
used for breeding pens. The headlocks are used for AI breeding. |
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Neckrails are less permanent and if
bolted can be adjusted up or down as the group requires.
If a herd out grows a facility simple modifications can
allow a lot of flexibility. The neckrail bracket pictured
here was an innovation by a custom raiser to make use of
his own welding skills and capture the flexibility in neck-rail
height. |
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As compliance to manure handling and
storage regulation grows, most monoslope barns have at
least a simple manure collection area, some have manure
pits. Care should be taken to design a barn and outdoor
yard to deal with the lot runoff from heavy rains. A grass
buffer strip is usually part of this. Best to include it
in the design to avoid mitigation or costly retrofits to
contain this water. |
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As many buildings pop up on the horizon
its best that producers model their systems after successful
barns in their area. Before you build make sure the builder
knows how these barns work. |
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Gating should be built according to
the actual post spacing in the constructed barn and installed
after the flatwork and curbs have cured. |
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Some longer barns have built solid barriers
to prevent any windswirl. If this is a problem on your
farmstead, simple measures can be taken to mitigate these
wind patterns. |
