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Enter the number of cows and their stage. The calculator multiplies the stage space per animal by the flock or herd size, applies the minimum indoor total for small groups, and gives the indoor area, outdoor area, total area and the side of a square pen. Results are planning estimates, not a substitute for local welfare rules.
Cattle pen space depends on housing type and animal size. In this calculator a calf needs 30 sq ft of bedded pen and 100 sq ft of lot, a heifer needs 50 sq ft and 150 sq ft, and a mature cow needs 40 sq ft of enclosed bedded pack and 200 sq ft of lot. Bunk space is 18 inches per calf, 22 inches per heifer and 24 inches per mature cow when fed once daily. Ten mature cows need 400.00 sq ft indoors, 2000.00 sq ft of lot, 2400.00 sq ft in total and 20.00 ft of bunk. Use this beef cow pen layout guide by age to plan a shelter of the right square feet for your herd.
Enclosed bedded pack barns need more indoor area than open front sheds with a dirt lot, because cattle spend more time inside. The lot figure here is the outdoor exercise and feeding area, not pasture. Keep the bedded area dry with fresh straw or sawdust, because cattle lying on wet concrete lose condition faster than cattle on dry bedding.
Bunk space decides whether every animal can eat at once. Once daily feeding needs the full bunk length in this calculator, while twice daily feeding with limited access can use about half. If bunk space is short, shy animals eat last and lose condition even when total feed looks adequate. Split bunks across two sides when the barn is long, and keep water close to feed.
Twenty heifers need 1000.00 sq ft indoors, 3000.00 sq ft of lot, 4000.00 sq ft in total and 36.67 ft of bunk. Always allow room for growth: heifers become cows, calves become heifers, and a pen sized exactly for today will be overcrowded in months. A separate calving pen, kept apart from the main pen, makes calving safer for cow and handler.
A mature cow needs about 40 sq ft of enclosed bedded pack and 200 sq ft of lot in this calculator, with 24 inches of bunk space when fed once daily.
Ten mature cows need 400.00 sq ft indoors and 2000.00 sq ft of lot, 2400.00 sq ft in total, with 20.00 ft of bunk.
About 24 inches per mature cow for once daily feeding, 22 inches per heifer and 18 inches per calf. Twice daily feeding needs roughly half that length.
A calf needs about 30 sq ft of bedded pen in this calculator, plus 100 sq ft of lot, with 18 inches of bunk space.
Yes, a separate closable calving pen lets a cow calve away from the herd and lets a person work around her safely.
Bedded pack needs more area but gives a dry lying surface with cheap materials. Slotted floors need less area but cost more to build and need slurry handling.
Size pens for the mature size of the animals, not their current size, and leave spare capacity for calves that grow into the group.
Daily dry matter, as fed feed and herd totals from cow weight and stage.
Daily and weekly water, trough reserve and gallons for a cattle herd.
Daily, gross and saleable milk plus per cow totals for a cow herd.
Total area, acres, square side and fence length for horse pens.
Estimated due date, calving window, days remaining and progress for cow.
Acres needed, acres per cow, paddock size and hectares for cow pasture.