Shed design
10-Cow Dairy Farm Shed Design
A simple, low-cost loose-housing layout for 10 cows, with a calf pen, calving pen, feed store and open paddock. Every size follows published Indian housing standards.
10 cows need about 35 m² of roofed space, 70 m² of open yard and 6–7.5 m of manger. This plan fits that, plus calves and calving space, on a 15 m × 12.25 m plot.
What is in the plan
| Area | Size | Standard it meets |
|---|---|---|
| Cow standing area (covered) | 9 m × 4 m = 36 m² (manger excluded) | 3.5 m² per cow × 10 = 35 m² |
| Manger along back wall | 9 m | 60–75 cm per cow (90 cm given) |
| Calf pen (covered) | 3 m × 4.75 m = 14.25 m² | 4 young calves × 1 m² + 2 older × 2 m² = 8 m² |
| Calving pen (covered) | 1 × (3 m × 4.75 m) | 12 m² each, about 1 per 10 cows |
| Open paddock | 12 m × 7.5 m = 90 m² | 70 m² cows + 16 m² calves = 86 m² |
| Water trough | 1.5 m | 6–7.5 m per 100 adults = 0.60–0.75 m |
| Feed and fodder store | 3 m × 4 m | Dry storage for concentrate and fodder |
Building tips for 10 cows
- Face the long side east to west in hot regions, so the roof shades the cows for most of the day.
- Use a rough concrete or brick floor that slopes gently to a drain behind the cows. Smooth floors cause slips.
- Keep the roof high enough for air to move, and leave the sides open or half-open in hot climates.
- Put the feed store next to the manger, so feeding takes fewer steps.
- Place the calving pen where you can see it from the house.
Other herd sizes: 5-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 10 cows be?
About 35 m² of covered area and 70 m² of open yard for the cows alone. With calves, calving pen and a feed store, this layout uses a plot of 15 m × 12.25 m (183.75 m², about 1,978 ft²).
How much manger length do 10 cows need?
6 to 7.5 m, at 60–75 cm per cow. This plan gives 9 m (90 cm per cow), so all cows can eat at once.
Can buffaloes use the same design?
Yes, with a little more room: 4 m² covered and 8 m² open per buffalo. For 10 buffaloes, make the covered area about 40 m² and the paddock about 80 m².
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.