We have three cows and a bull at the moment. It might be up next winter depending on what we get calf wise this summer. Because we have limited grazing and it's prone to being wet, we house the cattle from 1st November to 1st May or thereabouts.
Previously (and this year) we've loose housed them on straw. About 1/3 of the total concrete area is bedded, and the remaining 2/3 has the water tough, the ring feeder, the licky bucket and loafing space and this is where they get tied up to be fed everyday.
The concrete area is scraped clean every day and the bed area topped up.
But the cows are still dirty and I hate it. I bathed one side of Annie today; I'll do the other half tomorrow.
I'm considering building cubicles for them next year. I've sort of got a a plan in my head of a 4" x 4" framed base filled with sand and topped with rubber mats. That would give a 4" high kerb, which isn't too high for them to step up. I'd put either sawdust or chopped straw as a wee bed topping.
I guess the cubicles have to be as deep as the cattle are long so that they can stand comfortabley but dung off the cubicle. How wide though? It has to be comfy but not wide enough to allow them to turn round.
Dividers made from 4" x 4" timber?
Thoughts and advice welcome.