Pack Barns

As an alternative to traditional housing for cattle, bedded-pack barns can help modernize your facilities while minimizing initial capital costs. Rather than using individual stalls (which traditional housing methods utilize), bedded-pack barns provide a large bedded resting pen. Generally, the bedding that is laid down on the floor is some combination of wood shavings or dried sawdust. A properly maintained bedded-pack barn provides a comfortable and healthy environment for your herd.

While capital costs are initially lower to build a bedded pack barn than a traditional individual stall barn, the annual maintenance is higher for a bedded-pack barn due to using more bedding and more labor to change out the bedding. Some studies show, however, that a bedded-pack barn is healthier for your cows and helps prevent lameness which can therefore increase milk production in your dairy cows.