Cow condition gained beneath shed's cover

Investing close to $250,000 to provide cover for their 360 cows under clear roofing is well worth the expense, say Monmouth Road farmers Peter and Roger Bayly.

Their standoff shed, 120 metres long and 28m wide, has been in use for close to eight weeks and Peter says they can already see the difference in their cows' condition.

``It minimises pasture damage, there is no waste of supplements and what we feed them goes on to their backs,'' says Peter on their decision to follow the growing number of Central Taranaki dairy farmers erecting standoff shelters for their herds.

``This side of the mountain, winter and spring certainly are our biggest limiting factor. The purpose is to mitigate some of the rainfall and protect our pasture. Having dry backs is making a huge difference.'' Redpath, which erected the shelter, says demand for the shelters in Taranaki is growing rapidly with its figures doubling over the past year.

``There is a lot of applications, but pasture control is the main reason in Taranaki,'' says director Glen Williams.

``When they (the herd) are in the shelter you use 20 per cent less feed and what they do feed, they put on their backs. Your grass regrowth is faster and it is a cost-effective way to deal with run-off.''

Peter says no morning rush to get the herd off wet breaks is an added advantage.

``People ask me if we are now not more busy, but it is more relaxed. You know they are in the shelter and it's easy to feed out.''

The 1/2!12-metre woodchip floor dries out easily due to the clear roofing and is aerated to prevent disease.

Urine leaches through the woodchip and around 15cm of metal chip to holding tanks from where it is sprayed.

``This is everything we have hoped for and more,'' says Peter, adding that he would certainly recommend other farmers think it over.