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Algorithms for dairy barn design: Maternity and milking areas

Department of Agroforestry Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain

¹ Corresponding author: melena.fernandez{at}usc.es

This paper presents a series of algorithms for dairy barn design. The aim of the study was to develop algorithms for the design of new barn areas that can added to the main barn areas (resting, feeding, and exercise) to complement barn layout. More specifically, we developed design and dimensioning schemes to incorporate the maternity area and the milking area (holding pen and milking parlor) into dairy barns. Each algorithm requires input design parameters related to the characteristics of the areas considered. The output of the algorithms provides layout solutions for the maternity and milking areas and the overall dimensions of both areas, which enables the user to assess the possibility of incorporating maternity and milking into a dairy barn composed of resting, exercise, and feeding areas. The algorithms presented in this paper allow for space optimization by using the values defined for the design parameters considered.

Key Words: freestall barn • design • maternity • milking