Industry agreed dairy housing standards released

Industry agreed dairy housing standards released

Tuesday 24 November, 2015

The first industry agreed set of good practice standards around the design and construction of dairy housing structures in New Zealand has been released by DairyNZ and the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ).

Practice Note 29 is intended to be a reference source for engineering practitioners, contractors, farmers, product suppliers, regional council and local authority staff and others involved in the dairy industry.

The work was undertaken as part of the Transforming the Dairy Value Chain programme, a $171 million programme under the Ministry for Primary Industries' Primary Growth Partnership, and led by DairyNZ and Fonterra. The programme is developing new products, increasing on-farm productivity, reducing environmental impacts and improving agricultural education.

DairyNZ developer Helen Thoday says the information set out in the Practice Note meets a recognised need for guidance about the design and construction of off-paddock housing for dairy cows on New Zealand farms.

"There are a number of interested parties in the design and build of any dairy facility and this note recognises all of them and their stake in the build, but the Practice Note never loses sight of the fact that the cow is the most important party. Building a structure that meets everyone's expectations is difficult, and this note helps to achieve that task," says Helen.

As part of the launch of this Practice Note, DairyNZ hosted four meetings around the country that were attended by over 80 different stakeholders including engineering consultants, dairy cow housing designers, effluent specialists, regional councils, building contractors and animal behaviour experts.

"This illustrates the range of skills that are required for a successful build," says Helen.

This IPENZ Practice Note was was written by lead author Rex Corlett an IPENZ professional member and principal engineer with Opus Rural.

"There was robust consultation with the rural construction industry in the development of the Practice Note, which covers critical areas such as project management, site selection, floor plan, services, ventilation, effluent systems, building structure and consents," says Rex.

To accompany the Practice Note, DairyNZ has written a complementary guide: Dairy cow housing - A good practice guide for dairy housing in New Zealand.
Practice Note 29 and the dairy cow housing guide can be downloaded or ordered from dairynz.co.nz

Photo caption:
DairyNZ developer Helen Thoday and Rex Corlett of the Institute of Professional Engineers with the new Practice Note on dairy housing.

-ENDS-

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