Off-paddock system · Composting barn
Mono Pitch
Composting Barn
A cost-effective system that works as both a calving barn and a feedpad. Ideal for small-to-medium herds looking for a low investment that still provides options for the high-pressure parts of the year.
$1,200–1,500
Per cow
Costs and specifications
What it costs, and what it asks of you.
Cost per cow
$1,200–1,500
500-cow build
$600–750k
Loafing time
1–12 weeks
Space per cow
4.5–6 m²
Surface
Woodchips / sawdust
Cleaning
Weekly tilling
Clean time
10 min – 1 hr
Equipment
Feed out / mixer wagon, tractor + ripper
Best for
A cost-effective dual-purpose calving barn and feedpad. Low investment, with options for high-pressure periods.
Before you commit
- Bed management is the job. At 4.5–6 m² per cow, the compost bed has less room to absorb mistakes than a centre pole or centre lane barn at 8–10 m².
- Weekly tilling. Budget a tractor and ripper, plus 10 minutes to an hour each clean.
- A steady bedding supply. The surface is woodchips or sawdust, so a reliable local source matters.
Real-farm story · Carterton, Wairarapa
Creaming It Farm
A hybrid composting barn for 250 cows on Willie and Sally Bosch’s farm — mono-pitch roof, 12 m central loafing/compost area, feed faces on both sides. First-season wins: 30% less pasture damage, milk solids up from about 1.9 to just over 2.0 per cow, and they haven’t picked up a mastitis cow since mid-August. The barn captures all effluent — no pond needed.
cows
250
less pasture damage
30%
mastitis cases since mid-August
0
On the first morning, not a single cow was standing — they were all laying down. It paid for itself already.
Let's price it right
Get a price for your farm.
Tell us about your herd and what you’re trying to solve. We’ll work out whether a mono pitch barn is the right fit, and what it will cost.
Takes about two minutes. We’ll come back to you with a price range, not a sales pitch.
Compare off-paddock systems
This guide lays out all eight side by side: the m² per cow, the build cost, the cleaning demands, and the farms already running them.
Other off-paddock systems
Weighing it up?
If you need more room per cow, or only stand off for a few days at a time, one of these may suit better.
Centre Pole Composting Barn
Winter and feed the whole herd at once, with 8–10 m² per cow and minimal poles in the bedding pack. $2,200–2,800 per cow.
Centre Lane Composting Barn
Feed the whole herd year-round and winter half of it, split into four mobs under one roof. $2,500–3,000 per cow.
Uncovered Feedpad
Short-term stand-off of 1–5 days on rubber matting, with minimal ongoing costs. $1,200–1,500 per cow.
