We house adult dairy cattle in a wide variety of barns of different shapes and sizes, and we have devised different ways to ventilate them.

Grotegut Dairy in Newton, Wisconsin, is always photo-ready. As the Wisconsin Farm Discovery Center’s designated tour partner, the 2,700-cow dairy welcomes several daily bus tours filled with visitors from the nearby agriculture educational center.

Ventilation systems in the U.S. are divided into two main types: natural and mechanical ventilation systems.

When building a dairy barn, choosing between natural and mechanical ventilation can be a tough decision; however, a novel design brings the two methods together to create a controllable environment with big time cow comfort payoffs.

Mechanical ventilation in tunnel- and cross-ventilated barns can be well worth the resources it requires to maintain a controlled, comfortable environment, but there are a few questions to be addressed:

A Focus on Energy Technical Data Sheet Animal barns require ventilation to keep cows and other farm animals comfortable and productive year- round. Ventilation provides fresh air, removes excess moisture and helps regulate seasonal temperature swings. The benefits are real and practical; ventilation helps farmers maintain healthy, productive animals.