7. Barn Identification

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Dairy Barns
3. Swine Barns
4. Chicken Barns
5. Horse Barns
6. Sheep Barns
7. Beef Barns
8. Turkey Barns

7.1 Introduction

Barns are agricultural buildings with many uses, such as; housing livestock, storing grain and farm equipment, workshops and garages. Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) formulae are only applied to barns with the capability of housing livestock. To calculate MDS, the type, and number of livestock that can be housed in the barn is required.

If the barn is empty, an estimate of the barn's livestock housing capacity is required. The farm operator is generally a reliable source for the majority of this information including, the number of livestock, the type of livestock, and the housing capacity of the livestock facility. In some instances, there may be a need to obtain independent verification of the information provided by the owner of the livestock facility. In these circumstances barn identification can be an important skill for land use planners and building officials.

This section will provide information that will assist in the identification of various barns or livestock facilities.

Typically, the barn structure will convey the type of livestock housed within. Relying on structural characteristics alone however, can be misleading, especially with older livestock facilities. Various structural features (included in the tables below) may help in determining the type of livestock housed in the barn. Indicators of maintenance and barn capacity are also important, in determining the type of livestock housed in the barn. Refer to section 9.0 for more information on determining when a barn is a livestock facility. Refer to section 10.0 for more information on estimating housing capacity for livestock facilities.

7.2 Dairy Barns

 

Old Style - Tie Stall, Bank Barn

Typical number of animals housed: Smaller herds between 30 to 60 cows.

Number of stories: One in newer barns, two in older.

Things to look for: Calf hutches, milking parlor, vertical silos, pile of solid manure, stable cleaner.

Typical manure storage: Solid manure, but there are getting to be more liquid systems as well.

 

Modern Free Stall Barn

Typical number of animals housed: Herds from 50 to 500 or more.

Number of stories: One.

Things to look for: Calf hutches, attached milking parlors, vertical silos, large horizontal feed bunks, outside feeding areas, open wall curtains for ventilation.

Typical manure storage types: Liquid manure in earthen, concrete or steel storages.

Figure 1. Free Stall Dairy Barn.

Figure 2. Tie Stall Dairy Barn.

7.3 Swine Barns

 

Sow Barn

Typical number of animals housed: 100 sows to 3000 or more.

Number of stories: One.

Things to look for: Ventilation fans on side walls, no windows.

Typical manure storage types: Liquid manure in earthen, concrete or steel storages or under barn.

 

Weaner Barn

Typical number of animals housed: 1000 to 4000 weaners or more.

Number of stories: One.

Things to look for: Ventilation fans on side walls, no windows, loading chutes, feed bins on end.

Typical manure storage types: Liquid manure in earthen, concrete or steel storages or under barn.

 

Finishing Pigs (Farrow & Finish)

Typical number of animals housed: 1000 to 2000 per barn.

Number of stories: One.

Things to look for: Ventilation fans on side walls, or wide open curtain walls for natural ventilation, loading chutes, feed bins on end.

Typical manure storage types: Liquid manure under barn.

Figure 3. Aerial view of swine operation, with outside liquid manure storages.

Figure 4. Finishing pig barns with liquid manure storage tanks under the barn.

7.4 Chicken Barns

 

Broiler Barns

Typical number of animals housed: Usually 40' x 150' to 300' long housing 10,000 to 30,000 broilers.

Number of stories: Two, but some newer ones only one-story.

Things to look for: Large ventilation fans often on one end, with smaller side ventilation fans, feed bins on end, big cleanout doors on one end, concrete area at that end for cleanout.

Typical manure storage types: Solid manure that is cleaned out between each crop (4 to 6 crops/yr) and often removed from farm entirely.

 

Laying Hen Barns

Typical number of animals housed: Usually 40' x 100' to 300' long housing several thousand layers in tiered cages.

Number of stories: One, but could be two with manure stored below.

Things to look for: Ventilation fans on side walls.

Typical manure storage types: Newer barns have solid manure storage off to side filled by attached augers or conveyors, older ones with liquid manure.

Figure 5. Exterior of a broiler barn.

Figure 6. Interior of a broiler barn.

7.5 Horse Barns

 

Horse Barns

Typical number of animals housed: Usually 1 to 50.

Number of stories: Two as horse farms store hay above stable and horse farmers like the look of 'hip roof barns', but some newer barns are one-story with hay stored at one end.

Things to look for: Lots of windows, often a large riding arena attached to one end, side ventilation fans, wood fences.

Typical manure storage types: Solid manure that is cleaned out daily and often is stored on site for long periods and taken directly off farm in many cases.

Figure 7. Exterior, Front view of a modern horse barn.

7.6 Sheep Barns

 

Sheep Barns

Typical number of animals housed: 10 to 1000 ewes, usually for meat purposes, but more dairy ewe operations all the time.

Number of stories: Two, although some larger facilities are one story.

Things to look for: Many hobby size operations, usually older bank barn facilities.

Typical manure storage types: Solid manure pack under the sheep that is only cleaned out periodically.

Figure 8. Exterior old bank barn for sheep.

7.7 Beef Barns

 

Older Bank Barn with Associated Feedlot

Typical number of animals housed: 10 to 100, although there are larger operations.

Number of stories: Two.

Things to look for: Cattle outside of the barn in the yard area or pasture.

Typical manure storage types: Solid manure pack that is cleaned out periodically.

 

Feedlot Arrangement

Typical number of animals housed: 50 to 1000.

Number of stories: Often a two story older barn with attached outside feedlot area where animals eat.

Things to look for: Cattle generally in sight as they are outside, however there are barns where the cattle are inside all the time.

Typical manure storage types: Solid manure or liquid manure.

Figure 9. Older Bank Barn with Feedlot.

Figure 10. Feedlot arrangement.

7.8 Turkey Barns

 

Turkey Barn (Hens or Toms)

Typical number of animals housed: Usually 500 to 2500 turkeys.

Number of stories: One.

Things to look for: Naturally ventilated side walls with 'turkey' curtains, big cleanout doors on one end, concrete area at that end for cleanout.

Typical manure storage types: Solid manure that is cleaned out between each crop.

Figure 11. Interior turkey barn.

Figure 12. Exterior turkey barn.

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