How to Build a Nurse Cow Barn

A nurse cow is any cow that adopts calves born to another cow. A nurse cow can be any breed, but Jerseys, with their hard-wired maternal instincts, are particularly adept at becoming nurse cows. However, introducing an orphaned calf to the designated nurse cow can be discouraging; the nurse cow can reject the calf. One strategy to help nurture the adoption process is to create a nursing stanchion and chute within an existing barn with box stalls.

Things You'll Need

  • Metal or wood materials for fencing
  • Metal cow stanchion
  • Electric drill
  • Bolts or screws
  • Hinges
  • Circular or reciprocating saw
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose two adjoining box stalls in the barn, one for the nurse cow and the other for introducing the calf. The contiguous railing between the two stalls will be the location for the nursing chute and stanchion.

    • 2

      Install fencing materials to create a nursing chute for the cow. One long side of the nursing chute will be the contiguous railing between the two box stalls. One short end of the nursing chute will be the existing box stall rail perpendicular to the contiguous railing. Dimensions for the nursing chute sides should be the height of existing railings, 30 inches wide and 6 feet long.

    • 3

      Install a stanchion per product instructions at the head of the nursing chute.

    • 4

      Alter the adjoining railing between the box stalls by adding a hinged opening. For instance, if the existing barn box stall railing has four rails at 1-foot intervals from the ground up to 4 feet for the top rail, create a 2-by-4 feet long opening hinged at the 2-foot level. When up, this hinged opening will provide access for the calf to the cow for nursing. When down, it will keep the calf safely enclosed in the box stall.