DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Farm Development Service S147

Minimum Specification for Calving Pens, Separation Pens, and Isolation Boxes
January 1992

1. General
Isolation Boxes are required to isolate animals with certain contagious health
problems.
Separation Pens are required for animals with certain less contagious health problems.
Separation pens can also be used as normal calving pens.
Where Calving Pens are provided in excess of the number of required separation pens
shown below, they may be constructed as indicated in Clauses 6 and 11.
The table below gives the minimum number of isolation boxes and separation pens to
be provided.
Herd Size No. of Isolation Boxes No. of Separation Pens
Up to 15 1 -
16 - 35 1 1
36 - 50 1 2
51 - 75 2 2
76 - 100 2 3
Extra isolation boxes and separation pens for herds over 100 shall be added at one of
each per 50 cows.

2. Site
Ideally the site should be apart from other animal housing but conveniently located for
use. Separation pens may adjoin other animal houses and there may be a common
airspace between animals but pens must be separated by walls at least 2m high or by
passageways at least 2.0m wide. Isolation boxes shall have no such common air space.

3. Accommodation
Pen size shall be at least 3.6m x 4.0m with individual access. It is recommended that
separation and calving pens shall be fitted with a suitable lifting arrangement.

4. Concrete
Concrete shall be purchased on the basis of a characteristic 28 day crushing strength
of 25N/mm2. The cement content to produce this may vary but in no case shall it be
less than 280kg/m3. Slump shall be between 50mm and 100mm and maximum
aggregate size shall be 20mm. Cement used in concrete and concrete products shall be
certified to IS 1: 1987 or to an international standard or a national standard of another
Member State of the European Community which provides an equivalent guarantee of
safety and suitability.
5. Foundations
Wall foundations shall be excavated to a depth of 600mm below original ground level
or until firm strata is encountered. Footings shall be at least 225mm deep and as wide
as the wall to be carried plus 225mm on each side.

6. Walls
External walls to be 225mm concrete block: minimum height to wall plate over floor
level shall be 2.4m. Internal walls to be 150mm hollow cast concrete block. Internal
walls to separation pens to be built to 2m over floor level. Common wall between an
isolation box and any other animal pen or building or animal compound shall be built
tight to roof level. Damp proof course to all walls to be laid at floor level.
Gates or barriers may be used in separation pens where there is a passageway, not
used by animals, at least 2.0m wide between the pens and between any other animal
enclosure. Calving pens may be divided by barriers or gates.

7. Wall Finishes
Walls internally shall be rendered with 2 coats 12mm and 6mm thick of 3:1
sand:cement incorporating plasticiser or 3:1:1/4 sand:cement:lime to a steel trowel
finish. Walls externally shall be rendered to a smooth finish.

8. Roof
Roof materials shall be either
1. Corrugated asbestos - cement sheets IS 7: 1983; or fibre cement sheet [pr-EN 494];
2. Pre-painted zinc, (or aluminium-zinc,) coated steel sheet approved by the
Department;
3. Other material approved by the Department.
All sheet materials shall have an identifiable indelible stamp on each sheet. 10% of
roof area shall have translucent sheeting.

9. Roof Structure
For monopitch roof, rafters shall be at 1.80m centres and sized as follows:-

Span (m) Under 5.0 5.0 - 5.5 5.5 - 6.4 6.4 - 6.75
Rafter Size (mm) 150 x 75 175 x 75 200 x 75 225 x 75
Purlins shall be 75mm x 50mm at 1.2m centres and for asbestos 75mm x 75mm.

Pitched roofs may be used for spans up to 6.75m. The pitch angle should be
approximately 30o. Rafters shall be at 1.3m centres and shall be sized as follows:-

Span (m) Under 5.0 5.0 - 5.5 5.5 - 6.75

Rafter Size (mm) 100 x 50 125 x 50 150 x 50

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Note: All roof timbers shall comply with Irish Standard Recommendation SR 11:1988
and shall be stress graded and marked SCA (Strength Class A)

10. Floor
Floor incorporating 1000 gauge polythene DPC shall be 100mm concrete, on 150mm
well compacted hard-core blinded with sand, laid to falls of 1 in 50 to gully trap
within each pen. A raised lip shall be formed under the door to prevent effluent
flowing out. Where gates or barriers are used in separation pens then a raised lip or
channel shall be formed underneath to contain the effluent. The gully trap with water
seal shall have a metal grid cover.

11. Effluent Disposal

Effluent shall be stored underground either within an isolation box or separation pen,
or outside of it. The storage capacity shall be 140 litre (30 gallon) per box. Tanks shall
be fitted with a 450mm x 450mm medium weight galvanised steel or concrete
manhole cover for access. Effluent from isolation boxes and separation pens shall be
collected and disposed of separately from that of the main herd onto non-grazed land.
However, the effluent from these pens and boxes may be collected in a single tank for
separate disposal.
Ordinary calving pens do not require a separate effluent collection or disposal system
from that of the main herd.

12. Ventilation
Provide inlet ventilation of 0.3m2 per box (long narrow high level opening is
recommended) and outlet ventilation of 0.15m2 positioned 900mm above the inlet.
Inlet and outlet shall be on external walls. Equivalent ventilation is required for
separation and calving pens.

13. Doors
Doors shall be at least 1.5m wide and 2m high of timber (50mm thick framed, braced
and sheeted) or steel framed, box or angle iron, clad with medium gauge iron sheeting,
finished with 3 coats of lead free paint. It is recommended that doors should be
sliding. Steel framed and clad doors are recommended for Isolation Boxes to facilitate
disinfection.

14. Water/Food
Suitable drinking and feeding arrangements shall be provided in each pen or box. A
hose point for cleaning shall be provided.

15. Lighting
Artificial light should be provided by fluorescent tubes in hose-proof, and impact-
proof polycarbonate diffusers - lighting level 100 lux. Electrical work shall be carried
out strictly in accordance with the second edition of National Rules for Electrical
Installations ET 101/1991 and specifically Section 705; Installations of Agriculture

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and Horticultural premises. A completion certificate shall be required signed by the
Electrical Contractors or a person duly authorised to act on his/her behalf to certify
that the electrical installation has been constructed and/or has been tested according to
the National Rules of Electrical Installations and has been found to be satisfactory.

16. Cow Tying

A tying arrangement shall be provided in each pen or box

4000

Trough
(removeable

Raised Tying
Lip Fall Ring
3600

Bowl Fall

Trap

150mm Blockwork

225mm
Blockwork

Outlet

Wall tight to
Roof
Inlet

2400

Raised
Lip

Figure 1 Isolation Box: Plan / Section

Note: Other accepteed types of construction are accepted.