Wareing completes on state of the art Pemberton’s cow shed
Wareing Buildings has completed on the design, fabrication and build of a state of the art cow shed for a Lancashire farming influencer, designed to improve the wellbeing of the livestock and increase milk yields exponentially.
Farming vlogger Tom Pemberton, owner of Pemberton’s Farm Shop & Dairy in Lytham, appointed Wareing Buildings to replace the farm’s two former, dilapidated cow sheds with a single, fit-for-purpose facility which would contribute to improved welfare of the 115 cows on site, and support the farm with its anticipated increase in demand for dairy output in coming years.
The building includes a 22.5˚ pitch roof and a protected daylight roof ridge, which work together to draw hot, stagnant air out of the shed to improve air quality. The roof is also entirely watertight, connected to an extensive guttering and drainage system to prevent leaks which plagued the previous buildings’ slurry stores.
Rubber cubicles have been installed to house the cows overnight as well as rubber flooring to provide softer footings. Meanwhile, new rapid release drinking troughs enable easier cleaning and refilling compared to more traditional fittings.
Additionally, adjustable lighting has been used to reproduce natural weather conditions inside the shed. The lighting can fluctuate between 180 lux – which simulates the same outdoor lighting levels as seen during spring months, when cows produce their highest quality milk – and 40 lux, which is proven to be the ideal lighting level to achieve optimal sleeping conditions in cows.
Speaking of the project, Tom Pemberton – who has almost half a million subscribers to his YouTube channel – said: “The two objectives of this project were animal welfare and making our lives as farmers more efficient – both of which can be achieved with outstanding levels of design and craftmanship, which is exactly what Wareing Buildings delivered to us.
“Our 115 cows have always been spread across two sheds; not only were these buildings tired and outdated, but their set up always made maintenance a struggle. Now, we are much more efficient in terms of cleaning, milk production and being able to assess the wellbeing of our livestock all under one roof.
“The intricate details of Wareing Buildings’ design will make a huge difference to our abilities as a milk farm. For example, having a roof pitch that’s between five and seven degrees steeper than the industry standard will make a significant difference to the air quality in the building. Combined with the other state of the art fittings and fixtures recommended by Wareing Buildings, overall, the improvement in conditions could quantify to millions more litres of milk yield in the next 60 years.
“The service offered by Wareing is second to none; they understand that small margins make a huge impact when it comes to farming, and their delivery of this fantastic facility embodies their expertise and insight.”
Simon Tickle, senior estimator at Wareing Buildings, said:
“Many farmers are considering their existing estates and employing experts to undertake major refurbishments – and in some cases, complete rebuilds – of livestock housing to improve efficiency on site, increase their yields and ensure they’re part of a revolution which will see farming firmly cemented as operating within the modern era.
“Our work together with Pemberton’s Farm Shop & Dairy has achieved that and so much more. Most vital to all farmers and especially the Pemberton family is ensuring their buildings always improve the general comfort and wellbeing of their animals, and we worked in true partnership to identify all the tools and technology required to achieve that for many years to come.”
