Pasture barn

A barn for housing dairy cows, the barn comprising:

• a feeding and milking area comprising a plurality of feeding stations, each feeding station including:
• a manger configured to permit a cow to obtain dry feed;
• a waterer configured to permit the cow to obtain drinking water;
• and
• a head lock configured to releasably secure the cow in the feeding station while the cow is being milked;
• an alley adjacent the feeding and milking area;
• and
• a pasture area extending between the alley and a wall of the barn, the pasture area configured to permit a plurality of cows to lay down, the pasture area including a raised bed disposed on a level impermeable base, the raised bed including a bedding material having a variable depth selected to define a predetermined slope extending between the alley and the wall, the predetermined slope selected to facilitate removal of excess liquid from the pasture area, the bedding material composed of partially dried un-composed manure having a moisture content of less than 60% by weight prior to being applied to the raised bed;
• and
• the barn being free of interior barriers such that cows are able to move freely between the feeding and milking area, the alley, and the pasture area.