California Code of Regulations
Title 3 - Food and Agriculture
Division 2 - Animal Industry
Chapter 1 - Dairies
Article 22 - Permanent Market Milk Dairy Buildings
Section 659 - Milking Barn
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Slopes and Finishes.
(b) Walls.
All walls shall be of masonry or reinforced concrete and be at least 3 feet 6 inches in height above the floor. All walls shall be finished smooth on the inside with the top ledge rounded on open walls. When a barn wall forms part of the holding corral or an entrance or exit lane, it shall be finished smooth on the outside. Where concrete block or masonry construction is used, all voids below the floor line shall be filled with concrete. In elevated stall type barns, the wall under the cow standing platform adjacent to the milker's area shall be finished smooth.
(c) Plate Line.
The plate line in the floor level milking barn shall not be less than 7 feet 3 inches above the floor. In elevated stall type barns, the plate line shall be not less than 6 feet 6 inches above the cow standing platform.
(d) Superstructure.
The exposed superstructure of the barn roof or ceiling shall be constructed of smooth material. Exposed superstructure shall be such that the roof sheathing is applied directly to the rafters.
(e) Electrical Wiring.
All surface-mounted wiring shall be in rigid conduit or electrical metal tubing. All outlets and switches in wet locations shall be of a type which afford protection from water. Metal stanchions shall be electrically grounded.
(f) Stalls.
The cow standing platform in floor level barns shall not be less than 3 feet wide for each cow and shall be at least 4 feet 10 inches and not over 6 feet from the stanchion line to the gutter, depending on the size of the cattle and the design of the manger. Where stanchions are not used, the cow standing platform shall be at least 7 feet in length. The cow stall in tandem type elevated stall barns shall be 8 feet in length. The tandem, parallel and herringbone stalls shall have a smooth, flat, nonabsorbent splash panel behind each cow.
(g) Light and Air Space.
The milking barn shall have at least 400 cubic feet of air space for each stall. Window space shall be equivalent to at least 6 percent of the floor area. Light-transmitting material in the roof may be substituted for window space. Artificial light shall not be less than 20-foot candles at the floor level and so located as to minimize shadows in the milking area.
(h) Alleys.
(i) Gutters.
All barns shall have gutters so designed and located to catch the defecation of cows while in the stall and washings of the barns.
(j) Curbs.
(k) Stanchions.
Stanchions shall be of metal or other waterproof, easily cleanable material approved by the Director. The lower horizontal line of the stanchion shall be at least 2 inches above the curb and at least 14 inches above the floor when no curb is provided.
(l) Mangers.
In floor level type barns, the manger shall have a minimum width of 27 inches with a back wall at least 12 inches above the floor; corners rounded, the low point of the manger at least 8 inches out from the stanchion line and 3 inches above the floor; with a true lengthwise slope of a minimum of 11/2 inches in 10 feet. Mangers and feed boxes in all type barns shall be constructed of impervious materials, finished smooth and provided with drainage outlets at low points.
(m) Ventilators. Adequate ventilation shall be provided in the milking barn and holding corral/wash area if roofed.
(n) Barn Doors. The lower half of barn doors shall be covered on both sides with smooth corrosion-resistant metal.
(o) The dimensions of sub items (b), (f), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), of T3-659 may be altered for milking barns for goats.
1. New
section filed 9-10-71; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 71, No.
37). Approved by State Building Standards Commission 8-18-71.
2.
Amendment of subsections (a)(1), (a)(3), (f), (i)(2) and (j)(1), and new NOTE
filed 11-9-95; operative 12-9-95 (Register 95, No. 45).
Note: Authority cited: Sections 407 and 33481, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 33481, 33482, 33483, 33484 and 33486, Food and Agricultural Code.