Housing Your Cow
If necessary, a cow can be kept in a three-sided shed structure. But if winters are harsh where you live, and you'll be milking her through the winter, you will want a small barn or shed that is four-sided. For each cow, plan on a 10 by 10 foot stall where the cow will live, and a stall, or stanchion, roughly three and a half feet wide by four and a half feet long with a head gate for milking her. If your cow is very gentle, you could just halter and tether her to a post for milking. And if she's really, really gentle, you'll be able to milk her out standing in her field.
To keep the barn sanitary, whitewash the wood in the interior of the barn. You should also have a concrete floor so that it can be kept clean.
Storing the Hay
You'll also need a dry, weatherproof storage spot for hay for your cow. Roughly 10 by 10 feet, plus at least 10 feet high, will allow you to store 2 tons of hay, which will get you through a year with a cow and calf. This is a minimum, as you'll need to store grain, bedding and other supplies as well. You'll also need to make sure that your cow can't get at the stored grain.
Fencing For Your Cow
Learn about how to pasture your cow, using management intensive grazing or other practices. But what kind of fencing will keep your cow safe?
You'll want to have a perimeter fence, something strong around the entire perimeter of the area where the cow and calf will be. For interior fences and paddock dividers, you can use electric high-tensile wire. Make sure that you train your cow to respect electric fencing. If you have calves in the paddock, two to three strands of wire will be safer.
