Ergonomic solutions for your livestock and you. Serving Maryland and Virginia.
Mud and drainage
Unless your farm is paved over, you’re going to experience mud. How MUCH mud and how disabling it is to you and your animals depends on leveling, drainage, swails, choice of surfaces, and more. Here are some pictures that will make you shudder- until you see the solution!
Isn't this depressing? Even the run-in shed for the sheep is flooded. Everything is wrong about this setup. The ground tilts towards the barn, sending ALL the rainwater towards the barn and shed.
This property sits at the bottom of a mile-long hill, so it receives all the runoff. The water goes where it wants to go, since no dips or swails have been created.
A flat area which, however, has no place for the water to run off to - so it stays put in a nice big mud puddle.
This stall is wet, muddy and has horse manure in it. There is no effective way to keep this clean for animal habitation. Stone dust and stall mats should be put down and drainage set up on the outside walls of the barn.
Ergonomic solutions for your livestock and you. 
