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; characterised by : a cleaning alley separating the feeding and milking area from a pasture area ; the pasture area extending between the cleaning 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 an impermeable base , the raised bed including a bedding material having a variable depth selected to define a predetermined slope (S) of the raised bed extending between the wall and the cleaning alley, the predetermined slope being selected to facilitate removal of excess liquid from the pasture area, the bedding material being composed of partially dried un-composted manure having a moisture content of less than 60% by weight prior to being applied to the raised bed; wherein the barn is free of interior barriers other than the head lock of each feeding station such that cows are able to move freely between the feeding and milking area , the cleaning alley and the pasture area . 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; characterised by : a cleaning alley separating the feeding and milking area from a pasture area ; the pasture area extending between the cleaning 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 an impermeable base , the raised bed including a bedding material having a variable depth selected to define a predetermined slope (S) of the raised bed extending between the wall and the 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; characterised by : a cleaning alley separating the feeding and milking area from a pasture area ; the pasture area extending between the cleaning 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 an impermeable base , the raised bed including a bedding material having a variable depth selected to define a predetermined slope (S) of the raised bed extending between the wall and the cleaning alley, the predetermined slope being selected to facilitate removal of excess liquid from the pasture area, the bedding material being composed of partially dried un-composted manure having a moisture content of less than 60% by weight prior to being applied to the raised bed; wherein the barn is free of interior barriers other than the head lock of each feeding station such that cows are able to move freely between the feeding and milking area , the cleaning alley and the pasture area . <EOS>