The Great Cow Tent Experiment of 2025

With May Belle ready to give birth at literally any moment and winter barreling toward us like a freight train, we came to a realization: our very pregnant dairy cow needs a warm, dry place to have her baby. And ideally something right now.

The loafing shed I wish we had for May Belle

A 20’x10’ loafing shed would be perfect. But. (There’s always a “but,” isn’t there?)

We really don’t have the time or the resources to build a big-enough, strong-enough structure right now—not when we’re literally about to break ground on the actual barn. And that barn? The one we need? Won’t be done for a couple of months. May Belle, however, will definitely be done baking her calf way sooner than that.

So the question became: What do we do for her today that’s inexpensive, quick, and still functional? She doesn’t need the Taj Mahal. She just needs something to block the wind and give her (and baby!) a little reprieve from falling snow if a storm rolls in.

So we came up with… drumroll please... a cow tent.

There's probably a good reason why cow tents aren't an actual thing

Yes. A Cow Tent.

Is it brilliant?

That has yet to be determined.

But we’re doing it anyway because:

1. Time is not on our side.

2. Our creativity is fueled by mild panic.

3. We haven’t come up with anything better.

   
   

The Plan: Stupidly Simple

We’re going to stretch a sturdy rope between two trees—about 15 feet up. Then we’ll attach a tarp to the rope, drape it down to the ground at an angle, and stake the whole thing tight like we’re pitching a campsite for an elephant.

Behold: The Windbreak of Hope. Or, as I like to call it, The Please Jesus Let This Work, It's the Best We Could Come Up With on Short Notice.

Will it work?

I sure hope it works. Because at this point, we’re fully committed to the Cow Tent. And if this ridiculous little tarp creation gives our girl even a bit of comfort from the icy gusts and swirling snow while she’s preparing to bring new life into the world… then honestly? It’ll be worth every second of questionable engineering.

Stay tuned. Either this will be a stroke of rural genius and maybe we can be an inspiration to others who might need cow shelter in a pinch, or the tarp will fly into the next county and it will be an embarrassing failure.

Hoping for the former, half-expecting the latter. Stay tuned.