Good experiences with customized cubicle equipment at Nurmela Farm by Tuula | Apr 1, 2026 Nurmela Farm Etusivu|Good experiences with customized cubicle equipment at Nurmela Farm Good experiences with customized cubicle equipment at Nurmela Farm 1.4.2026 In the new freestall barn at the Nurmela Farm in Haapajärvi, every detail has been carefully considered. Deep-bedded cubicles were chosen as a natural solution. The equipment was custom-made by the supplier Pellon Group Oy. The customization and “attentive listening” have also received praise from the entrepreneurs. The new six-row freestall barn for 350 cows at Nurmela Farm in Haapajärvi is the result of long-term and careful planning. The farm partnership’s entrepreneurs, brothers Jaakko and Lauri Niemi, along with Lauri’s wife Saana Tanskanen-Niemi, began considering the project in 2021, and it went into the planning phase already the following year. “By the end of 2023, everything was ready enough for us to submit the paperwork for the investment aid application in January 2024. Groundworks began in spring 2024 with the construction of the embankment, and the actual building work started at the end of February 2025. The barn was taken into use on October 8, 2025,” Saana explains. With total project costs of € 3.8 million, every euro saved mattered. This was further emphasized because the share of investment support remained relatively low in such a large project due to the subsidy cap. “For us, this meant efficient tendering in all construction phases and materials. The competitive bidding on the construction side was handled by a professional site manager, whose role in the entire project was extremely significant.” “We, in turn, handled everything related to equipment and technology—from milking to manure removal—as well as the curtain walls,” Lauri explains. The curtain walls were also supplied via Pellon Group through its partner Vervaeke from Belgium. These were the first of their kind in Finland. According to Saana, when selecting the milking system, the entire milk transfer process from milking to the tank was tendered, as this was the only way to obtain comparable offers of the same level. “It wasn’t possible to tender only the milking robots, because some brands included certain features or equipment while others did not.” During the planning and construction phases, the entrepreneurs utilized their diverse expertise: Jaakko and Lauri in construction, and Saana, a banking professional working as a key account manager, in administrative and financial matters. A key player in the functional design of the barn was 4dBarn and its experienced barn designer, architect Jouni Pitkäranta. Several reasons for choosing deep-bedded cubicles Designing a new barn involves numerous choices between different alternatives, whether related to feeding, milking, animal traffic, manure handling, or cubicle solutions. The choice of cubicle system and bedding was influenced not only by animal welfare and work organization but also by external factors. The situation with peat, traditionally used as bedding, is well known. “It’s availability and price have been developing in an unfavourable direction for farms, and the availability of alternative materials like sawdust has also decreased. That’s why deep-bedded cubicles and separated solid manure fraction were considered the best option, especially since we have enough of it from our own production,” Jaakko notes. Sand would have been another viable bedding material, but suitable sand is not available near the farm. In addition, it presents its own challenges in handling and removal. “If a biogas plant—already environmentally permitted—is built on the farm in the future, it wouldn’t work with sand,” Saana explains. Once the biogas plant in Nivala is completed, excess slurry will be transported there. Saana also emphasizes that deep-bedded cubicles are more comfortable for the animals and allow cows to lie in a more natural position compared to rubber mats. The entrepreneurs of MTY Nurmela farm in Haapajärvi, Jaakko Niemi (left), Saana Tanskanen-Niemi and Lauri Niemi, can already feel relieved, as the new 350-cow freestall barn has been in operation for about six months and is gradually reaching full capacity. Photo: Anne Anttila Pellon Group ready to customize In the tendering process, the equipment package included, in addition to cubicle fittings and feed barriers, items such as water troughs, gates, and curtain walls via a partner. The final choice was a complete solution from Pellon Group. The company offered cubicle dividers that were not originally designed for deep-bedded cubicles. The entrepreneurs therefore asked Jouni Pitkäranta for his opinion on them. “We concluded with a colleague that they could be improved based on our knowledge of good deep-bedded cubicle equipment and proper dimensions,” Pitkäranta explains. Pellon Group responded with interest: “Tell us what they should really be like.” From there, the entrepreneurs, Pellon Group, and Pitkäranta began jointly designing cubicle dividers with the correct proportions. “We can only praise Pellon Group’s open attitude toward developing their operations and products, as well as their readiness for customization,” they emphasize. Pitkäranta notes that 4dBarn works closely with the University of Wisconsin and The Dairyland Initiative organization, which has 20–30 years of extensive research data on cubicle design and precise dimensions. “We applied this data and used it to design the most suitable cubicle model possible, which Pellon Group then implemented.” In simplified terms, proper cubicle design ensures that the cow lies in the correct position, can lie down and get up as naturally as possible, and that the divider is dimensioned so that the cow has minimal contact with it. Although cubicle equipment might seem like a minor element in a large barn project, Saana emphasizes that this is not the case. “A significant amount is invested in functional design to make the barn efficient. If the equipment supplier had said the best solution couldn’t be implemented, it would have undermined the benefits of the planning.” According to Kaappo Ikola, product group manager for barn equipment at Pellon Group, the company has strong capabilities for farm-specific customization— “after all, it’s just steel.” “This means we can flexibly manufacture products according to customer needs. Often, as in this case, the model we develop becomes a standard product and is then offered to other customers as well.” Deep-bedded cubicles were chosen as the housing solution, and Pellon Group customized the equipment and cubicle dividers according to the dimensions calculated by the design company 4dBarn. In the implemented cubicle design, it is important that the cow lies in the correct position, can lie down and get up as naturally as possible, and that the dividers are dimensioned so that the cow “touches” them as little as possible. Photo: Saana Tanskanen-Niemi In the deep-bedded cubicles presented by Jaakko Niemi, separated solid manure fraction is used as bedding. It has proven to be the most practical option, as it is available from the farm’s own production, while the availability of peat is continuously decreasing. The design of the curved concrete front part of the cubicle originates from 4dBarn’s partner, the University of Wisconsin. The drinking troughs were also customized to the barn’s dimensions, as standard two-meter troughs would have been either too short or too long. Flexible base pricing according to deliveries The package from Pellon Group also included lightweight, openable walkways for crossing manure alleys—something other suppliers did not offer. According to Jaakko, these were chosen for practicality, cleanliness, and ease of maintenance. “In a large barn, everyone—from maintenance staff onward—has to cross the manure alley dozens of times and wash their boots just as often. That takes at least half a minute each time, reducing efficiency.” It was also important that the walkways can be easily opened, allowing the manure alley to be cleaned mechanically when needed. The water troughs placed at the ends of the cubicle rows were also custom-made to fit the barn dimensions, as standard two-meter troughs would have been either too long or too short. “By customizing longer troughs, we achieved the required drinking space for the cows without having to install small individual drinking cups in the traditional way,” Lauri explains. A locking or treatment head gate developed by Pellon Group was installed in the deep-bedded resting area to facilitate care tasks. Its structure allows all operations regardless of bedding height. The gate can be used to keep a cow in place during calving assistance or post-calving treatments such as medication. According to Saana, it also improves occupational safety, as one person can handle the cow. “It has only been used a few times so far. We’re still learning routines, and it may be used more actively in the future,” Lauri estimates. Based on their experience, the entrepreneurs praise not only good customer service and attentive listening but also Pellon Group’s flexibility in deliveries and pricing. Lauri even laughs that at the time of purchase they did not realize how good the service would be. The equipment package was agreed at a base price, with the understanding that any changes in deliveries would adjust the price accordingly. “Everything was handled fairly on both sides according to the agreement, which created a very safe and trustworthy feeling. Paying additional invoices felt justified when you understood the reasons,” Saana summarizes. The lightweight, openable walkway bridge allows crossing the manure alley and, when opened, also enables machine access. The manure scraper can pass underneath the bridge without obstruction. A locking or treatment head gate developed by Pellon Group was installed in the deep-bedded resting area to facilitate animal handling and care tasks. Text and photo Arto Takalampi
