Rotary Dairy Shed and Calving Barn – Leongatha South
CASE STUDY
Investing in Generations: The Moscripts’ New Dairy and Calving Barn
In South Gippsland, the Moscript family are third-generation dairy farmers deeply rooted in tradition yet determined to run a business built for the future. For years, they operated with a 60-year-old rotary dairy that simply wasn’t keeping pace with modern demands. Space was tight, efficiency was lagging and animal health was becoming a growing concern.
“It just wasn’t fit for purpose anymore. We reached the point where we knew it was time to build the forever shed.” – Janine Moscript
The Moscript’s knew it was time for a bold move. They wanted infrastructure that would support their family business for generations. They planned not only to replace their old rotary dairy with a modern, purpose-built shed but also to invest in a new calving barn, solving bottlenecks and improving animal health in one ambitious project.
It wasn’t a decision they made lightly. They visited other dairies in the region, compared shed designs, and collected quotes from several builders. In the end, it was their conversations with Dale Brew from Gippsland Dairy Professionals, who understood both the industry and the scale of their plans, that led them to Bairnsdale Engineering as the right team to take their project forward.
“They weren’t the cheapest on the market, but they were the easiest to communicate with, the fastest, and the most adaptable. For us, working with a local company that understands Gippsland conditions was really important.” — Chris Moscript
Any major investment is something you don’t make lightly. But if you’re making long-term decisions based only on price, you’re sacrificing quality, and that’s a dangerous thing.”
Moscript Family Dairy – Third Generation Dairy Farmers
The Solution: Two New Sheds for a Modern Dairy
Bairnsdale Engineering designed and built a 38m x 27m rotary dairy shed with a 9m awning tailored for modern dairy farming. Instead of the standard 24m span, the Moscript’s chose a non-standard 27m width, adding an extra three metres that transformed the functionality of the space. This additional width provides generous clearance around the rotary platform, making daily operations smoother and safer for both cows and staff. Every detail focused on improving efficiency, cow flow and working conditions:
- Improved staff conditions – Reduced exposure to rain and wind, creating safer, more comfortable working conditions.
- Extra bay added – The Moscript’s decided that an additional bay was needed on the awning after installation started. This additional bay created significantly more working space and provided better shelter for staff and equipment.
- Spacious internal layout – Excellent cow traffic flow and safe work zones for faster, smoother milking.
“Adding that extra three metres really opened up the space. Now we’ve got room for the tractor, plenty of storage, and our staff stay out of the weather. It’s made a big difference to how smoothly everything runs.” — Blake Moscript
Key features
Covered Vet Area
A 9m awning was integrated into the
design of the dairy to provide weather protection over the vet yards. Hot dip galvanised circular hollow section posts eliminated the need for wall bracing, providing clear access across the length of the awning.
Heavy-Duty Sliding Door
Given the sliding door was facing the prevailing weather, Bairnsdale Engineering’s heavy-duty full-length floor guide was installed. This anti-clog design minimises debris entering the shed and ensures the door is always secured in a guide.
Heavy-Duty Skylights & Wall Lights
Wall lights across the length of the south wall and 4x 3050GSM fibreglass skylights in the roof provide additional light throughout the shed without creating harsh shadows over the platform.
Tackling a Persistent Bottleneck: The Dedicated Calving Barn
Bairnsdale Engineering also designed and built a dedicated calving shed, which initially, Callum Moscript wasn’t convinced was worth the investment.
“At first, I didn’t agree with building the calving shed. But looking back, I wish I would have agreed from the start. The calving shed is our favourite part of the project. It’s versatile and has solved one of the biggest bottlenecks in our business. Milk fever has gone from something we worried about every day to barely even a thought.” — Callum Moscript
Since its completion, the calving shed has delivered significant benefits for the Moscript’s:
- Significant reduction in milk fever – Dropped to around 1% of cows, significantly improving animal health and reducing treatment costs
- All-weather calving – Cows now calve under shelter, avoiding mud and harsh conditions, improving both welfare and calf survival rates.
- Multi-purpose functionality – The barn doubles as a hay shed, adding flexibility and protecting fodder from weather damage.
- Improved workflows – The new facility has eliminated a critical choke point, easing the strain during peak calving times.
Key Features:
- Hot dip galvanised universal beam columns & rafters: The clean lines of the heavy-duty UB rafters reduce the risk of bird nesting or debris build-up; key to maintaining hygiene in a calving environment.
- Performaflow® Gutter: With a roof area of over 1450m², a performance solution was calculated and a gutter was designed to take the rainwater to 2x 100mm downpipes per side.
Why Bairnsdale Engineering?
For the Moscript’s, the decision wasn’t just about who could build a shed – it was about partnering with a team that understood the realities of farming in Gippsland.
“At the design stage, we changed our minds all the time, we went through probably ten different shed designs. Bairnsdale Engineering was always willing to quote, redesign, and help us figure out what would work best. Their knowledge and advice were so valuable and shaped the project”
Key reasons the Moscript’s chose Bairnsdale Engineering:
- Local expertise – deep understanding of South Gippsland conditions and council regulations
- Design flexibility – willingness to challenge initial ideas and propose practical alternatives.
- Personal service – fast site visits, transparent communication, and practical advice.
“They’d jump in the car and come see us. They’re a family business like us. They take pride in what they do, and the results speak for themselves.”
Alongside Bairnsdale Engineering’s work, the Moscript’s also partnered with Gippsland Dairy Professionals for the internal rotary dairy fit-out, ensuring a seamless integration of infrastructure and technology for years to come.
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