A cow shed is also known as a barn, cow pen, milking parlor, dairy barn or byre. They are structures used for housing cattle, specifically cows, and sometimes other livestock animals. In parts of the world, such as the UK, cow shed is commonly referred to as a cattle shed while in the US, they are often called cow barns. Depending on the size and scale of the operation, cow sheds can take on different forms and have different design features. However, the overall purpose of providing a safe and comfortable environment for cows to live and produce milk remains the same, no matter the synonym used to describe the structure.