After reading this article you will learn about: 1. Location of Dairy Buildings 2. Types of Housing of Cattle.
Location of Dairy Buildings:
Points which should be considered before the erection of dairy buildings are as follows:
1 A dairy building should be at a higher elevation than the surrounding ground to offer a good slope for rainfall and drainage for the wastes of the dairy to avoid stagnation within.
2. A dairy building should be located to a maximum exposure to the sun in the north and minimum exposure to the sun in the south and protection from prevailing strong wind currents whether hot or cold.
3. Easy accessibility to the buildings is always desirable. Situation of a cattle shed by the side of the main road preferably at a distance of about 100 meters should be aimed at.
4. It is always attractive when the buildings open up to a scenic view and add to the grandeur of the scenery.
5. Abundant supply of fresh, clean and soft water should be available at a cheap rate.
6. Narrow gates, high manger curbs, loose hinges, protruding nails, smooth finished floor in the areas where the cows move and other such hazards should be eliminated.
7. Honest, economic and regular supply of labour is available.
8. Dairy buildings should only be in those areas from where the owner can sell his products profitably and regularly.
9. It is desirable to have an adequate supply of electricity.
10. Cattle yards should be so constructed and situated in relation to feed storages, hay stacks, silo and manure pits as to effect the most efficient utilization of labour.
11. Sufficient space per cow and well arranged feeding mangers and resting are contributed not only to greater milk yield of cows and make the work of the operator easier also minimizes feed expenses.
12. Feed storages should be located at hand near the center of the cow barn.
13. Milk-house should be located almost at the center of the barn.
14. Centre cross-alley should be well designed with reference to feed storage the stall area and the milk house.
Types of Housing of Cattle:
1. The loose housing barn in combination with some type of milking barn or
2. The conventional dairy barn.
1. Loose Housing System:
Loose housing may be defined as a system where animals are kept loose except milking and at the time of treatment.
Cattle Shed:
a. The entire shed should be surrounded by a boundary wall of 5″ height from three side and manger etc., on one side.
b. The feeding area should be provided with 2 to 2feet of manger space per cow.
c. Along the manger, there shall be 10″ wide water trough to provide clean, even, available drinking water.
d. The water trough thus constructed will also minimize the loss of fodders during feeding.
e. Near the manger, under the roofed house 5′ wide floor should be paved with bricks having a little slope.
f. There should be open unpaved area (40’X35′) surrounded by 5′ wall with one gate. It is preferable that animals face north when they are eating fodder under the shade. During cold wind in winter the animals will automatically lie down to have the protection from the walls.
Shed for Calves:
a. On one side of the main cattle shed there be fully covered shed “10’x15′ to accommodate young calves. Such sheds with suitable partitioning, may also serve as calving pen under adverse climatic conditions.
b. Beyond this covered area there should be a 20’xl0′ open area having boundary wall so that calves may move there freely.
c. In this way both calf and cattle sheds will need in all 50’x50′ area for 20 adult cows and followers.
d. If one has limited resources, he can build ordinary, Katcha/semikatcha boundary walls but feeding and water trough should be cemented ones.
2. Conventional Dairy Barn:
The conventional dairy barns are comparatively costly and are now becoming less popular day by day. However, by this system cattle are more protected from adverse climatic condition.
Cow Sheds:
a. Cow sheds can be arranged in a single row if the numbers of cows are small.
b. Ordinarily, not more than 80 to 100 cows should be placed in one building.
c. In double row housing, the stable should be so arranged that the cows face out (tails to tail system) or face in (head to head system) as preferred.
Floor:
a. The inside floor of the barn should be of some impervious material which can be easily kept clean and dry and is not slippery. Paving with bricks can also serve ones purpose. Grooved cement concrete floor is still better.
b. An overall floor space of 65 to 70 sq.ft. Per adult cow should be satisfactory.
Walls:
a. The inside of the walls should have a smooth hard finish of cement, which will not allow any lodgment of dust and moisture.
b. Comers should be round.
c. For plains, dwarf walls about 4 to 5 feet in height and roofs supported by masonry work or iron pillars will be best or more suitable.
Roof:
a. Roof of the barn may be of asbestos sheet or tiles.
b. A height of 8 feet at the sides and 15 feet at the ridge will be sufficient to give the necessary air space to the cows.
Manger:
a. Cement concrete continuous manger with removable partitions is the best from the point of view of durability and cleanliness.
b. A height of 1″ to 4″ for a high front manger and 6″ to 9″ for a low front manger is considered sufficient.
c. Low front mangers are more comfortable for cattle but high front.
d. Mangers prevent feed wastage.
e. The height at the back of the manger should be kept at 2′-6″ to 3″. An overall width of 2′ to 2 W is sufficient for a good manger.
Alleys:
a. The central walk should have a width of 5′-6′ exclusive of gutters when cows face out, and 4′-5′ when they face in.
Doors:
a. The doors of a single range cowshed should be 5″ wide with a height of 7′, and for double row shed the width should not be less than 8″ to 9′.
b. All doors of the bam should lie flat against the external wall when fully open.
Calving Boxes:
a. It should have an area of about 100 to 150 sq.ft.
Isolation Boxes:
a. Loose boxes of about 150 sq.ft. are very suitable for this purpose.
Sheds for Young Stocks:
a. For an efficient management and housing, the young stock should be divided into three groups, viz., young calves aged up to one year bull calves, female calves.
b. Each group should be sheltered in a separate calf house or calf shed. As far as possible the shed for the young calves should be quite close to the cow shed.
An overall covered space of:
1. 20-25 square feet per calf below the age of 3 months,
2. 25 -30 square feet per calf from the age of 3-6 months,
3. 30-40 square feet per calf from the age of 6-12 months and over, and
4. 40-45 square feet for every calf above one year, should be made available
Bull or Bullock Shed:
a. A bull should never be kept in confinement particularly on hard floors.
b. Such a confinement without adequate exercise leads to overgrowth of the hoofs creating difficulty in mounting and loss in the breeding power of the bull.
c. A loose box with rough cement concrete floor about 15′ by 10′ in dimensions having an adequate arrangement of light and ventilation and an entrance 4′ in width and 7′ in height will make a comfortable housing for a bull.