Farm BuildingMEHRAN gujjar

HousingHousing of animal is the most important factor in dairy farming. A good housing leads to good management practices and ultimately optimum production. The housing of dairy animals depends upon: Number of animals Type of breed of animals Local environmental conditions Finances available Facilities to be provided  Some general considerations which must be considered for housing are: It should be less expensive It should be well ventilated

It should protect from extreme environmental conditions It should have maximum sun exposure Its axis of length should be east to west It should remain dry Its environment should be hygienic There should be availability of feed and water for 24 hours It should have adequate provision to reduce the heat gain by the

animals and promote the heat loss to avoid heat stress during summer season.

It should be so planed that future expansion may be possible if required

For housing it should also be considered that animals should have five types of freedoms:  Freedom from hunger and thirst Freedom from discomfort

Freedom from pain, injury and disease Freedom to express normal behavior Freedom from fear and distress   Different types of housing of dairy animals are: Free stall  Tie Stall Loose Housing system Among these, free stall is the only recommended type of housing for successful dairy farming.

Free StallFree stall is the recommended system of housing for successful dairy farming. Here cows are kept free except at the time of milking. Resting area is divided into stalls or cubicles. Cows are not restrained in the resting area (freestall / cubicle) and are free to enter, lie down, rise up, and leave the stall whenever they desire. For free stall housing system area of shed is divided into two sides

with a central space of 14-16 feet (depending upon the width of feeding trolley) as feeding driveway. On both sides of this central space 2 feet area is provided for feeding area/table.  

2F           10-14 F             2F

Behind the feeding table, 10-14 feet walking area is provided for cow to move freely which is 4-6 inches lower than the floor of feeding table. This area is separated from feeding table through a curb which is 1-1.5 feet high from the floor of walking area and 1 feet high from the floor of feeding driveway. A rod is also fixed above this curb at the height of 3 feet from floor. The walking area should be grooved and non slippery.

Behind the free area free stalls are provided either in single row or double row or more depending upon the number of cows. Bed of stall should be 4-6 inches higher than the floor of walking area. Stalls should have following dimensions:

Length: 7-8 feet Width: 3-4 feet Height: 4 feet

Free stall measurements Layout of shed for single row of free stalls is as follows

If stalls are provided into two rows, then arrange either tail to tail or face to face. In such case additional 10-12 feet walking are area should be provided behind the stalls. Layout of shed with two rows (tail to tail) free stalls is as follows: 

Layout of shed with two rows (face to face) free stalls is as follows:

As far as animal to stall ratio is concerned, there should be 10 more stalls than the number of animals. For example, for 100 animals we will provide 110 stalls.

Optional walking/exercising area with fencing may also be provided behind the last row of freestalls depending upon the availability of land.

At the both ends of the row of stalls, there should be crossover so that animal can move freely. The size of each crossover should be 8 feet. If stalls are higher in number, then additional crossover should be provided after every 15-20 stalls

For watering purpose, water trough should be provided within each cross over. In such case cross over should be 16 feet. Height of water trough should be 2-2.5 feet. Protect stalls adjacent to crossovers from splashing manure and water. This can be done with 4 feet high curb or solid partitions between the stalls and crossover. Water bowl with automatic supply of water can also be installed instead of water trough. When animal push inside the pot with its mouth, water comes out automatically. The distance between floor and water bowl should be about 18-20 inches.  

For the ease of manure removal, it is better to elevate crossovers (3-6"). To promote drainage and self-cleaning, provide slope of 1/4" to 1/2" per foot of length toward each alley. The floor of crossover should be grooved.  

For bedding of stall rubber mat, sand, limestone, straw, wood shavings, saw dust etc. can be used.

Height of shed should be 18-20 feet in middle and 12-14 feet at corners with slopping roof.

For cooling of shed automatic sprinkling system and fans should be installed. Distance between fans should be 25 feet (variable depending upon the size of fan).

Tie Stall

In tie stall most of the system components are contained in the same structure. This type of housing is not preferred in modern dairy farming. In this type of housing system there are two or more rows of tie stalls with a manure gutter, feed manger and service alley for each row: The tie stalls may be constructed in a single row if the number of

animals is 16 or less, or in two rows if the number is more, either with the heads of animals facing outside, the so-called tail-to-tail arrangement or with the heads of animals facing each other, the so-called head-to-head arrangement.

The floor should be free from dampness and non-slippery, reasonably above the outside ground, and having a slope of 2.5 cm in 1.5 m length from front to back towards the rear channel. It should be easy to clean and wash and should get dry quickly.

Dairy shed with Tie stall system of housing should have following dimensions: 5 feet for feeding passage 2 feet width for feeding area/table 6-7 feet for of the stall 1 feet for rear channel for drainage   5 feet width for the manure-cum-milking passage Height of shed should be 18-20 feet in middle and 12-14 feet at

corners

Stall should have following dimensions Length: 6-7 feet Width: 3-4 feet  Height: 4 feet

For feeding purpose the space for feeding should be separated from stall bed with a 1.5 feet manger curb.  Above manger curb fix a rod at the height of 3 feet from floor. For 24 hours availability of water each stall should have water bowl with automatic supply of water. Such bowls are attached with stall rails. When animal push inside the pot with its mouth, water comes out automatically. The distance between floor and water bowl should be about 18-20 inches.  

For double row dairy shed with tie stall system, there are two types of arrangements. One is called Face-to-Face arrangement in which two rows of stalls are built on both sides with central feeding passage. Another is Tail-to-Tal arrangement in which two rows of stalls are built on both sides of shed with central milking cum drainage area. Face to face arrangement is most commonly accepted.

In face to face diary shed with tie stall system, 14 feet space is left for feed alley. The dimensions for stall and rear channel are same as discussed above.

In tail to tail arrangement there is 14 feet central space for milking and drainage.

Loose HousingIn loose housing system animals are not tied and there is no provision of stalls. Here animals are free to move in an open area. In this system there is a sloped roof with feeding table in the centre serving two sides at a time. On both sides there is a concrete feed alley of about 2 meters. There is a water trough for 24 hours availability of water. Each animal should have 50-75 feet2 shaded area and 90-120 feet2 open area. This type of housing is not recommended because management of animals is difficult.

Construction Material for Dairy Farm

Brick pillar Roof construction

Brick Pillar T. iron + Guarder Structure

Brick Pillar Pre-casted Roof Structure

Dairy Farm at Faisalabad

  

200 Cow Shed Jhang

Dairy Shed for 60 animals