5_Livestock Housing & Shelter Requirements.pptx

livestock housing

1. 5_C&BPM 1 Livestock Housing & Shelter Requirements & Management under inclement whether conditions

2. Home & House ? What is Housing and Shelter ? 2 5_C&BPM

3. Appropriate livestock housing is the major issue related with shelter, as it provides Protection from inclement weather conditions i.e. extreme hot and cold season, rains, strong winds, snow etc. Comfortable resting space for ensuring good health as per age, sex, stage, size and shape etc. Optimized productivity by avoiding overcrowding Protection from predators/theft (i.e. dogs, crows, wild animals etc.), animal lifters, dacoits and thieves etc. Better management according to physiological status/conditions of animals i.e. milch/dry animals, calves, heifers, bulls, sick animals etc. Better and timely treatment of sick animals. Enhancement in labour efficiency . Help the farm manager for better, smooth and efficient farm management of herd/flock etc. 3 5_C&BPM

4. Whether organised housing is needed or not ? And if needed, at what scale ? Small 10-30 animals Medium 30-150 animals Large >150 animals At small scale, specific housing is not essentially needed . Only shelter from adverse climatic conditions is required. 4 5_C&BPM

5. Specific and planned housing layout may be provided At medium-Large scale livestock farms 5 5_C&BPM

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8. Fresh, clean and well ventilated environment is required Adequate housing during pregnancy/ lactation No Barbed wire fencing Corners of the building should be rounded off Always maintain the sheds and premise clean and tidy. Control flies, mosquitoes and external parasites by regularly applying bleaching powder or lime and insecticides like Butox or Copper sulphate solution. 8 5_C&BPM X

9. Layout and components of livestock housing Faulty layout planning and designing - creates problems in efficient and smooth farm management, hence, livestock houses should be - Simple and properly Spaced out - Located - Grouped (as per requirements) etc. Economic and proper in construction – made up of locally available cheaper materials- Non-slippery floor etc. Suitable for maintenance - properly grouped Comfortable to animals for optimizing productivity Compact so as to assist in – Easy supervision Decreased labor costs , Maintenance of proper hygiene and sanitation, Enable individual attention to each and every individual during growth, pregnancy and lactation and other important physiological stages. 9 5_C&BPM

10. Overcrowding should be avoided ! Because , it causes Disease and spread of infection Generates local competition Stunted growth Poor management etc . 10 5_C&BPM

11. Proper housing is an important feature in raising the production capabilities of animals, in addition to good breeding, feeding, selection and disease control. It is conducive to good health, comfort and protection from inclement weather and the animals are capable of utilizing their genetic abilities and feed for optimum production. 11 5_C&BPM

12. Common Livestock Houses Sheds provided with paddocks/corrals (open area double of the closed area) Separate housing for Calves (0-3, 3-6, 6-12 males and females) Heifers (1-2.5 and >2.5 years, open and pregnant) Cows & Buffaloes – milch (high – medium – low yielders), dry (open – pregnant – advance pregnant – down calvers etc.) Dry open stock Pregnant stock (early, middle and down calvers) – may be dry or milch Males (young, breeding bulls, bullocks, teasers etc.) Diseased/purchased animals etc. 12 5_C&BPM

13. DAIRY FARM STRUCTURES (SHEDS/BUILDINGS) Essential structures: Loose houses (consisting of covered and open sheds) for milch, dry, pregnant animals etc. Calving boxes for down calvers Calf pens/sheds for young/older calves (with paddocks) Bull/Bullock/Teaser Pens Sick animal shed/ Isolation Shed Milking Byre/Parlor Quarantine shed etc. 13 5_C&BPM

14. (B) Ancillary structures: Feed Store Silo Pits/tower Labs/Clinics Roughage Godown Office Buildings Equipment / Implement Shed Milking Pails/Milking Canes/Milking Machines Branding Machines/Tattooing Machines Surgical Equipments AI Equipments Chaff Cutters (Hand driven/Power driven) Pumps Washing Equipments/Assembly Tractors/Trolleys/Trailers Spades, Sickles, Ropes etc. Bullock carts Wheel Barrows etc. Pump House Chaff Cutter Shed etc. 14 5_C&BPM

15. Satisfactory hygiene and sanitation - timely cleaning of the farm sheds through sweeping and high pressure water devices Provision of Kuttcha floor in addition to paved brick floor/Brick on edge Open paddocks should be covered with 6-8 inches layer of sand 15 5_C&BPM

16. Stresses of any type may be prevented or at least reduce the impact of prevailing stress, if any. 16 5_C&BPM

17. Provision for fresh – clean drinking water Provision for separate feeding and watering mangers 17 5_C&BPM

18. There should be provision for 24 hour clean drinking water supply to each shed 18 5_C&BPM

19. Mist dress cooling/sprinklers system may be fitted in case of crossbred cattle and buffaloes during summers to provide cooler environment inside the shed and paddocks Wallow pond (natural)/artificial may be provided in case of buffaloes during summers 19 5_C&BPM

20. Provision for weigh bridge 20 5_C&BPM

21. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS for livestock houses Locally available (Bamboo, thatch etc.) Cheaper in cost (construction cost of sheds and paddocks may be Rs. 150-200/ft 2 , depending upon the cost of construction material in the area.) Non-slippery Non-allergic in nature etc. 21 5_C&BPM

22. Commonly used construction materials Thatch Bamboo, Clay tiles or Bricks , Cement, Sand, Concrete, Corrugated iron tin/GI sheets Asbestos, GI Pipes, Iron/Steel rods - Saria /angles, Timber/Wood , Panels, Plywood, Shade cloth, Metal wire netting Any other locally available cheaper materials etc . 22 5_C&BPM

23. Factors determining TYPE AND DESIGN of the livestock housing system Objectives of a farm Geographical and Climatic conditions of an area Package of agricultural & AH practices followed in that area Economic condition of a farmer Physiological, health (neonates are more susceptible), behavioral requirements of animals to be housed Availability of labour and other inputs etc. 23 5_C&BPM

24. Factors affecting CONSTRUCTION of farm buildings Economy : Capital investment as per the estimated returns Lighting : Design that could permit sufficient light inside without glare Ventilation : Sufficient arrangement to permit in flow of fresh air Sanitation : Good slope for easy cleaning with minimum labour and proper drainage Adaptability and convertibility : At times of need into general-purpose buildings Convenience : It should be convenient in daily work etc. 24 5_C&BPM

25. LAY-OUT/ORIENTATION of sheds Economic in nature Facilitate efficient supervision ( L, U, V, E, O shaped ) Low labour requirement – equidistance walks Long axis of the shed (N-S or E-W ?) – required exposure to sun and protection from winds – maximum sunlight should reach to animal platform, drains, gutters, mangers etc. Hotter regions – parallel to E-W, Cold Zones – perpendicular to E-W Maximum exposure should be in N and min should be in S - Cooler during summers – morning sun is preferred than afternoon sun - Hotter during winters No effect of strong winds/storms Facilitating proper ventilation etc. 25 5_C&BPM

26. GROUPING of farm buildings Location : According to land under fodder, farm houses, roads and pasture area. Farmhouses and offices/buildings : Near the main road / highway. Animal houses : (Sheds / barns) 30 m away from main road and farmhouse. Silos, Weigh Bridge, calving pen and feed rooms : Near the barn. Isolation ward : Away from barns and near dispensary. Calf pen and houses for young stock : Near the milch animal shed. 26 5_C&BPM

27. Fire proofing should be done – may be by installing fire extinguishers 27 5_C&BPM

28. Healthy cattle can tolerate a wide range of temperature if they are acclimatised and have adequate feed and water. Shelter can improve the welfare of an animal and reduce production losses . Animals without shelter need to put more energy into normal functioning and less into production . Animals must be provided with shelter in times of above or below average temperatures . This can minimise the impact of climatic extremes and prevent suffering or possibly death . 28 5_C&BPM Provision of shelter for Livestock

29. Adverse weather conditions Whether natural or manmade, adverse weather conditions include, climatic extremes such as Heat wave conditions with sudden or prolonged severe heat ( Heat stress ) Low temperatures with wind and rain combining to impose a severe chill factor ( Cold stress ), Sudden onset of prolonged wet and windy conditions etc. 29 5_C&BPM

30. 5_C&BPM 30 Animals will seek out appropriate shelter from the prevailing conditions . Livestock need access to shelter from these conditions. The amount of shelter provided should be sufficient for all animals to access it. At the same time, stocking rates may need to be adjusted to allow this . This will prevent overcrowding around areas of shade or water .

31. Hot weather Livestock lose heat primarily by Respiration ( from moist tissues in the respiratory system) Through transference of heat into the air and By evaporation of water through sweat . 31 5_C&BPM

32. Providing shelter enables cattle to shade from direct sun , reducing the extra heat load they take on (by up to 50 per cent). Heat stress and exhaustion should not occur if cattle are able to find shade and rest during the hottest part of the day . Calves and pregnant cattle are more at risk of heat stress due to their lower heat threshold, as are animals with a history of respiratory disease due to a decreased ability to dissipate heat through panting. In hot conditions where shade is available, cattle prefer to rest during the day and will spend the cooler parts of the day grazing. If no trees are available, cattle will camp next to water such as dams or creeks during the day and feed at night. It has been demonstrated that cattle prefer shade over water in hot conditions and will spend more time resting and less time chewing their cud as ambient temperature increases. 32 5_C&BPM

33. Animals at highest risk of heat stress include Over fat stock Young animals Dark coloured animals High producing dairy cows Sick animals or animals that have previous history of respiratory disease. 33 5_C&BPM

34. Appetite is reduced during extreme heat and can result in decreased daily weight gains and feed efficiency. Provision of good quality, highly palatable feed and plenty of shelter during periods of hot weather will reduce the heat load of the animals and assist in maintaining normal feed intakes. Any new feed should be gradually introduced to reduce the risk of acidosis or metabolic disease . 34 5_C&BPM

35. Research into dairy cattle production under heat stress demonstrated the welfare benefit and improved production where shade and shelter are provided. A study on the economic effects of heat loads on dairy cattle production has shown that extreme heat has the following effects on dairy production : Reduced milk yield Reduced milk fat and protein percentages Lower first service conception rates Lower calf birth weights Larger number of services per pregnancy. 35 5_C&BPM

36. The effect of extreme heat was more pronounced for high producing cows, and resulted in reductions of up to 461 litres of milk per cow per year on farms that did not provide shade for their herds. A further study found that milk production was three per cent greater for shaded cows than for unshaded cows . Heat stress in dairy cows standing in the holding yard can be reduced with the use of sprinklers and the provision of shade during hot and humid weather . Research also shows a higher mortality rate in calves subjected to heat stress in their first week of life. Cows may be observed trying to shade their calves and it has been shown that cows will actively seek sheltered areas in which to calve . Artificially reared calves must have access to shelter in hot weather with natural air flow important for cooling of the environment . 36 5_C&BPM

37. The provision of shelter for cattle is an important management practice that has shown benefits such as improved growth rates, milk production and reduced mortality. Farmers, managers and those in charge of livestock have a responsibility to provide shelter so that the health and welfare of livestock is not compromised. Remember: Provide shelter for all stock, identify areas of shelter on farm suitable for use during adverse weather events, and give special consideration to shelter for young, sick or pregnant stock. 37 5_C&BPM