Cattle housing and shelter Management

Living place or house of cattle is simply known as cattle housing. As an absolute minimum, the housing must provide a comfortable, clean, well-drained and dry lying area together with shelter from adverse weather, space to allow the animal to move, lie down and rise freely as well as access to adequate food and water. Sufficient space per cow and well-arranged feeding managers and resting are contributing not only to greater milk yield of cows and make the work of the operator easier also minimizes feed expenses.

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Cattle Housing and
Shelter Management
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
By: Safiullah Jauhar
Year: 2021
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Ministry of Higher Education
Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences and
Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Whetherpurebredorcrossbred,theywillnotprovideaprofittothe
farmeriftheyarelefttofindtheirownfeedandwaterandaremilked
irregularly.
•Experiencehasshownthatcattlerespondfavorablytogood
management,feedingandhygiene,allofwhichispossibleinasystem
withsuitablehousing.
•Anumberofcowsinadairyherdwillbeculledeachyearbecauseof
lowmilkyield,infertility,disease,oldage.
•Thesecowsarebestreplacedwithyoungstockfromtheirownherd,
becauseanyanimalsacquiredfromoutsidethefarmmaybringdisease
totheherd.
•Cowsarecommonlyculledafterthreetofivelactations,corresponding
toareplacementrateof20percentto30percentperyear.
Cattle Housing
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Cattlewillproducemilkandreproducemoreefficientlyifprotected
fromextremeheat,(25–30°C),anddirectsunshine.
•Intropicalandsubtropicalclimates,providingshadebecomesan
importantfactor.
•Ifcattlearekeptinalimitedarea,itshouldbefreefrommudand
manureinordertoreducehoofinfectiontoaminimum.
•Concretefloorsorpavementsareidealwheretheareapercowis
limited.
•Ifsufficientspaceisavailable,anearthyard,properlyslopedforgood
drainage,isadequate.
Cattle General Housing Requirements
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Shade
•Aminimumshadestructureallowing2.5–3squaremetersperanimalis
desirableforcattle,forbothcommercialandsmallholder.
•A3meterby7meterroofwillprovideadequateshadeforuptoeightcows.
•Theroofshouldbeaminimumof3metershightoallowaircirculation.
•Theentireareathatwillbeshadedatsometimeduringthedayshouldbe
pavedwithgood-qualityconcrete.
•Thesizeofthispavedareadependsontheorientationoftheshade
structure.
•Ifthelongitudinalaxisiseasttowest,thenpartofthefloorundertheroof
willbeinshadeallday.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Figure 2. Shadows cast at various times and dates at latitude 10 degrees south.

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•Extendingthefloorbyapproximatelyone-thirdofitslengthonthe
eastandonthewest,resultsinapavedsurfacebeingprovidedforthe
shadedareaatalltimes.
•Ifthelongitudinalaxisisnorthtosouth,thepavedareamustbethree
timestheroofareai.e.onethirdtotheeast,one-thirdtothewestand
one-thirdunderneath.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Whendecidingonwhichorientationtouse,thefollowingfactorsshould
beconsidered:
1.Withtheeast-westorientation,thefeedandwatertroughscanbeunderthe
shade,whichwillallowthecowstoeatanddrinkinshadeatanytimeofthe
day.
2.Theshadedareashouldbeincreasedto3–4meterspercow.
1.Bylocatingthefeedandwaterintheshade,feedconsumptionwillbe
encouraged,butmoremanurewillbedroppedintheshadedarea,whichinturn
willleadtodirtycows.
2.Ifpavingisconsideredtobetoocostly,thenorth-southorientationisthebest
choiceinordertokeeptheareaasdryaspossible.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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1. d
2. d
3.Withthenorth-southorientation,thesunwillstrikeeverypartofthefloorarea
underandoneithersideoftheroofatsometimeduringtheday.Thiswillhelp
tokeepthepavedareadry.
•Ashadedareaof2.5–3meterspercowisadequateiffeedandwatertroughsare
placedawayfromtheshadedarea.
4.Inregionswheretemperaturesaverage30°Cormoreforupto5hoursperday
duringsomeperiodoftheyear,theeast-westorientationisthemostbeneficial.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•The gable roof is more wind resistantthan a single pitch roof and
allows for a center vent.
•A woven mat of local materials can be installed between the beams and
the corrugated iron.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Figure 3. Sunshade with insulated corrugated steel roof

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•Yards
•Forlimitedspace,4–5squaremeterspercow,thenconcretepavingis
highlydesirable.
•If,40–60squaremeterspercow,unpavedyardsshouldbequite
satisfactory.
•Landwithsoilyard,between20to30squaremeterspercowwillkeep
theanimalsoutoftheworstofthemud.
•Thesoilinthemoundscanbestabilizedbyworkingchoppedstraw,or
strawandmanure,intothesurface.
•Anumberoftreesintheyardwillprovidesufficientshade.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•f
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Figure 4. dimensions for an earth mound
Figure 5. Yard with fence-line feed trough, paved feed area and
earth mound

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•Deep-bedded sheds
•Inadeep-beddedsystem,grass,sawdust,shavingsorotherbedding
materialisperiodicallyplacedintherestingareasothatamixtureof
beddingandmanurebuildsupinathicklayer.
•Althoughthisincreasesthebulkofmanure,itmaybeeasiertohandle
thanwetmanurealone.
•Thissystemismostpracticalwhenbeddingisplentifulandcheap.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Loose housing with free stalls (cubicles)
•Less bedding will be required and less manure will have to be removed.
•Free stalls must be of the right size in order to keep the animals clean
and to reduce injuries to a minimum.
•Small or large stall will injure or dirt the area.
•A bar placed will prevent the cow from moving too far forward in stall.
•
•The floor of the stall must be of a non-slippery material, such as soil.
•A 100 mm ledge at the back edge of the free stall will prevent any
bedding from being pulled out into the alley.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Free-stall cubicle designs

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Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Bull pens
•Abullpenshouldhaveashadedrestingareaof12–15squaremeters.
•largeexerciseareaof20–30squaremeters.
•Thewallsofthepenmustbestrong.
•Eighthorizontalfences(100mmroundtimberor50mmgalvanized
steeltubes)toatotalheightof1.5meters,fixedto200mmtimberposts
notmorethan2metersapart,willbesufficient.
•Thegatemustbedesignedsothatthebullcannotliftitoffitshinges.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•calf pens
•Calfmortalityisoftenhighintropicalcountries,
•Propermanagementandsuitablehousingthatprotectsthecalffrom
climaticstress,infectionsandparasitescanreducethis.
•Individualpensforcalvesfrombirthtotwotothreemonthsofage
areoftenbuiltwithanelevatedslattedfloor.
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Minimum internal dimensions of calf pen
for two weeksare 1 200 mm X 800 mm.
•Up to 6 to 8 weeks: 1 200 mm X l 000 mm
•From 6 to 14 weeks 1 500 mm X 1 200
mm.
•Three sides of the pens should be enclosed
to prevent contact with other calves.
•Another system that works well is the use
of individual hutches,
Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
calf hutch

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Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Description:
Floor: Concrete floor, 80 mm on firm ground, sloping towards the center line with an elevated pavement along the same
line. Slotted wooden floor in the pens elevated 400 mm, made of 25 ×100 mm sawn timber with spacing of 25 mm.
Walls:Thepenscanbemadeofgum-polesandoffcuts,bricksorconcreteblocksplasteredonbothsides,oranyother
locallyavailablematerial.
Roof:Thestructureinthiscaseismadeoftreatedgum-polesandthatchedgrass.
calf shed

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•For the farmer with 30 cows paved shade yardand feed area would be suitable.
•For 30 cows may even consider using an open-sided tie-stall shed.
•1. Resting area for cows:
(a) paved shade; or
(b) deep bedding in an open sided outbuilding; or
(c) free stalls in an open-sided barn.
2. Exercise yard (paved or unpaved).
3. Paved feed area:
(a) fence-line feed trough (shaded or unshaded); or
(b) self-feeding from a silage clamp.
•4. Milking Centre:
(a) milking shed or salon; and
(b) collecting yard (part of the exercise yard); and
(c) dairy, including milk store; and
(d) motor room.
Housing for Medium to Large Herds
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
5. Bull pen with a service stall.
6. Calving pen(s).
7. Calf accommodation.
8. Young stock accommodation (yard
with paved shade and feed area).
9. Bulk feed store (hay and silage).
10.Concentrate feed store.
11. Veterinary facilities:
(a) diversion pen with artificial
insemination stalls; and
(b) isolation pen.
12 Waste store:
(a) slurry storage; or
(b) separate storage of solids and
wastes.
13 Office and staff facilities.

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Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Zero-grazing system
for the smallholder

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Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Zero-grazing system
for the smallholder

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Cattle General Housing Requirements…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Zero-grazing system
for the smallholder

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•The machine milking has high efficiency for a large farming but hand
milking is preferred for small holder.
•In developing countries there is a lack of spare parts and skilled
mechanics.
•Machine milking gives good quality and operates with a uniform
vacuum of 275–350 mm of mercury.
•A pulsate supplies an intermittent vacuum to one line at the rate of 45–60
pulses per minute.
•A bucket milking machineis the simplest and least expensive to install,
but the milk must be carried by hand to the cooler.
•It is good for small-and medium-size farm.
Milking and milk handling
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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Bucket milking machine
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Sanitationistheprimaryconsideration
inthehandlingofmilk,whethera
smallholderorfromacommercialherd
supplying.
•Hotwater(85°C),mixedwitha
chemicaldetergent,isrequiredfor
effectivecleaning.
•Milkshouldbehandledinaseparate
areathatiseasytocleanandisfreeof
insects,birds,rodentsanddust.
•Sellingmilktothepublicrequires
higherstandardsofsanitationandmore
elaboratefacilities.
Milk room and cooler
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Aseparatemilkroomadjacentto
themilkingstallsormilkingparlor
isneeded.
•Thisroomshouldbewellventilated
anddesignedwithaconcretefloor
withaslopeof20mm/mtoadrain
•Masonrywallswithasmooth,
water-resistantsurfacethatcanbe
easilyandthoroughlycleaned.
Milk room and cooler
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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Water Requirements
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•f
Milk Collection Center
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Milking parlor becomes a feasible investment.
•Parlor should have a high quality concrete floor and metal railings for
durability and ease of cleaning.
Milking parlour
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Milking parlour for a medium-size herd

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Milking parlour for a medium-size herd
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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Abreast parlor
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Allows cows to enter and
leave individually
•Themaindrawbackwith
theabreastparloristhe
relativelylongdistance
towalkbetweenmilking
points.

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Tandem parlor
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Italsoallowsfor
individualcareofthe
cowsbutforsmallerof
highyieldedcows.
•Themaindrawbacks
withthistypeofparlor
areitslargerspace
requirementandmore
expensiveconstruction.

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Walk-through parlor
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•In this parlorthe cows
enter and leave in
batches.

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Herringbone parlour
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Thelayoutresultsina
compactworkingarea
andallowsfeederstobe
fixedtothesidewalls.

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Grain feeders
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Itisbeneficialtoequipmilking
parlorswithgrainfeedersthatallow
eachcowtobefedinproportionto
herproduction.
•Cowsaremorelikelytoenterthe
parlourwhentheyexpecttobefed,
somelaborwillbesaved.

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Collecting yard
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Collectingyard
•Thecowsarenormallyassembledinacollectingyardbeforemilking.
•shouldhaveaminimumsizeof1.1metresto2.0metrespercow.
•Watermustbeprovidedforcowswaitingtheirturntotheparlour.

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Entrance and exit
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Entranceandexit
•Astraightentranceintotheparlour(noturns)ensuressmoothand
convenientoperation.
•Astraightexitisdesirablebutnotasimportantasastraightentry.

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Feeding equipment
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•The dimensions of the trough must be chosen
of the feeding space for the animals to be
fed,
•providing enough volume for the amount of
feed distributed at each feeding time.
•The timber construction is simple to install
butconcrete has greater
durability.
•The concrete grade should be at least C20, or
a nominal mix of 1:2:4, because of chemical
attack by feedstuffs and the cow’s saliva.

40. Feeding equipment
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
Concrete trough with a
step in front of the trough
Timber trough
Concrete trough with a step in front of the trough

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Water troughs
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•The size of a water trough dependson whether the herd is taken for
watering periodically or is given water on a continuous basis.
•To prevent contamination of the water trough with manure, the trough
should preferably have a 300–400 mm-wide step along the front.
Water Trough Cross-section

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Automatic drinkers
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Automaticdrinkersactivatedbytheanimals
provideahygienicmeansofsupplyingwaterfor
cowsandyoungstock.
•Onebowlshouldbeprovidedforevery10–15
cows.
•Anippledrinkerprovidesthemosthygienic
meansofwateringforyoungstock.
•Mostnippleshavealimitedflowrateandcan
thereforenotbeusedforcalvesolderthansix
months.

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•Eachfarmhasdifferenttypesandquantitiesoffeedstuffs.
•Dryhayorforage
•Ifthegreenforageisavailablethenthespaceforchoppingisrequired.
•Forlongtimeforageconservationthestoragemethodtoprevent
spoilageisessential.
•Araisedslattedfloorwithacoveringorcorrugatedsteelroofwill
providegoodprotectionforhay.
•Loosehayweighsabout60–70kg/m
3
.
•Generally,about3–5kilogramsofhay
orotherforageperanimalperdayisrequired.
Feed handling
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

44. 44
•Silage
•Highqualitysilageisagoodsourceof
food.
•Itisnoteconomicforafewcows,
becausethesilagemakingprocesshas
somespoilage.
•Goodsilagecomefromrightcrop,
suchasentiremaizetogetherwith
thegrainsisidealbecauseofhigh
starchforfermentation.
•Incontrast,manygrassesand
legumesdonotfermentwellunlessa
preservative,suchasmolasses,is
added.
Feed handling
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

45. 45
•Silage
•Agoodsilotomakegoodsilage,The
wallsmustbesmooth,airtight.
•Forahorizontalsilo,thewallsshould
slopeabout1:4sothatthesilagepacks
tighterasitsettles.
•Selectedplantshouldhave30–50%
moisterandchoppedfinelyandthen
packedtightlyintothesilo.
Feed handling
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

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•Careful waste management is needed to:
•Utilize the fertilizing qualities of the manure, urine and other waste;
•Maintain good animal health through sanitary facilities;
•Avoid pollution of air and water and to provide good hygiene around
the farmstead.
•The disposal can be disposed by several ways, solid can be spread in the
field and the liquid can be collected in tank and spread.
•Beside faeceand urine some other materials of farm are collecting in
tank such as feed, silage and farm surface parts.
Manure handling
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

47. 47
•More than 25% solid is considered as manure, it can be obtained by
adding 1-2.5 kg sawdust per day.
•Less than 20% solid is known as slurry and can collect in a tank by
pump and should dilute by 15% water for easy collection.
•Volume= (Number of cows) X (Kg manure per day)X (m
3
per day from the table).
Manure handling…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

48. 48
Manure handling…(Cont.)
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

49. 49
•At present the only effective method of
control for most of these diseases is to control
the vector.
•Dipping or spraying with an acaricideis the
most efficient way of reducing the number of
ticks.
•Siting a dip
•The ground where a dip is to be built, should
be slightly sloping but not so rocky.
•Cattle must not be hot or thirstywhen they
are dipped.
•For pollution purpose the waste pit should be
at least 50 meters from any river or stream,
100 meters from a spring,
Cattle dips
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)

50. 50
References
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)
•Beaver, A., Proudfoot, K. L., & von Keyserlingk, M. A. (2020). Symposium review: Considerations for the
future of dairy cattle housing: An animal welfare perspective.Journal of dairy science,103(6), 5746-5758.
•Beaver, A., Ritter, C., & von Keyserlingk, M. A. (2019). The dairy cattle housing dilemma: Natural behavior
versus animal care.Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice,35(1), 11-27.
•Aland, A., & Banhazi, T. (Eds.). (2013).Livestock housing: modern management to ensure optimal health and
welfare of farm animals. WageningenAcademic Publishers.
•Bai, Z., Li, X., Lu, J., Wang, X., Velthof, G. L., Chadwick, D., ... & Hu, C. (2017). Livestock housing and
manure storage need to be improved in China.
•FAO. 2011. Rural structures in the tropics. Design and development. Rome.
•Mosquera, J., Ploegaert, J. P. M., & Kupers, G. C. C. (2020). Determination of carbon dioxide concentrations in
air from livestock housing systems: reference method using the lung method as applied by Wageningen
Livestock Research.
•Tarazona, A. M., Ceballos, M. C., & Broom, D. M. (2020). Human relationships with domestic and other
animals: One health, one welfare, one biology.Animals,10(1), 43.
•Galama, P. J., Ouweltjes, W., Endres, M. I., Sprecher, J. R., Leso, L., Kuipers, A., & Klopčič, M. (2020).
Symposium review: Future of housing for dairy cattle.Journal of dairy science,103(6), 5759-5772.

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Thank You
Safiullah Jauhar. M.Sc., Afghanistan National Agriculture Sciences & Technology University (ANASTU)