Livestock Housing

Cattle lose heat primarily by respiration (from moist tissues in the respiratory system) as well as through transference of heat into the air and by evaporation of water from sweat.

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.

It has been shown that cattle prefer shade over water in hot conditions and will spend more time resting and less time chewing their cud as the ambient temperature increases.

Cattle at highest risk of heat stress
Animals at highest risk of heat stress include:

overfat stock
young cattle
dark coloured cattle
high producing dairy cows
sick cattle or cattle that have previous history of respiratory disease.
Reduced appetites of cattle in extreme heat
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 cattle and assist in maintaining normal feed intakes.

Any new feed should be gradually introduced to reduce the risk of acidosis or metabolic disease.

Dairy cattle under heat stress
A study on the economic effects of heat loads on dairy cattle production in Australia 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.
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 3 per cent greater for shaded cows than for unshaded cows.

For more information about heat stress in Australian dairy herds can be found at the Cool Cows website.

Cows and their calves
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.

Shelter suitable during hot weather
The best type of shelter during extreme heat protects cattle from the sun and allows for the cooling effect of the wind. Some options for shelter in hot weather are:

constructed shelters using materials such as shade cloth, corrugated iron or timber
shadebelts – these are usually a single line of deciduous trees, planted in an east-west direction to give shade on the south side
trees with large canopies —- planted individually in fields
shelterbelts — thick hedges of trees usually fenced off from stock.

1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES INPLANNING
ANIMALHOUSES.
Prepared by
Dr. SubhrajitDas,
B.V.Sc& A.H (CAU, Mizoram)
M.V.Sc(LPM) DSVCKV, Chattisgarh

2. INTRODUCTION -
AnimalHousingisrequiredtoprotecttheanimalsfrominclement
weather,provideclean,comfortablestayforgoodhealthofanimals
andforefficientmanagement.Inadequateandimproperplanning
resultsinadditionallaborchargesandincreasedcostsin
maintenanceofsheds.Adequatehousingtoanimalsisaimedat
increasedmilkproduction,betterlaborutilization,betterhealthof
animals,diseasecontrol,bettercareandmanagementofanimals
resultinginproductionofhighqualitymilkresultingina
remunerativepriceandbetterprofitofthefarm.Thefarmerhasto
selectthesuitablehousingsystemkeepinginviewthelocal
environmentandeconomicstatus.Minimuminvestmentshouldbe
puttowardshousingofanimalsbyutilizingthelocallyavailable
materialsforconstructionofroof,floorandwallswithout
compromisingthecomfortofanimals.

3. FACTORTOBECONSIDERED BEFORE SITESELECTON.-
Topography and drainage.
Soil type.
Availability of land.
Availability water.
Exposure to the sun and protection from wind.
Protection from noise and other facilities.
Accessibility.
Durability and attractiveness.
Water supply.
Surroundings.
Labour.
Marketing.
Electricity.
Transport facility.
Facilities, labour, food

4. 1.Topographyanddrainage-Animalbuildingshouldbeata
higherelevationthanthesurroundinggroundtoofferagoodslope
forrainfallanddrainageforthewastesofthedairytoavoid
stagnationwithin.
2.Soiltype-Soilmustbesuitableforstrongfoundation.Fertile
soilshouldbesparedforcultivation.Marcy,clay,sandy,rocksoils
arenotsuitable.Loamyandgravelysoilsarebestsuitedfor
buildingconstruction.
3.Availabilityofland-Thereshouldbevastareatoconstructall
buildingandshouldgivewaytofutureexpansionoffarm.Atleast
2-3acrelandisrequiredfor200cowsaccommodation.For2cows
1-acrelandisessentialforfodderproduction.

5. 4.Availabilitywater-Plentyofwaterisneededforfarm
operationslikewashing,foddercultivation,processingofmilkand
by-productsandfordrinking.
6.Exposuretothesunandprotectionfromwind-Adairy
buildingshouldbelocatedtoamaximumexposuretothesunin
thenorthandminimumexposuretothesuninthesouthand
protectionfromprevailingstrongwindcurrentswhetherhotor
cold.Buildingsshouldbeplacedsothatdirectsunlightcanreach
theplatforms,guttersandmangersinthecattleshed.Asfaras
possible,thelongaxisofthedairybarnsshouldbesetinthenorth-
southdirectiontohavethemaximumbenefitofthesunIfthefarm
buildinginopenorexposedarea,thewindbreaksinthefarmof
tallquickgrowingtreesshouldbegrownnearthebuilding.This
willreducethewindvelocityandsolarradiation.

6. 7.Protectionfromnoiseandotherfacilities-Thefarmsite
shouldbeawayfromnoiseproducingfactory/chemicalindustry,
sewagedisposingarea.Theindustrialeffluentsintheformof
gaseousorliquidmaypollutesurroundingresources.Noiseisalso
foundtoaffecttheanimalproduction.Hencethefarmshouldbe
awayfromcity
8.Accessibility-Easyaccessibilitytothebuildingsisalways
desirable.Situationofacattleshedbythesideofthemainroad
preferablyatadistanceofabout100metersshouldbeaimedat.
9.Durabilityandattractiveness-Itisalwaysattractivewhen
thebuildingsopenuptoascenicviewandaddtothegrandeurof
thescenery.Alongwiththis,durabilityofthestructureis
obviouslyanimportantcriterioninbuildingadairy.
10.Watersupply-Abundantsupplyoffresh,cleanandsoftwater
shouldbeavailableatacheaprate.
11.Surroundings-Areasinfestedwithwildanimalsanddacoits
shouldbeavoided.Narrowgates,highmangercurbs,andloose
hinges,protrudingnails,smoothfinishedfloorintheareaswhere
thecowsmoveandothersuchhazardsshouldbeeliminated.

7. 12.Labour-Honest,economicandregularsupplyoflabouris
available.
13.Marketing-Farmbuildingsshouldonlybeinthoseareasfrom
wheretheownercansellhisproductsprofitablyandregularly.The
farmshouldbeawayfromthecitybutatthesametimeitshould
benearertocitytherebytheproductsproducedfromthefarm
couldbemarketedeasily.
14.Electricity-Electricityisthemostimportantsanitarymethod
oflightingadairy.,itisdesirabletohaveanadequatesupplyof
electricity.Itshouldbeavailableatthesite.Itisneededfor
operatingvariousmachinesusedinthefarmandisthelight
sourcetotheanimals.

8. 15.Transportfacility-Thefarmbuildingsshouldbeprovided
withgoodroadandalsohavetheaccessibilitytoreachthemarket.
Thiswillreducethetransportcostandavoidspoilageofproducts.
16.Facilities,labour,food-Cattleyardsshouldbesoconstructed
andsituatedinrelationtofeedstorages,haystacks,siloand
manurepitsastoeffectthemostefficientutilizationoflabour.
Sufficientspaceperanimalandwellarrangedfeedingmangers
andrestingarecontributenotonlytogreaterproductivityin
animalsandmaketheworkoftheoperatoreasieralsominimizes
feedexpenses.Feedstoragesshouldbelocatedathandnearthe
centreoftheanimalhouse.Milk-houseincaseofcattlefarm
shouldbelocatedalmostatthecentreofthebarn.

9. Factortobeconsideredwhiledesigninganimalhouse(Outer
section)-
DesigningUnit-Itisdesirabletodesigntheaccommodationfora
workableunit.Itwillgiveopportunitytostudytheneedofsmaller
groupwithregardtofloorspace,feedingspacerequiredfordifferent
kindsofanimals.
Structuralform-Shapeanddesignofbuildingshouldmeetthe
needsofallclassesoflivestock.Uniformityintheappearanceshould
bemaintained.Wehavetodecidethenumberofanimalstobe
housedinthebuildingandnumberofbuildingstobeconstructed.
Designingforflexibility-Animalbuildinghastobedesignedto
meettherequirementofchangingenterprises.Thiswillincreasethe
utilityofbuildings.Spaciousbuildingwithoutpillarscanbeeasily
beingadoptedfordifferententerpriseswithlittlemodificationsin
thebuilding.Forexamplelargeintensivedairybuildingscanbe
usedforrearingpigorsheepandgoatwithlittlemodification

10. Shapeoftheroof-Itisdesignedtosuitthelocalclimatic
conditions.Gablewithroofventilatorisnecessaryforhot
condition.Monitorroofissuitableforbuildingwithsmaller
width.
Standardwidthofbuilding-Singlerowcowshedshould
havelengthof3.80to4.25metresandDoublerowcowshed
shouldhave7.90to8.70metreslength.
StandardheightofbuildingThestandardheightofthe
buildingmaydifferaccordingtotheroofingmaterialand
agroclimaticcondition.
Lengthofthebuildings-Thestandardlengthofbuilding
maybeofany.Itmayvarydependsuponthenumberof
animalshoused.Lengthcanbedeterminedbasedonthe
totalstocktobehousedwithinthebuilding.Example:In
caseofdairy15-20animalsinsinglerowsystemand20-50
animalsindoublerowsystemandabove50animalsa
separateshedshouldbeprovided

11. Factor to be considered while designing animal house (Inner section)-
Floor-Flooristheimportantpartofthebuilding.Flooristheone,which
isfrequentlyusedbyanimalsforvariouspurposesasresting,movement,
feedingandmilkingetc.Theinsidefloorofthebarnshouldbeofsome
imperviousmaterialwhichcanbeeasilykeptcleananddryandisnot
slippery.Groovesandroughenedsurfaceshouldbeprovided.Different
materialsareusedforanimalhouseflooring.Thechoicedependson
availability,costandotherqualityrequiredfortheanimalhouses.
Walls-Theinsideofthewallsshouldhaveasmoothhard·finishof
cement,whichwillnotallowanylodgementofdustandmoisture=.The
openspaceinbetweensupportingpillarswillserveforlightandair
circulation.
Roof-Roofofthebarnmaybeofasbestossheetortiles.Corrugatediron
sheetshavethedisadvantageofmakingextremefluctuationsinthe
insidetemperatureofthebarnindifferentseasons.However,ironsheets
withaluminiumpaintedtopstoreflectsunraysandbottomsprovided
withwoodeninsulatedceilingscanalsoachievetheobjective.Aheightof
8feetatthesidesand15feetattheridgewillbesufficienttogivethe
necessaryairspacetothecows.

12. Manger-Cementconcretecontinuousmangerwithremovable
partitionsisthebestfromthepointofviewofdurabilityand
cleanliness.Mangerspreventfeedwastage.Theheightattheback
ofthemangershouldbekeptat2'-6"to3".Anoverallwidthof2'
to21/2'issufficientforagoodmanger.
Alleys-Thecentralwalkshouldhaveawidthof5'-6'exclusiveof
gutterswhencowsfaceout,and4'-5'whentheyfacein.Thefeed
alley,incaseofafaceoutsystemshouldbe4'wide,andthe
centralwalkshouldshowaslopeof1"fromthecentretowardsthe
twoguttersrunningparalleltoeachother,thusformingacrown
atthecentre.
Manuregutter-Themanureguttershouldbewideenoughto
holdalldungwithoutgettingblocked,andbeeasytoclean/
Suitabledimensionsare2"widthwithacross-fallof!"awayfrom
standing.Theguttershouldhaveagradientof1"forevery10'
length.Thiswillpermitafreeflowofliquidexcreta.

13. Doors-Thedoorsofasinglerangecowshedshouldbe5"wide
withaheightof7',andfordoublerowshedthewidthshouldnot
belessthan8"to9'.Alldoorsofthebarnshouldlieflatagainst
theexternalwallwhenfullyopen.
CalvingBoxes-Allowingcowstocalveinthemilkingcowshedis
highlyundesirableandobjectionable.Itleadstoinsanitaryin
milkproductionandspreadofdiseaselikecontagiousabortionin
theherd.Specialaccommodationintheformofloose-boxes
enclosedfromallsideswithadoorshouldbefurnishedtoall
parturientcows.Itshouldhaveanareaofabout100to150sq.ft.
Withamplesoftbedding,itshouldbeprovidedwithsufficient
ventilationthroughwindowsandridgevent.
IsolationBoxes-Animalssufferingfrominfectiousdiseasemust
besegregatedsoonfromtherestoftheherd.Looseboxesofabout
150sq.ftareverysuitableforthispurpose.Theyshouldbe
situatedatsomedistancefromtheotherbarns.Everyisolation
boxshouldbeselfcontainedandshouldhaveseparateconnection
tothedrainagedisposalsystem.

14. Standard width of buildings-
Single row cow shed-3.80-4.25 metre
Double row cow shed-7.90 -8.70 metre
Poultry and other-20to 30 feet

25. Floor space requirement-
Type of
animal
Floor specae
requirement(m²)
Maximum
no of
animal/pen
Height of
the shed
Covered areaOpenarea
Cattle and buffalo-
Bull 12.0 24.0 1 175cm in
medium and
heavy rain
fall and 3330
in dry areas.
Cows 3.5 7.0 50
Buffaloes 4.0 8.0 50
Down-calver12.0 12.0 1
Youngcalves1.O 2.0 30
Old calves2.O 4.0 30

26. FEEDINGANDWATERING SPACEREQUIREMENT -
Type of
animal
Floor specae
requirement(m²)
Maximum
no of
animal/pen
Height of the
shed
Covered areaOpenarea
Sheepand goat
Ewe/Nanny 1.0 - 60 300-dry areas
and 220 in
heavy rain fall
areas
Lamb/Kid 0.4 - 75
Ram/Buck 3.4 - -
Milchdoe 1.4m×1.2m - Single stall
Pig
Boar 6-7 8.8-12 - 200-250
Farrowing
sow
7-9 8.8-12 -
Weaner
/fattening
pig
0.9-1.8 0.9-1.8 30
Dry sow
/gilt
1.8-2.7 1.4-1.8 3-10

27. FEEDINGANDWATERING SPACEREQUIREMENT -
Types of
animal
Width(cm) Depth(cm) Heightof
inner (cm)
Adultcattle and
buffalo
60 40 50
Calves 40 15 20
Adult sheep and
goat
50 30 35
Lambs and kids50 20 25
Adultpigs. 50 20 25
Growing pigs 30 15 25

28. DESIGNINGOFANIMALBUILDINGFORPRODUCTION AND
PRODUCTCONTROL-
Animal house is to be design to have control over production of
product and also the quality of product.
Environmentalcontrolhouse-Recenttrendsinanimalhouseis
tocontrolthebadeffectofenvironmentalfactorstoprovidecomfort
conditiontotheanimals.Intropicalbuildings,choiceofbuilding
materialsandmethodshouldbeemployedtopreventheat
radiationfromsunintothebuildingthroughroof,wall,and
surroundingground.Nonconductingmaterialswithsufficient
insulationwillpreventvariouskinds[fheatradiation.Comfortable
airvelocity,optimumhumidityshouldbemaintained.Theseentire
factorwillhaveeffectongrowth,reproductionandoverallhealth
statusoflivestock.

29. Qualityofproduct-Highqualitymilkandeggcanbe
producedonlyincertaintypeofhouse,whicharespecially
designedforit.Forexamplecertifiedhighqualityeggsare
producedonlyincageswithrollawayflowmanagementor
inslattedfloormanagement,
Certifiedhighqualitymilkwithlowbacterialcountscanbe
producedonlyintheparloursystemofmilk
Labourcontrol-Labourcostcanbereducedanddesigning
theanimalhouseproperlyandlabourefficiencycan
improvedbydoublerowarrangementofanimalsand
animalbuildingsfaciliti9scirculartravelandtwowayjob.
Constructionofalleylikefeedalley,milkalley,egg
collectionalley,andanimalweightmentyardaredesigned
toreducethelabourcost.

30. Diseasecontrol-Animalhouseshouldbedesigned
properlytoeffectdiseasecontrol.Provisionofwashableand
easilydrainedfloor,washablewallswillcontrolspreadof
disease.Designingofsuitabledrainagesystemforquick
andhygienicdisposalofwasteisrequiredforpreventing
disease.
Externallooseboxaccommodationisnecessaryforisolation
ofsickanimal.Dampnessresistantsurfacewillreducethe
highhumidity,whichisthepredisposingcausefor
respiratorydiseaseinpigsandyounganimals.

31. CONCLUSION -Anefficientmanagementofanimalisnot
possiblewithoutawellplannedandadequatehousing.Improper
planninginthearrangementofanimalhousingmayresultin
additionallabourchargesandaswellasitmayresultasevere
uncomfortableconditiontoanimals,soproperplanningis
necessarybeforeanyanimalhouseconstruction.

32. REFERENCE -
1.AgriculturalInformationCentre.Livestock
developmenttechnicalhandbook.Nairobi,Kenya.
2.Attfield,H.D.1977.Raisingrabbits.Mt.Rainer
M.D.,VolunteersinTechnicalAssistance(VITA).
3.Chepete,H.J.,Xin,H.,Puma,M.C.&Gates,
R.S.2004.Heatandmoistureproductionofpoultry
andtheirhousingsystems:pulletsandlayers.ASHRAE
Transactions110:286–299.

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