Page 74 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Housing for cattle
Cattle are housed depending on weather condition, geographical position and
economic condition. In so doing, cattle housing designs vary from region to region.
There is no proper cattle housing design which is appropriate for rearing cattle
nationwide or worldwide. Therefore, farmers of different regions or countries make
different types of cattle houses which are suitable for them.

Generally, cattle can be housed in restricted stall housing or semi-restricted housing.
The restricted stall housing is also termed as conventional housing while semi-
restricted housing is also called loose housing. The restricted stall housing involves
confining cattle in an individual pen with provision of facilities such as those for
feeding, watering, resting and manure disposal. It is mainly practised in dairy cattle
farming. In semi-restricted or loose housing, purposive groups of animals, for
example, lactating cows, bulls, calves or heifers are confined together in a pen. In a
group pen or house, animals can feed, drink water, exercise and rest together. There
are various forms of loose housing and these forms are practised to both dairy and
beef farming. Loose housing and restricted stall or conventional housing are further
elaborated here.

Loose housing for dairy cattle
Loose housing can take various forms depending on the purpose and size of
production. For dairy cattle reared in cut and carry system, the shed is simply made
of good floor with some impervious materials that can be easily kept clean and dry
and is not slippery. It should have doors and water-proof roof. It can have other
necessary features and facilities required for dairy farming. Figure 4.1 shows an
example of a simple loose dairy shed that can be adapted by a small-scale dairy
farmer.
Store

Calf pen Roof Cubicle

Slurry pit

Water trough
Feed trough Drainage canal
Walking area (loafing yard)
Figure 4.1: Example of simple loose dairy shed

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