Page 79 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

open yard can be sufficient for heifers and it is advisable that the maximum number
of animals per pen should not exceed 30. If there is a large number of young stocks,
it is advised to divide them based on age groups and each group housed separately
to facilitate proper feeding.

Crush: This is an enclosure where animals are confined when management operations
such as treatments are carried out. It can be made with tree poles, wood or iron

bars. Preferably, the crush should have a V-shape. The recommended dimensions
are within a range of 0.68 m to 0.75 m width, 2 m to 2.4 m length and a height of
1.65 m to 1.8 m for straight poles crush and 1.4 m to 1.6 m for slanted poles crush.
Figure 4.5 shows a simple cattle crush.

Figure 4.5: Simple cattle crush

Milking parlour: This is a structure or part of the dairy shed where cows are milked
and it should have to be fully covered. It should be located at the centre of the farm
with all other farm buildings arranged around it. If built outside the dairy shed, it
should be built closer to the shed in order to allow the animal to enter easily. In the
milking parlour, there shall be an individual stand. The number of stands required

should be 25% of total number of milking animals in the herd. This is to allow the
milking operation to be carried out in batches. The milking area should comprise of
a feed trough in front. The milking area recommended for a dairy cow is 90 cm x
200 cm. Table 4.1 presents dimensions of milking parlour while Figure 4.6 shows a
schematic diagram of a milking area or milking parlour.

Student’s Book Form Three
68

10/01/2025 12:31
AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 68
AGRICULTURE FORM 3 9.11.2022.indd 68 10/01/2025 12:31