Dairy Farming-डेयरी फ़ार्मिंग

PRINCIPLES,BIS RECOMENDATION AND LAYOUT DESIGN OF DAIRY CATTLE AND BUFFALO HOUSING IN INDIA

February 14, 2022

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PRINCIPLES , BIS RECOMENDATION AND LAYOUT DESIGN OF DAIRY CATTLE AND BUFFALO HOUSING IN INDIA

Model Layouts of Dairy Farms of Various Sizes

Model layouts for the construction of various farm buildings have been prepared under loose system of housing. The loose system of housing dairy animals has been recommended for most of the agro-climatic zones of the country with minor modifications except in heavy rainfall regions and the high altitude regions where winters are very harsh. The dairy animals under lose system of housing are grouped together based on their age in case of growing animals and based on their physiological condition when they are adults. The various categories of dairy animals may be formed such as milking cows, dry and pregnant cows, down-calvers, bulls, heifers and the calves. All these animals need to be housed in separate sheds and the provision in the layout has to be made accordingly.

Apart from the animal sheds the certain other ancillary buildings/structures are also required to be constructed such as chaff cutter shed, feed store, implements store, straw store, milking parlour, milk room, silo pits and manure pits apart from the office, lawns. The large sized dairy farms may also need overhead water storage tank, a small sized workshop and parking space.

The farm building may be arranged in such a manner that they result in higher animal productivity and labour efficiency with minimum movement of people and the animals. For example, the milking parlour may be situated close to the milking cows shed; the milk room may be adjacent to the milking parlour, the feed storage room also should be close to the milking parlour as the compound feed in mostly fed in the milking parlour during milking. The calf shed should be close to the milking cows shed if weaning of calves is practiced. The farm building should be constructed using cheaper locally available construction materials so that the construction cost is minimized.

Given under are some model layouts of dairy farms of various sizes for the setting up of commercial dairy farms.

Housing for Dairy Cattle

An efficient management of cattle will be incomplete without a well-planned and adequate housing of cattle. Improper planning in the arrangement of animal housing may result in additional labour charges and that curtail the profit of the owner. During erection of a house for dairy cattle, care should be taken to provide comfortable accommodation for individual cattle. No less important is the proper sanitation, durability and arrangements for the production of clean milk under convenient and economic conditions, etc.

Location of dairy buildings

The points which should be considered before the erection of dairy buildings are as follows.

Topography and Drainage

A dairy building should be at a higher elevation than the surrounding ground to offer a good slope for rainfall and drainage for the wastes of the dairy to avoid stagnation within.
A leveled area requires less site preparation and thus lesser cost of building.
Low lands and depressions and proximity to places of bad odor should be avoided.

Soil Type

Fertile soil should be spared for cultivation.
Foundation soils as far as possible should not be too dehydrated or desiccated.
Such a soil is susceptible to considerable swelling during rainy season and exhibit numerous cracks and fissures.

Exposure to the sun and protection from wind

A dairy building should be located to a maximum exposure to the sun in the north and minimum exposure to the sun in the south and protection from prevailing strong wind currents whether hot or cold.
Buildings should be placed so that direct sunlight can reach the platforms, gutters and mangers in the cattle shed.
As far as possible, the long axis of the dairy barns should be set in the north-south direction to have the maximum benefit of the sun.

Accessibility

Easy accessibility to the buildings is always desirable.
Situation of a cattle shed by the side of the main road preferably at a distance of about 100 meters should be aimed at.

Durability and attractiveness

It is always attractive when the buildings open up to a scenic view and add to the grandeur of the scenery. Along with this, durability of the structure is obviously an important criterion in building dairy

Water supply

Abundant supply of fresh, clean and soft water should .be available at a cheap rate.

Surroundings

Areas infested with wild animals and dacoits should be avoided.
Narrow gates, high manger curbs, loose hinges, protruding nails, smooth finished floor in the areas where the cows move and other such hazards should be eliminated.

Labour

Honest, economic and regular supply of labour is available.

Marketing

Dairy buildings should only be in those areas from where the owner can sell his products profitably and regularly.
He should be in a position to satisfy the needs of the farm within no time and at reasonable price.

Electricity

Electricity is the most important sanitary method of lighting a dairy.
Since a modem dairy always handles electric equipment’s which are also economical, it is desirable to have an adequate supply of electricity.

Facilities, Labour, Food

Cattle yards should be so constructed and situated in relation to feed storages, hay stacks, silo and manure pits as to affect the most efficient utilization of labour. Sufficient space per cow and well-arranged feeding mangers and resting are contributing not only to greater milk yield of cows and make the work of the operator easier also minimizes feed expenses. The relative position of the feed stores should be quite adjacent to the cattle barn. Note : Worthy features of feed stores are given:

Feed storages should be located at hand near the center of the cow barn.
Milk-house should be located almost at the center of the barn.
Centre cross-alley should be well designed with reference to feed storage, the stall area and the milk house.

Types of Housing

The most widely prevalent practice in our country is to tie the cows with rope on a Katcha floor except some organized dairy farms belonging to government, co-operatives or military where proper housing facilities exist. It is quite easy to understand that unless cattle are providing with good housing facilities, the animals will move too far in or out of the standing space, defecating all round and even causing trampling and wasting of feed by stepping into the mangers. The animals will be exposed to extreme weather conditions all leading to bad health and lower production. Dairy cattle may be successfully housed under a wide variety of conditions, ranging from close confinement to little restrictions except at milking time. However, two types of dairy barns are in general use at the present time.

The loose housing barn in combination with some type of milking barn or parlor.
The conventional dairy barn.

Loose Housing System

Loose housing may be defined as a system where animals are kept loose except milking and at the time of treatment. The system is most economical. Some features of loose housing system are as follows.
Cost of construction is significantly lower than conventional type.
It is possible to make further expansion without change
Facilitate easy detection of animal in heat.
Animals feel free and therefore, proves more profitable with even minimum grazing
Animals get optimum excise which is extremely important for better health production.
Over all better management can be rendered.

Cattle Shed

The entire shed should be surrounded by a boundary wall of. 5″ height from three side and manger etc., on one side. The feeding area should be provided with 2 to 2 ½ feet of manger space per cow. All along the manger, there shall be 10″ wide water trough to provide clean, even, available drinking water.
The water trough thus constructed will also minimize the loss of fodders during feeding. Near the manger, under the roofed house 5′ wide floor should be paved with bricks having a little slope.
Beyond that, there should be open unpaved area (40’X35′) surrounded by 5′ wall with one gate. It is preferable that animals face north when they are eating fodder under the shade. During cold wind in winter the animals will automatically lie down to have the protection from the walls.

Cattle Shed

Shed for calves

On one side of the main cattle shed there be fully covered shed “10’x15′ to accommodate young calves. Such sheds with suitable partitioning, may also serve as calving pen under adverse climatic conditions. Beyond this covered area there should be a 20’x10′ open area having boundary wall so that calves may move there freely.
In this way both calf and cattle sheds will need in all 50’x50′ area for 20 adult cows and followers. If one has limited resources, he can build ordinary, Katcha/semikatcha boundary walls but feeding and water trough should be cemented ones.

Shed for calves

Conventional Dairy Barn

The conventional dairy barns are comparatively costly and are now becoming less popular day by day. However, by this system cattle are more protected from adverse climatic condition.
The following barns are generally needed for proper housing of different classes

Dairy Stock in the Farm

Cow houses or sheds
Calving box
Isolation box
Sheds for young stocks
Bull or bullock sheds

Cow Sheds

Cow sheds can be arranged in a single row if the numbers of cows are small.
Say less than 10 or in a double row if the herd is a large one.
Ordinarily, not more than 80 to 100 cows should be placed in one building.
In double row housing, the stable should be so arranged that the cows face out (tails to tail system) or face in (head to head system) as preferred.

Advantages of tail to tail system

Under the average conditions, 125 to 150 man hours of labour are required per cow per year. Study of time: Time motion studies in dairies showed that 40% of the expended time is spent in front of the cow, and 25% in other parts of the barn and the milk house, and 60% of the time is spent behind the cows. Time spent at the back of the cows is 4 times more than the time spent in front of them.
In cleaning and milking the cows, the wide middle alley is of great advantage.
Lesser danger of spread of diseases from animal to animal.
Cows can always get more fresh air from outside.
The head gowala can inspect a greater number of milkmen while milking. This is possible because milkmen will be milking on both sides of the gowala.
Any sort of minor disease or any change in the hind quarters of the animals can be detected quickly and even automatically.

Tail to tail system

Advantages of face to face system

Cows make a better showing for visitors when heads are together
The cows feel easier to get into their stalls.
Sun rays shine in the gutter where they are needed most.
Feeding of cows is easier, both rows can be fed without back tracking.
It is better for narrow barns.

Face to face system

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/good-management-practices-for-successful-dairying-in-india/loose-housing-system/

Floor

The inside floor of the barn should be of some impervious material which can be easily kept clean and dry and is not slippery.
Paving with bricks can also serve ones purpose. Grooved cement concrete floor is still better.
The surface of the cowshed should be laid with a gradient of 1″ to 1.25″ from manger to excreta channel. An overall floor space of 65 to 70 sq.feets. Per adult cow should be satisfactory.

Walls

The inside of the walls should have a smooth hard· finish of cement, which will not allow any lodgment of dust and moisture.
Comers should be round.
For plains, dwarf walls about 4 to 5 feet in height and roofs supported by masonry work or iron pillars will be best or more suitable.
The open space in between supporting pillars will serve for light and air circulation.

Roof

Roof of the barn may be of asbestos sheet or tiles.
Corrugated iron sheets have the disadvantage of making extreme fluctuations in the inside temperature of the barn in different seasons.
However, iron sheets with aluminum painted tops to reflect sun rays and bottoms provided with wooden insulated ceilings can also achieve the objective.
A height of 8 feet at the sides and 15 feet at the ridge will be sufficient to give the necessary air space to the cows.
An adult cow requires at least about 800 cubic feet of air space under tropical conditions.
To make ventilation more effective a continuous ridge ventilation is considered most desirable.

Manger

Cement concrete continuous manger with removable partitions is the best from the point of view of durability and cleanliness.
A height of 1′-4″ for a high front manger and 6″ to 9″ for a low front manger is considered sufficient. Low front mangers are more comfortable for cattle but high front mangers prevent feed wastage.
The height at the back of the manger should be kept at 2′-6″ to 3″.
An overall width of 2′ to 2.5′ is sufficient for a good manger.

Alleys

The central walk should have a width of 5′-6′ exclusive of gutters when cows face out, and 4′-5′ when they face in.
The feed alley, in case of a face out system should be 4′ wide, and the central walk should show a slope of 1″ from the center towards the two gutters running parallel to each other, thus forming a crown at the center.

Manure Gutter

The manure gutter should be wide enough to hold all dung without getting blocked, and be easy to clean/ Suitable dimensions are 2″ width with a cross-fall of 1″ away from standing.
The gutter should have a gradient of 1″ for every 10′ length.
This will permit a free flow of liquid excreta.

Doors

The doors of a single range cowshed should be 5″ wide with a height of 7′, and for double row shed the width should not be less than 8″ to 9′.
All doors of the barn should lie flat against the external wall when fully open.

Calving Boxes

Allowing cows to calve in the milking cowshed is highly undesirable and objectionable.
It leads to in sanitary in milk production and spread of disease like contagious abortion in the herd. Special accommodation in the form of loose-boxes enclosed from all sides with a door should be furnished to all parturient cows.
It should have an area of about 100 to 150 sq.ft.
With ample soft bedding, it should be provided with sufficient ventilation through windows and ridge vent.

Isolation Boxes

Animals suffering from infectious disease must be segregated soon from the rest of the herd.
Loose boxes of about 150 sq. feet. are very suitable for this purpose.
They sh9uld be situated at some distance from the other barns.
Every isolation box should be self-contained and should have separate connection to the drainage disposal system.

Sheds For Young Stocks

Calves should never be accommodated with adults in the cow shed.
The calf house must have provision for daylight ventilation and proper drainage.
Damp and ill-drained floors cause respiratory trouble in calves to which they are susceptible.
For an efficient management and housing, the young stock should be divided into three groups, viz., young calves aged tip to one year bull calves, female calves.
Each group should be sheltered in a separate calf house or calf shed.
As far as possible the shed for the young calves should be quite close to the cow shed.
Each calf shed should have an open paddock or exercise yard.
An area of 100 square feet per head for a stock of 10 calves and an increase of 50 square feet for every additional calf will make a good paddock.
It is useful to classify the calves below one year into three age groups, viz., and calves below the age of 3 months, 3-6 months old calves and those over 6 months for a better allocation of the resting area.
An overall covered space of:
20-25 square feet per calf below the age of 3 months,
25 -30 square feet per calf from the age of 3-6 months,
30-40 square feet per calf from the age of 6-12 months and over, and
40-45 square feet for every calf above one year, should be made available for the sheltering such climatic conditions. A suitable· interior lay-out of a calf shed will be to arrange the standing space along each side of a 4 feet wide central passage having a shallow gutter along its length on both sides. Provision of water troughs inside each calf shed and exercise yard should never be neglected.

Bull or Bullock Shed

Safety and ease in handling a comfortable shed protection from weather and a provision for exercise are the key points while planning accommodation for bulls or bullocks.
A bull should never be kept in confinement particularly on hard floors.
Such a confinement without adequate exercise leads to overgrowth of the hoofs creating difficulty in mounting and loss in the breeding power of the bull.
A loose box with rough cement concrete floor about 15′ by 10′ in dimensions having an adequate arrangement of light and ventilation and an entrance 4′ in width and 7′ in height will make a comfortable housing for a bull.
The shed should have a manger and a water trough.
If possible, the arrangement should be such that water and feed can be served without actually entering the bull house.
The bull should have a free access to an exercise yard provided with a strong fence or a boundary wall of about 2′ in height, i.e., too high for the bull to jump over.
From the bull yard, the bull should be able to view the other animals of the herd so that it does not feel isolated.
The exercise yard should also communicate with a service crate via a swing gate which saves the use of an attendant to bring the bull to the service crate.

Cleaning of animal sheds

The easy and quick method of cleaning animal house is with liberal use of tap water, proper lifting and disposes all of dung and used straw bedding, providing drainage, to the animal house for complete removal of liquid waste and urine.
The daily removal of feed and fodder left over in the manger, reduces the fly nuisance.
Periodical cleaning of water through eliminates the growth of algae, bacterial and viral contamination and thus keeps the animal healthy.

Sanitation in dairy farm

Sanitation is necessary in the dairy farm houses for eliminations of all microorganisms that are capable of causing disease in the animals.
The presence of organisms in the animal shed contaminates the milk produced thus reducing its self-life, milk produced in an unclean environment is likely to transmit diseases which affect human health: Dry floorings keeps the houses dry and protects from foot injury.
Similarly, the presence of flies and other insects in the dairy farm area are not only, disturbs the animals but also spreads deadly diseases to the animal’s egg. Babesiosis, Theileriosis.

Sanitizers

Sunlight is the most potent and powerful sanitizer which destroy most of the disease producing organism. Disinfection of animal sheds means making these free from disease producing bacteria and is mainly-carried out by sprinkling chemical agents such as bleaching powder, Iodine and lodophor, sodium carbonate, Washing soda, Slaked Lime (Calcium hydroxide), Quick Lime (Calcium oxide) and phenol.

- Bleaching Powder – This is also called calcium hypo chloride. It contains upto 39 % available chlorine which has high disinfecting activity.
- Iodine and Lodophor – This is commercially available as lodophores and contains between 1 and 2 % available Iodine which is an effective germicide.
- Sodium Carbonate – A hot 4 % solution of washing soda is a powerful disinfectant against many viruses and certain bacteria.
- Slaked Lime and Quick Lime – White washing with these agents makes the walls of the sheds and the water troughs free from bacteria.
- Phenol – Phenol or carbolic acid is very disinfectants which destroy bacteria as well as fungus.

Insecticide

Insecticides are the substances or preparations used for killing insects.
In dairy farms, ticks usually hide in cracks and crevices of the walls and mangers.
Smaller quantities of insecticide solutions are required for spraying.
Liquid insecticides can be applied with a powerful sprayer, hand sprayer, a sponge or brush; commonly used insecticides are DDT, Gramaxane wettable powders, malathion, Sevin 50 % emulsifying concentration solutions.
These are highly poisonous and need to be handled carefully and should not come in contact with food material, drinking, water, milk etc.

Precautions while using disinfection in insecticide

Remove dung and used bedding completely.
Avoid spilling of dung and used bedding while carrying it out.
Avoid the use of dirty water in cleaning the sheds.
Never put the fresh fodder over: the previous day’s left over fodder in the manger.
Prevent algae to grow in the water troughs
Use proper concentration of disinfectant / insecticide solutions to avoid any toxic effects poisoning.
Avoid of the mat the milking time as milk absorbs these quickly.

Procedure for cleaning

Remove the dung from the floor and urine channel with the help of a shovel and basket (iron) and transfer it to the wheel – barrow.
Remove the used bedding and leftovers from the mangers in a similar way.
Empty the water trough and scrape its sides and bottom with the help of a floor brush.
Wash the water trough with clean water and white wash it with the help of lime mixture once a week.
Scrape the floor with a brush and broom and wash with water.
Clean and disinfect the splashes of dung on the side walls, railing and stanchions.
Remove the cobwebs periodically with the help of a wall brush.
Sprinkle one of the available disinfecting agents in the following concentration. Bleaching powder should have more than 30% available chlorine. Phenol 1-2% solution. Washing Soda (4% solution).
Allow adequate sunlight to enter in to the shed.
Spray insecticides at regular intervals especially during the rainy season (Fly season).
Whitewash the walls periodically by mixing insecticides in it to eliminate ticks and mites living in cracks and crevices.

Other provisions

The animal sheds should have proper facilities for milking barns, calf pens, calving pens and arrangement for store rooms etc.
In each shed, there should be arrangement for feeding manger, drinking area and loafing area.
The shed may be cemented or brick paved, but in any case, it should be easy to clean.
The floor should be rough, so that animals will not slip. The drains in the shed should be shallow and preferably covered with removable tiles.
The drain should have a gradient of 1″ for every 10″ length.
The roof may be of corrugated cement sheet, asbestos or brick and rafters.
Cement concrete roofing is too expensive. Inside the open unpaved area it is always desirable to plant some good shady trees for excellent protection against direct cold winds in winter and to keep cool in summer.

Source : Pashu sakhi Handbook

In India, the need for expanding the supplementary and subsidiary foods especially proteins has been increasingly realized in recent years. The demand for these articles has specially increased and with the rise in income it is likely to increase more rapidly in future. The prospects of augmenting the supply of milk and milk products, table birds, eggs etc depends on the development of dairy farming and poultry keeping which are an integral part of a sound system of diversified agriculture. Therefore special emphasis is laid on mixed farming, in which crop production and animal husbandry are dovetailed for efficient and economic utilization of land laboures and capital. The integration of farming with animal husbandry is essential for the fuller utilization of farm by products maintenance of soil fertility fuller employment ofr agriculturists throughout the year and increase in rural incomes. Hence for better management and breeding of the farm animals in healthy condition animal shelters are inevitable.

The kind of shelter required for an animal depends upon the kind of animal and the climate condition of the region. The rapid increase in temperature and extreme temperatures affects the animals. So to maintain the in properly, a shed is to be provided with a roof. The space available for each animal should be sufficient to allow free movement so as to maximize the ability to adjust to the environments. In the case of high velocity wind also, animals are affected and hence to protect them from wind droughts, enclosures is of provided. The sheds for housing the clarity cows and poultry hers are dealt in detail.

Dairy Barns

When planning a new dairy form, the size and location of barn with relation to the entire farm, the fields, roads, drainage channels, prevailing winds and landscaping are of importance are of importance and should be considered. The requirements of the dairy cows and calves should also be considered before any construction work is undertaken. The location of the fodder and feeder storage buildings should be included in the plan.

Milk straining, weighing, cooling and cleaning of the milk utensils require significant of labour and therefore the location of a well planned milk house should be carefully chosen. Before a new dairy barn is planned the future expansion of the business should also be considered. The size of the hard is usually determined on the basis of the total quantity of fodder the farm is capable of producing annually. Generally, it is economical to produce fodder on the farm and to buy concentrates from the market, and thus are can afford to have a large size hard than if its farm itself had to provide all the feed stuffs.

The dairy barn, when properly located should have a good approach from the highway, as well as from the farm house. The milk house is best located on a clean, well drained site near the barn, but separated from it by a 6 m long paved passage. It should face the road and be provided with doors fixed with wire mesh to keep off the flies. In tropical countries like India, it is better to have enclosed becomes facing in the east west direction. The location of the feed and fodder stores w.r.r barn should be planned so that the minimum time is spent in taking the supplies to the barn. The topography of the barn site determines the drainage pattern required. Drainage should be diverted around the barn by proper grading of the surrounding land.

Besides the natural rainwater, water used in grooming the cows, and cleaning the barn and dairy utensils has to be disposed off. It is desirable to have paved approaches to the dairy barn, since this prevents stagnation of water and mud formation. Under these conditions, it is not possible to transport the cow dung from the barn daily, it is desirable to fence an area near the barn of storage of manure.

Types of Dairy Barn

There are three general types of barns.

i) Stanchion barn
ii) The loose housing barn with milking room and

iii) The open air barn

In the stanchion barn the cows are housed and milled in the some building. It is also called the general purpose barn of the cow. The loose housing barn is one in which the cows are housed in a covered or partially covered yard, but they are milked in batches in a special milking house called the milking barlour. This system is also called the milking house system. the open air barn does not have any coves. The cows live in field and they are fed and milked there. The system is also known as the leafing barn system and is not common on a well established dairy barn.

Stanchion barn is one is which the cow is kept tied in separate stalls and provided with feed. Each stall consists of a bedding place and feed place so that the cow can be kept in the stall itself at all times. Stanchion is a frame work made up of pipe or angle iron with an oval shaped adjustable ring kept one end hanging from the frame and the other hinged to the floor. It shoul0d be wide enough to pin it on easily to the neck to the animal and to lock it. It should also give facility for the animal to rest and move its neck side ways to reach feed l./ and water. Instead of using oval shaped ring chains are also used to fasten the animals to the stanchion. For this a strap is around the neck of each animal.

The animals are arranged in rows according to the members to be housed. In enclosed shelters for more than 8 cows two rows is preferable. The rows can be arranged so that they may be facing each other known as ‘face in’ arrangement of is the opposite direction known as ‘face out’ arrangement. Face in type arrangements will reduce the floor area give facility for cleaning manure to the open sides an is suited mostly for unenclosed barns or for bullodes. The stalls are separated by a small partition wall usually of concrete to 12.5cm height, with a bent pipe fixed equal to the length of stall for efficiency of management the length of rows should be restricted to have maximum of 10 cows in a row. If the limit is exuded.

Stall size: The size of stall depend upon the size and age of animals. Narrow and cramped stall should be avoided, as it restricts the movement of animal resulting in discomfort and even injury to the animal which will affect the milk yield. As the size old cow varies with different breeds, a general space requirement of each type of the basis of its weight is given in the following table

Table . Dimensions of cow stall

Weight of cow		Girth (per meter)		Stall width		Stall length
Kg	lb	cm	inch	cm	feet	cm	feet
363	800	162.5	65.0	100.0	3’4”	135	4’6”
454	1000	176.25	70.5	110.0	3’8”	140	4’8”
544	1200	187.50	75.0	120.0	4’0”	150	5’0”
634	1400	198.75	79.5	130.0	4’4”	160	5’4”
723	1600	210.0	84.0	140.0	4’8”	170	5’8”

Mangers : are feeding structures for the animals. The size of the mangers should be sufficient to hold the feed. It should, be sufficient to hold the feed. It should be shaped in a curved form so that no wastage of feed is allowed. The two usual types of mangers adopted are shown in figures.

The low manger known as “sweep in” is simple and easy to construct and it affords facility for quick feeding. The waste thrown by the animal away from the manger can easily be swept back. The high front manger, though a bit difficult and costlier in construction, is still adopted of less wastage by throwing the feet out of mangers. The usual width of manger varies from 60 cm to 90 cm. The back of low manger is flush with feeder alley and the back of height front manger is about 70 cm above the feeder alley.

At the foot of manger a stanchion curb of height 12.5 cm is provided to prevent the animal from dragging the feed into the stall. This curb separate the manger and the stall and provides support for the bottom of stanchion.

Cement concrete tubes of 150-200 liter capacity are provided in between two cows.

Space for pathways: To increase the efficiency of diary management enough space for pathways should be provided for conveying feed to the manger, milking the cows and removing the manure waste etc. The pathways provided in a stanchion barn are feed alleys and litter alleys. Feed alleys are pathways provided between two rows of mangers in case of face in system or pathways between the mangers and side wall in the case of face out system. the usual space left is 1.2 m so as to allow the conveyance of feed in a push cart. In the case of big dairy barns the should be wide enough for a farm cart drawn by bullocks or farm tractor. In the case of face in arrangement no separate litter alley is provided as the sides are not enclosed. But in face ant arrangement litter alleys are provided for a width of 1.8m to 2.4 m for facility of milking and taking out animals. Cross alleys are also provided where the number of animal are more to have access from one side to the other without back tracking.

Cutters: these are provided to convey the animal waste and to drain urine and wash-water to manure pits provided out side the dairy barn. These are provided by the side of litter alleys and their width varies from 40cm to 45cm and the depth is 15 cm. A minimum bed slope of 2% should be given for the gutters to drain without any stagnation.

Flooring: The flooring for dairy barns may be laid either with cement or lime concrete as sub grade, with a meet rough finish on top with c.m. The stall platforms should be sloped well for maintaining the clean liners. The top surface of the flooring should not be left smooth as it may cause slipping of animals. Thread linings. Made on the floor renders grip to the animals. A toe hold known as toe drain provided at the front of the stall for 1/3 length helps the animals to sit or stand without slipping.

Walls : Brick or rubble mesory in lime or cement marker can be adopted for enclosing the barn. The length should be a minimum of 2.4m. ventilators or opening of 0.37 sqm (4 sq ft) per each cow should be provided to give natural lighting & air. It climate and environment do not call for enclosures, pillars at 2.4m to 3m apart (8 to 10 ft) can be had to support the roof.

Roofing: In not regions, tiled roofing can be advantage adopted rather than A.C. sheet or other corrugated sheet roofing, be cause of its less heat radiation. A.C. sheet can be adopted where the temp is moderate. Concrete roofing is the best, if the investment in justifiable. In the case of two rows. Barns, roof trusses of iron or timber should be used, since the width will be more than gm.

Loose housing system : In this system of housing the milking, feeding and bedding operations are arranged in separate places. An open exercising yard is also provided in this system. the labour requirement is less and efficiency of management is more since the milking is done in a small enclosed area and he manure allowed to accumulate in the bedding area to cleared once or twice is an year. The success of this method is related to the allotment of enough space and shelter.

Feeding shed This is a covered shed to protect the feed from rain and an area of 3.7 sqm (40 sqft) is recorded for each cow. Pavement with mangers is betters for keeping the feeding area clean. The space of manger for each cow varies from 67.5 cm to 75 cm. and the depth should be sufficient to prevent wastage by dragging out of the mangers. Water tub of 300 litres capacity are provided for every 15 cows in the feeding room. For feeding shed a lean to root shed with no enclosure on are side is economical and suitable.

Bedding area: This is also a covered area with an ample space of 6.4 sqm per cow. The shed room should be a min. of 3m to allow piling up of manure for 0.9m height. The bedding area should include separate place for caves at the rate of 2.8 sqm (30 sqft) per cow.

Exercising yard: This is an open enclosed space to afford free movement of animals to get fresh air and exercise. The space required for each cow is 9.2 sqm (100 sqft). This is provided adjoining the bedding area. The yard should have a slope of 1 in 6 for the first 1.0m width and then 2% slope away from the bedding ara for draining water.

Milking rooms : The milking room is provided separately where facilities are made for milking a few cows at a time. This is constructed adjoining the feed room so that other animals can be kept there awaiting their turn to be led to milking. For providing facility for milking, stalls should be constructed to keep the animals at the floor level or raise above the floor where the operator works. The level floor stall arrangements are similar to stall barns with space for litter and feeder alleys. The room is covered on the sides and top to keep it clean.

Stall systems are either floor level, with the platforms at the same level as he floor on which the operator works or elevated with the cow platform from 30” to 36” above the operators (fig) floor level stalls are usually arranged abreast like the stalls in a stall barn.

The cows may walk thro after milking or back at F or one operator the most convenient number of stalls in this arrangement see was to be 6 to 1, for two operators, 8 to 12 or 16 stalls should be provided.

The elevated stall system places to cows at a more convenient and comfortable work height for the operator. If milk is carried from milking room to milk house, the operators floor should be at the same level as the milk house floor. The stalls are the a elevate and suitable ramps provided for the cows.

Chute: There are a no of arrangements of stalls suited to the elevated stall system. the chute type stalls are probably the least expensive to construct, because no wall fot eh cows is necessary and fewer gates need be provided for handing the cows. However all the cows, in one line must be let in and released at one time. A slow milker may hold up the line and cause lost time. Feed boxes that slide out into 1 operators ara permit clean. Passage for the cows to move thro. The chute arrangement can be built force single row or two rows of cows. Feed in tube is filled with feed with the help of chute pipe from an elevated feed storage hub.

Tandem type: The tandem type of arrangement permit cows to enter and be released individually. However a wale for the cows must be provided along the side. Gate must be provided on each stall, one for entrance and one for exit. The tandem arrangement man be built for one or two cows of cows.

U Type: or square type of arrangements are modifications of the tandem arrangement. In both the cows can be brought in and released individually. These arrangements may centralize the milking operation more than other types.

Montana: It is an abreast arrangement with elevated stall. For one operator, one working area and two stalls are provided for two operators, two working areas and four stalls are provided.

Dairy Cattle Housing

Stall systems for the milking room. Stall systems are another floor-level, with the platforms at the same level as the floor on which the operator works, or elevated, with the cow platform from 30 to 36 inches above the operator floor (See Figure 16.14). Floor level stalls are usually arranged abreast like the stalls in a stall barn (Figure 16.15)

The cows may walk through after milking or back out. For one operator, the most convenient number of stalls in this arrangement seems to be 6 to 1; for two operators, 8 to 12 or 16 stalls should be provided.

The elevated-stall system places the cows at a more convenient and comfortable work height for the operator (Figure 16.16). If milk is carried from milking room to milk house, the operator floor should be at the same level as the level as the milk-house floor. The stalls are then elevated, and suitable range provided for the cows. With the pipeline milker, the operator may be in a pit, and the cows at the same level as the holding area.

Chute. There are a number of arrangements of stalls sited to the elevated-stall system. The chute-type stalls are probably the lest expensive to construct, because no walk for the cows is necessary, and fewer gates need to provided for handling the cows. However, all the cows in one line must be let in and released at one time. A slow milker may hold up the line and cause lost time. Fed boxes that slide out into the operators area permit clear passage for the cows to move through. The chute arrangement can be built for a single row or two rows of cows.

Tandem. The tandem type of arrangement permits cows to enter and be released individually. However, a walk for the cows must be provided along the side. Gates must be provided on each stall, one for entrance and one for exit. Ropes over pulleys from the gates to the operator’s area facilitate the handling of the cows. The tandem arrangement can be built for one or two rows of cows.

U type. The U-type and square-type arrangements are moderations of the tandem arrangement. In both, the cows can be brought in and released individually. These arrangements may centralize the milking operation more than other types. In the square-type arrangement the pipeline milker is essential, because the operator has no exit through which to carry the milk when the cows are in the stalls.

Montana. The Montana-type milking room is an abreast arrangement with elevated stalls. For one operator, one working area and two stalls are provided for two operators, two working areas and four stalls are provided.

Since concentrate grain is normally fed in the milking room, an adequate supply should be readily available at milking time. This can be provided by overhead storage with chutes, or by storage in a large container in the operation’s area.

In some regions of mild climate, where little or no housing is required for dairy animal, the milking area is a separate milking barn. This milking barn is similar in arrangement to the loose housing milking area.

Arrangement for efficiency. For maximum efficiency in operating the loose housing system. it is essential that he various units be correctly located with respect to one another. Such an efficient layout incorporating the ideas already discussed is shown in

Space Requirements of Dairy Animals and Layouts of Dairy Farms

All animals require shelter for protection and comfort. They can perform better under favourable environmental conditions. Housing of animals need initial capital to the extent the dairy farmers can afford. The animals are to be protected from high and low temperature, strong sunlight, heavy rainfall, high humidity, frost, snowfall, strong winds, ecto-parasite and endo-parasites. The comfortable temperature range for dairy breeds of cattle, buffaloes and goats is 150C to 270C. Climatic stress occurs when the temperature goes 50C below or above this range.

High humidity combined with high temperature causes more stress to animals in tropics. Rainfall in cold climate also causes stress in temperate zone. Strong winds further aggravate the conditions both in tropics and temperate climate. Several techniques are available to provide relief from hot weather conditions for lactating dairy cows. In tropical and sub-tropical climates, well-ventilated shed is a necessity at points of high heat stress, such as feed barns, loafing areas, and in holding areas. It is important to provide a sufficient flow of air through the building in which the animals are kept to ensure optimum thermal conditions for dairy animals.

The space requirements of dairy animals as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are given in table belo

Floor, feeding manger and watering space requirements of dairy animals
SR. NO	TYPE OF ANIMAL	FLOOR SPACE) PER ANIMAL (M²)		FEEDING (MANGER) SPACE PER ANIMAL (CM)	WATER TROUGH SPACE/ ANIMAL (CM)	MODE OF HOUSING
SR. NO	TYPE OF ANIMAL	COVERED AREA	OPEN AREA	FEEDING (MANGER) SPACE PER ANIMAL (CM)	WATER TROUGH SPACE/ ANIMAL (CM)	MODE OF HOUSING
1	Young calves (< 8 weeks)	1.0	2.0	40- 50	10-15	Individual or in groups of below 5
2	Older calves (> 8 wks)	2.0	4.0	40-50	10-15	Groups of below 15
3	Heifers	2.0	4.0-5.0	45-60	30-45	Groups of below 25
4	Adult cows	3.5	7.0	60-75	45-60	Groups of below 25
5	Adult Buffaloes	4.0	8.0	60-75	60-75	Groups of below 25-30
6	Down calvers	12.0	20-25	60-75	60-75	Individual
7	Bulls	12.0	120.0	60-75	60-75	Individual
8	Bullocks	3.5	7.0	60-75	60-75	Pairs

* Based on ISI Standards for housing in India.
** The actual length and width of water trough may be decided as per the strength of group and size of the paddock.

Layout of Dairy Farm for 20 Cow/Buffalo Unit