There should be a feed trough at head of milking place for feeding the cows during milking. The milking place should be kept clean. Noise during milking may disturb the cow making it hold back some of her milk. For a zebu cow, a calf pen should be constructed next to the milking place. This is because most zebu cows let milk down only-when they see their calves. A head yoke is constructed to restrain the animal during milking. Milking place is not optional under semi-zero grazing system.
If a farmer chooses to make it optional, then clean milk production is not guaranteed. Calf housing is recommended where free suckling is not permitted like in the case of zero-grazing system. The calf pen is situated opposite the milking place. A calf pen can also be situated on the side of a cubicle or milking place. This depends on the type of unit and whether zebus, cross breeds or pure dairy cattle are kept.
The raised and slatted floor makes it easier to clean the calf pen floor and the concrete under it. The floor under the slats can be concrete or not. The sides should be open to allow for free air flow around the calf pen. They should also be high enough to contain the calf inside.
The calf pen can be movable or fixed. The advantage of a movable calf pen is that it can be taken to the family house, for example when the weather is too cold.
Beddings are not recommended for a calf pen. This place is for a fodder chopping equipment chaff cutter and the chopped fodder. It is situated opposite the store next to the calf pen. It is also placed under the roof. The fodder chopping area floor can be made of concrete to avoid the feed getting mixed with soil. A fodder chopper is recommended if there are more than three cows in the unit and where labour on the farm, is generally inadequate.
One can chop napier grass or any other fodder in an open space next to the unit, therefore, a fodder-chopping area is optional. If required, a store can be attached to the zero-grazing unit next to the milking place and opposite the fodder-chopping area.
In this way, concentrates, minerals, milk utensils and other small equipments can be stored near to the animals. A store is optional where finances are inadequate. It can however be built later-on when funds are available. Inputs like dairy meal and drugs are kept in the living house before a store is built.
Manure can be stored in a small pit dug out of the soil. The pit mayor may not be cemented. Manure can also be stored as compost made from dung, urine and plant materials. In this case the compost is heaped next to the unit. Compost may be covered with soil or plastic. The dairy or livestock extension officer will provide the right measurements for the size of the pit to hold slurry manure for at-least two days for any number of cows in the unit. The first 2 columns below represent number of posts required for a unit of 5 and 3 cubicles respectively.
T imber:. I r on Sheets: 12 corrugated iron sheets of 3. In this case the following items are required in addition, for a 5 cubicles unit:. To prevent high investment costs, it is advisable to make use, as much as possible, of local materials and where possible from the farm. The cows will not notice the difference and will be equally productive. Zero grazing in Kenya. I have been deeply blessed and grown into a useful farmer care of your magazine.
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Notify me of follow-up comments. Login See you inside. Connecting Farmers and Professionals. Connecting Livestock Farmers and Professionals. Home Blog Cattle Recommended zero grazing housing plan. The resting and sleeping cubicle or compartment The cattle walking or manure places The cattle forage, feeding and watering place The resting and sleeping cubicle or compartment Each animal has its own compartment or sleeping place.
The cattle walking or manure places This should be constructed solidly with concrete because the area is used heavily by animals. The feeding and watering place Construct troughs for feeding and drinking water on the opposite side of the sleeping and resting compartment along the walking manuring passage.
Comments -3 Benjamin Yator I need a zero grazing housing design plan for 4 dairy animals. A real time helpful blog! I need a zero grazing unit for 10 dairy cows. Explore Documents. Recommended Zero Grazing Housing Plan. Uploaded by Asman Osiche Amaunda.
Did you find this document useful? Is this content inappropriate? Report this Document. Flag for inappropriate content. Download now. Related titles. Carousel Previous Carousel Next. Jump to Page. Search inside document. Recommended zero grazing housing plan Recommended zero grazing housing plan Written by xtalia farms The cubicle of a dairy cow shed has three distinct areas: 1The resting and sleeping cubicle or compartment 2The cattle walking or manure places 3The cattle forage, feeding and watering place The resting and sleeping cubicle or compartment Each animal has its own compartment or sleeping place.
Construct a water trough between the cow and young stock section. Use concrete or water drum. Lee kamunya. Patricia Dillon. Hazim Ha. Indunil Herath. Rachmad Nurcahyono. Selvaraj Villy.
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