»Dairy Shed Design, Construction Plan Information | Dairy Cow Farming«
To become successful in dairy farming, one needs to consider the following: good breeds of dairy animals, balanced feed, comfortable environment, and a proper shed.
The shed should be simple, comfortable and ventilated. The shed should allow animals to be in a pleasant environment where cows can drink water and eat fodder comfortably for 24 hours. The feeding system should be convenient for farm workers. A good shed limits the dairy farmers dependence on laborers and increases the profits. Construct your shed based on environmental condition. It should receive ample sunlight during winter and shade in summer. Keep the shed clean regularly.
Construction
Make sure that no trees are cut off and it‘s away from populated areas. It‘s better if you construct at a high position. Surroundings should be at a lower night. Fresh water has to be available for cattle.
It has to be a little far from the main road. Electricity connection has to be there. Types of sheds include: Manual type where all work is done by laborers; Semi mechanized type, some work is done by laborers and rest by machine; and Mechanized type all the work is done with help of machines
Building a shed
Make sure that building space is available in the east west direction. To ascertain the shed length set a 4 ft wide structure for animals on both sides. Behind the shade area leave at least 25 ft open space. For shed cleanliness, the shed floor has to be at least 1% declined towards the drainage system. For every 25 cattle make one large water tank so that fresh water is always available. Usually bricks and iron bars are used to make a shed. Separate quarantine shed is built for sick animals.
Farm cleanliness
The farm should have a proper cleaning system so that animal habitat remains clean. The manure storage area should be at a safe distance from the animal shed because it produces dangerous gases. Manure storage area should be within a barbed wire or fence. You can also make bio gas and electricity from it. Manure can be used on agricultural crops directly or convert it into vermi-compost.
