Livestock farming is an industry for the production of meat and dairy products, which is in demand as it creates essential goods. For this reason, the number of farms and mini-farms is growing. But cattle can grow well and produce large milk yields only in the right conditions, which are difficult to achieve without equipment for cattle.
What equipment is needed for cattle farms
You can serve a herd of 100 or more heads with the help of workers. But for large farms this is not technologically feasible and unprofitable. Because the number of workers in this case is calculated from labor standards.One person should not have more than 25 cows per shift. At the same time, animals must be periodically washed, watered, fed and kept clean.
However, human work cannot be compared with specialized equipment. This includes:
- slotted floor equipment;
- mechanized drinking bowls;
- stall equipment;
- milking machines.
To organize a mechanized farm, the installation of equipment must be provided for during design and construction.
Floor equipment is a structure of containers and guides below ground level, made of concrete, equipped with pumping stations. A concrete or wooden floor with 3.7 cm gaps is installed above the containers. This technology protects cattle hooves from injury, and manure and dirt should flow by gravity into the container. Next, the mass is pumped out by pumps into special collection tanks. If no gaps are provided, then the floor is made at a slope and covered with polyurethane bedding. You can also install heat-insulating sand-polymer mats, which is necessary in the cold season.
For productive milk production, cows must be provided with a normal amount of water. On day 1, the cow should consume 50-70 liters. At the same time, with 1 liter of drinking liquid, the animal produces up to 2 g of milk. Mechanized drinkers are containers that can hold up to 500 liters of water. They are made of heat-insulating materials and must ensure a constant normal water temperature. They are equipped with a float device that monitors a constant level. Automatically, the old fluid is periodically drained for renewal.
Farms are also equipped with stall equipment, which must be safe, provide cattle with food and prevent them from leaving the designated area. It is a system of sections with gratings, gates and feeding tables. All elements are made from stainless steel round pipes.
To maintain sanitary standards, equipment must be cleaned and washed periodically. The farmer needs to think about a good ventilation system and ensuring that sufficient light enters.
What to look for when choosing
The most important criterion when choosing equipment for any manufacturer is its economic efficiency. But this concept contains quite a lot of details. Therefore, when choosing, you should pay attention to the following:
- The material from which the equipment is made. It must be durable, resistant to aggressive chemicals, not subject to corrosion and withstand pressure from workovers.
- The dimensions of the sections should allow the animal to feel comfortable. Sections must be able to change the size and height of the chest and neck supports.
- The protective coating should be easy to clean so as not to delay the work of personnel.
- Manufacturability during installation, dismantling and repair.
- Durability.
- The right ratio of price and quality.
If the selected equipment meets these qualities, then it will be able to generate income for the farm owner for many years.
What problems might you encounter?
Most often, farmers encounter health problems in cattle due to improper installation of equipment. It is important for cows to have enough free space, otherwise they will rest in an incorrect position.This leads to disorders that do not allow the animal to develop normally and produce the planned amount of milk. Sometimes such diseases lead to reproductive dysfunction. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the maintenance personnel individually adjust the stall equipment.
Insufficiently warm and damp sand bedding leads to the appearance of ulcers on the sole of the hooves. This causes lameness in cattle. The result is a decrease in activity. Cows eat and drink less and, accordingly, lose weight and produce less milk. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the floor. It should be dry and warm. The removal of manure and dirt into special containers must work.
You should not arrange resting and milking of cattle in the same room. For the well-being of animals, a special milking parlor must be installed. Scientific studies show that in this case productivity increases by 20%. For animals to be productive, they need to be given a lot of attention. Therefore, farmers must ensure that the operating personnel do their job well.
