How to build a cattle shed correctly
How to build a barn for bulls and cows is of interest to every person who decides to have such animals. To keep livestock, just such a room is needed, because it becomes their home.
How to build a bull shed
If you build the room correctly, then the animals will give milk well and not get sick, but if they miss something somewhere, this can be very harmful to them. Then don't be surprised why cows get sick so often. A cow shed must be created in compliance with all requirements.
What should be a barn for cows and bulls
In order to properly equip a barn for bulls and a cow, it is necessary first of all to take into account the fact that these animals do not belong to cleanliness, so you need to immediately think about how it will be more convenient to clean the stall. It is also worth carefully choosing the site where the barn for the cow and bulls will be located. The location of the barn should be selected so that moisture does not accumulate there in spring and autumn, and there is no draft at all other times of the year.
It is necessary to choose the right material from which the construction of the barn will be made.
It must not only be very durable, but also have a good service life. Since cows are cattle (cattle), you should not take materials that break easily. It is advisable to use wood or other more durable materials that cannot harm. In order for the cattle not to get sick and to give good milk yield, a material with good thermal insulation characteristics is needed.
What needs to be done before starting construction
Before you build something, you need a plan, or rather, a project. It is on him that the further construction of the barn depends. It doesn't matter if it's a two-cow shed or large livestock capacity. This stage is needed, because how long the building will stand and how it will serve depends on it.
To build a stable with your own hands, you need to decide on the number of animals. Cows need to feel comfortable, and not only those that are already there, but also those that will be. Construction takes a lot of time, so it is advisable to determine the dimensions in advance. It is also worth considering the type of animal keeping: it can be tethered or non-tethered.
Steer stalls and cow stalls are subject to certain regulations. It is customary to allocate at least 6 square meters per individual. m. If it is planned to keep calves with a mother, the size of the stall for them cannot be less than 12 square meters. m. A place for one bull or cow has the following parameters:
- width - 125 cm;
- length - 260 cm;
- height 2.5 m.
The cattle shed should be of about the same dimensions and may vary slightly. It is worth noting that the length, height and width can be more, but not less. For the maintenance of 2 cows, these parameters will be higher. You can do a centimeter or two more, but don't overdo it.A room that is too large can also have a negative impact on livestock management.
Rules for creating the foundation and floor of a barn
To make a bull stall with your own hands, you need to know that any building begins to be built from the foundation, therefore, in order for the room to serve for a long time, it is necessary to make it as strong as possible. There are several ways to arrange the foundation:
- Monolithic is the best, as it is more stable and durable. But it should be borne in mind that such a foundation will be expensive. Preference is given to this type only if the building will be built of bricks.
- The columnar foundation is more budgetary and simpler. It can be done not only easily, but also quickly. But it should be noted that this type of foundation is not designed for heavy loads. It is used if the barn will be built of wood and there will be few heads in it.
- The strip foundation is something in between the first and second options.
It is worth noting that any foundation has its pros and cons, but before deciding on the type, it is worth considering how many heads you want to put in the stall.
To make the foundation as correct as possible, after its construction, it is necessary to carry out waterproofing. There are enough materials on the modern market, you can use any.
The cow stall must have a good floor, this point is worth paying special attention to. Wooden floors deteriorate very quickly, because moisture will get there in any case, and keeping bulls and cows in such conditions is unacceptable, therefore it is better to make the floors concrete, they do not deteriorate over time and do not absorb odors. In order for a cow to be healthy, its keeping in a stall must comply with the rules.
To prevent cows from getting sick from cold cement, it is necessary to cover it with shields made of wood. It is not difficult to make such shields with your own hands, and you can also ventilate them. On the floors, in addition to shields, it is also necessary to lay hay. A detailed video will show you how to do this correctly. Every owner should know this, because without straw it will be very difficult for animals. The litter warms them up and allows the waste to be absorbed, which a wooden floor cannot. So the owner will just need to remove it and put a new one.
In order to make the floors correctly, you need to know that they should be slightly inclined. Here you need a clear calculation so that the cows feel comfortable and at the same time the waste is poured into the pit. The tilted cow stall can be seen in the photo.
How to build walls and roof properly
It has already been said above that the size of the barn plays an important role. Based on this, walls can be built from wood or brick. The first option is used only when you need to build a barn for two or more cows. But their number cannot be more than 10 heads per building. It is not difficult to build such a shed for livestock with your own hands, but you need to know that wood is such a material that quickly deteriorates, so it will not last a long time, and for a large number of cattle, a strong room is needed. Since the brick is very expensive, it can be replaced with foam blocks or gas blocks and build a barn for young bulls from them.
For the barn, you can use materials such as:
- wood;
- brick;
- foam blocks;
- gas blocks;
- gas foam blocks.
It doesn't matter what material is used for the walls, the main thing is that there is ventilation in the room. To do this, you need to make a small hole in them. In the summer, ventilation allows you to maintain the required temperature regime. In the cold season, the ventilation must be closed. Correct ventilation can be seen in the photo.
If a tethered type of housing is used, it is important that the barn has good lighting. The size of the windows depends primarily on the area of the shed. They must be at a height of 120 cm. They must be made so that they open.
In a barn for cows and bulls, you need to make a good roof that will not leak during rains. Slate is most often used for the barn. The advantage of this material is that it has a long service life and a low price. Each barn should have an attic, which is very convenient for storing hay and feed during the winter. If there is no attic, then you need to insulate the roof, it is not difficult to do this at home.
What should be in the barn
When you create drawings, you need to think about the fact that it is necessary to include drinkers and feeders in the stall. The feeder should be positioned so that the animal can easily reach it. Many experienced farmers recommend putting the feeders on the outside, this allows you to clean them of the feed that remains and add new ones. You can build a feeder with your own hands, its width should correspond to the size of the stall.
The feeder should be easy to use, it is better to use the most convenient type of such equipment: this is a trapezoid-shaped feeder that can be easily made with your own hands. To do it right, there is a special scheme. If you do not deviate from it, then it will be your favorite cattle feeder.
The feeder and drinker should be located at a low height from the floor so that it will be more convenient for the animals to receive food. If you decide to make a feeder from a tree, then you need to clean it well from different thorns. This must be done so that the livestock does not get hurt while eating.
Remember to keep your cow stalls comfortable and safe. This is just as important as the size of the steer and cow stall, so it is worth paying special attention to.
Barn for cows with stall housing
A stall for a cow in stall housing should have three important components, these are:
- not less than 1 feeder;
- good sex;
- channel for cleaning manure.
There must be straw or sawdust on the floor, this will allow the animal to be in a dry place. The size of the stall for the cow should be such that the cattle feel comfortable. In order to make it more convenient to remove manure, a special scraper is used. It is better to make it yourself from plastic, because all other materials can quickly deteriorate under the influence of acid.
The cow stall must be heated, because in winter the heat provided by the walls is not enough, so it is advisable to heat it there. During the summer period, the barn should have ventilation, which will provide fresh air, because cows do not walk during stall keeping. The dimensions of the cow stall for stall housing must be calculated in advance. It is advisable to do it when the drawings will be created, because the stall should show itself well during fattening and milking.
How to properly maintain calves
In order to properly maintain calves, there are a few things to be aware of. Firstly, they are more whimsical, and secondly, they are still small. Many farmers make a house-shaped calf stall. But it is more suitable if the babies were born in the winter. Keeping in such conditions allows them to quickly rehabilitate and grow actively.
It is undesirable to keep the calves on a leash, because they are still very small, normal development is important for them, and under such conditions it is impossible. For small livestock born in spring or summer, it is better to make a stall with a walk. It is better to place the calves indoors after they are strong and grow up a little.
Features of creating a barn
When making a stall for a cow at home, it is necessary to take into account the fact that animals can be of different sizes, therefore, before building a barn, it is important to consider what breed will be kept there.
To create a barn, it is better to use those materials that will allow you to expand the stall or make it smaller. If the shed is made at home, then you should take metal pipes or wood.Of them, you can make structures that will be easy to disassemble and assemble.
If you plan to breed cows and bulls, it is better to divide the barn into two parts. On the one hand, make stalls for calves, and on the other, for adults. For the barn, this will be the best option, because when the babies grow up, they can be placed in the place freed from the adult animal.
The dimensions of the cow stall must be exactly the same as the size of the animal. This will allow the pet to feel comfortable and develop normally. If the width of the bull stall is wider, then they can relieve themselves next to the feeder, and this will affect the health of the livestock.