Feeders for cattle: types and diagrams, how to do it yourself at home

Properly selected feeder and drinker for cattle will facilitate the work of the farmer and make the process of feeding animals easier and more comfortable. When choosing, the basic requirements for feeders, as well as their type and purpose are taken into account. For proper nutrition of cows, you need to install separate drinkers, containers for combined and dry feed, feeders in the stall and on the pasture.

Types of feeders and requirements for them

Feeders for livestock differ depending on the purpose, type of construction, materials from which they are made. To establish the process of feeding animals, it is required to install structures for hay, dry feed, drinking systems and gutters.Feeders for the stall and for the pasture are installed separately.

For the stall

If the farm has a small number of livestock, hanging feeders and troughs are used. For calves, compact nurseries are suitable, for the rest of the livestock, straight or inclined structures. Main Features of Hanging Stall Feeders:

• straight type models - they are easy to load with feed, they are easy to clean;
• tilted designs - easy to keep order in the barn, they are also convenient for animals;
• automatic models differ in price, but they automate feed delivery.

Automatic feeding systems require regular cleaning, but when well-functioning, they minimize the work of the farmer. Feed is dosed into the container in a given amount at set intervals.

If the barn contains a large herd, it is worth considering a type of structure such as a table. The feeding table is a long structure, located on a hill so that the animals can easily get food. The aft table is additionally equipped with partitions to facilitate the cleaning process.

To the pasture

Cow feeders in the pasture are set up to provide the animal with food for the day. Depending on the type of content, the appropriate type of feeder is selected. Also, a separate design is chosen for each type of feed.

1. Cubes and hay trellises are perforated designs. It is important that the feed does not spill and that the cows can access the hay.
2. For grain and combined feed, plastic or metal-plastic automatic models or conventional containers made of the same materials are used.

When cows are tethered, individual feeders are used, and when free-range, collective models can be chosen.

Attention! Pasture structures must be secure so that animals do not get stuck in them and injure themselves.

For concentrates and compound feeds

Feeding with concentrates and compound feed is necessary for the full growth of cows and bulls, as well as to maintain high productivity. For farms, it is convenient to use automatic feeding systems. Here are their main benefits:

• opportunity to establish feeding without human intervention;
• presence of dispenser;
• easy care;
• capacity;
• safety.

Automatic constructions are not used only in cases where there are especially violent animals in the herd that need special conditions of detention.

For hay and dry food

Hay and dry food can be used to feed cattle, both in the stall and on the pasture. For these purposes, it is necessary to equip a separate feeder. Rectangular and conical metal feeders with lattice walls are recognized as the most convenient. Cows through the distance between the bars have access to pre-loaded hay, and at the same time the feed does not spill over the stall or pasture. This simplifies the cleaning process.

Here are the selection criteria for dry feed and hay:

• capacity capacity, matching the volumes to the needs of livestock;
• safety - the design should not contain sharp corners, protruding elements and small parts that can be broken by an animal;
• it must be made of durable materials;
• Cattle feeders should be easy to care for.

The feeder should cover the needs of the herd. For a large herd, it is worth purchasing and installing several. It is necessary to calculate the number and dimensions of feeders so that the entire herd can have access to feed at the same time. It is important that the design is made without sharp corners and details that the animal can get hurt.

How to make your own feeder at home

For a small herd of cows, you can make feeders yourself using ready-made schemes.

Flap top

You can make a feeder with folding walls with your own hands. To do this, you need to prepare the necessary materials and tools, take the finished drawing and follow the step-by-step instructions.

What you need to make:

• jigsaw, saw - electric or manual;
• drawing - finished or customized;
• tape measure for boards before cutting;
• grinder and sandpaper;
• fasteners - nails, self-tapping screws;
• boards - softwood, oak or other practical and durable options;
• metal profile, corner or wooden slats;
• latches or hooks for fixing folding walls, awnings.

Attention! When creating cow feeders, it is best to use quality wood. Otherwise, the structure will quickly deform under the influence of moisture or the sun. The best option is hardwood.

First you need to measure and cut the wood according to the drawing. The slats are knocked into a gutter without a front wall - it is made separately. The hinged wall must be fixed to the gutter using metal canopies, and hooks or latches should be installed at the top on both sides for fixation.

Flip-down feeders are easy to clean. In creating the structure, the principle of the bunker model is used. It will operate in semi-automatic mode.

Group feeder

To create a group feeder, use concrete as a base and a ceramic half-pipe to make a gutter. For this, the following scheme is suitable. You can change the length of the chute, depending on the number of livestock.

Initially, it is worth making concrete supports, which must be well fixed in order for the structure to be stable. Protective bars are made from reinforcement, which are fixed with holders.

Reliable and convenient group feeders are also made of metal slats and galvanized sheets. A ready-made scheme is suitable for manufacturing. You can resize as needed.

Sizes are selected from the picture, and you can experiment with materials. You will need fittings, a metal corner or pipe, hardwood slats.

Cow drinker

Cows need to be supplied with clean drinking water every day to maintain their he alth and milk production. To do this, drinkers are equipped - ordinary containers or automatic designs. If there are no more than 5-10 cows in the herd, you can install troughs and baths for drinking, but periodically wash and sterilize them. It is important that animals receive clean drinking water every day - the he alth of livestock and the quality of milk produced by cows depend on this.

Important! When choosing a drinker, you need to take into account the needs of cows - each adult should receive 70 liters of water per day.

Modern drinkers can be roughly divided into two groups:

• individual;
• group.

Individual drinkers have the advantage of reducing the risk of spreading infections within the herd. To date, manufacturers offer drinkers of the following varieties:

• cup drinkers - with tongue or valve, rarely used and only for livestock without nose rings, not practical due to need for frequent cleaning;
• ball and valve drinkers - suitable for open paddocks and pastures, do not freeze through even without a heating cable;
• drinker-baths - the best option, they are containers in which the water level is adjusted by a float mechanism;
• valve drinkers with a float mechanism - a convenient model with high throughput.

Drinkers are made of plastic or a combination of this material with different types of stainless steel. Drinkers for cattle should be selected taking into account the number of livestock and their needs.

The most convenient option - automatic drinking systems with uninterrupted water supply and frost protection.

Properly selected feeders and drinkers for cattle make it easier to keep and feed animals. It is important to think things through to automate feeding, make stall cleaning easier, and calculate feeder volumes to ensure that all herds are well fed.

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