Tethered keeping of cows: pros and cons, rules and how it happens in winter

Cows are kept in different ways - tethered, loose or stall. Each of them has certain pros and cons. Under the tie keeping of cows understand a fairly progressive method that can significantly increase milk yield. It is important to provide the cow with good living conditions. This will help to achieve high productivity and avoid the development of pathologies.

Features of tethered cows

This variant of keeping cows is considered traditional. The main point is that the cow in the barn is tied in a stall.This helps to secure the animal in the right position during feeding or milking. This method has different types. The animal can be tied for a whole year. There is also a combination of the tethered method with walking. In addition, there is an option when cows are released to pasture in summer.

For dairy breeds, this method is considered the most preferable, especially with a large population of more than 150 individuals. In addition, each pet is located in a separate stall, which is slightly longer than its dimensions. A drinking bowl and a feeder are placed near the head. In this case, tying the cow is easy.

Stall equipment is placed at the back. It provides rapid disposal of feces. It is permissible to milk a cow right on the spot. However, portable equipment is used.

The best way to fix is the use of a metal chain. Its length should not interfere with full access to water and food, however, it limits the motor activity of cattle.Therefore, the likelihood of injury is minimized. The use of this method allows for each individual to choose an individual diet, taking into account the general condition and productivity parameters.

Pros and cons

Pros and consthe possibility of reducing the amount of feed due to a sedentary lifestyle - on average, the savings is 15%;balanced diet for all groups of animals;rapid identification of sick animals - this can be done not only by a doctor, but also by a farmer or a milkmaid;increase in milk yield - this parameter can be increased by almost 25%;increase in the weight gain of heifers - this figure increases by 15%;simplification of pet care - achieved through automated milking and the same distribution of feed.the need to increase the number of workers - primarily cattlemen;risk of digestive disorders and reduced productivity;the danger of violations in the structure of bones and skeleton;weakening of the immune system;stressful situations;increase in the percentage of barrenness;problems with the tolerance of such maintenance by pregnant cows.

Tethered keeping of cows is considered to be more gentle compared to the stall. In this case, the animals are constantly in the barn.

Basic rules

In order to choose a suitable housing method, it is worth analyzing the advantages of tethered and bare housing. To limit the motor activity of cows in tethered housing, it is recommended to equip each stall with a mechanism for fixing. At the same time, the main requirement for a leash is to ensure a high level of personnel safety, minimize the risk of traumatic injuries to animals, and the ability to stand and lie down.It is recommended to fix cows with a tie. In this case, the chain is attached to the collar.

When building a stall, you should focus on the average size of animals. Equally important is the optimization of the manure removal system. Usually, long stalls are built on farms. Their size should be 1.9-2 meters. They should be equipped with a concrete feeder and partially freed from fences. Such an organization requires 20-25% of the time spent on maintenance.

A suitable stall option in the presence of limiters in front and on the side is considered to be a size 5-10 centimeters less than the oblique length of the cow's body. This helps reduce the amount of time it takes to clean up manure and reduce the risk of cow contamination.

When organizing tethered housing, cowsheds are made with longitudinal placement of animals in 2 or 4 rows. It helps to automate feeding, watering, milking and manure removal. To clean the premises from feces, basement manure storages and flush systems are used.

When breeding animals with this method, it is important to use the stall equipment correctly. To do this, you should focus on the following criteria:

animal cannot leave the stall;
cow securely fixed during feeding and milking;
the animal freely enters and exits the stall, not allowing other individuals there;
animals stand freely or lie within their part of the room;
can freely remove food from the feeder;
you can easily and quickly fix and untie individual animals or entire groups;
workers have convenient and safe access to cows;
farm staff keep pets clean with minimal effort to clean stalls.

Be sure to take care of using the right milking machines. They look like this:

portable - used on farms with relatively small livestock;
milking system - used in large livestock complexes.

The advantages of milking machines include:

high milking rates;
minimum staff requirement.

It is also important to take care of the installation of drinkers. The type of food and its nutritional value affect the need for water. Also, the amount of liquid drunk depends on the physiological state of the cow, humidity and temperature parameters. For 1 kilogram of dry food, 5 liters of water are required.

When choosing drinkers, you should give preference to the following options:

plastic - low cost but considered fragile;
cast iron - crack when hit hard;
steel - are considered the most popular.

When building a feeder, you should choose the right length. It should be equal to the width of the stall, which is 1.1-1.2 meters. The feeder should be installed 7-8 centimeters above the floor. In appearance, it looks like a box in the form of a chute.

There are folding, lifting and fixed feeders. The most convenient option is considered folding, in which the side walls rise. This makes it easier to clean the product from food residues. Such models are made of dense materials. Because they are easy to clean and disinfect.

Specific content in winter

Cow rearing on livestock farms in winter has certain characteristics. During this period, pets are recommended to walk for 2-3 hours in a paddock. At the same time, they should be given coarse feeding.

Tethering cows is considered a common method. This technique can be used for dairy breeds. It helps to increase the productivity of animals. At the same time, it is important to organize the space as correctly as possible and provide cattle with proper care.