Loose housing of cows: the essence of the method, advantages and disadvantages

The way animals are kept affects their productivity. More and more farmers have begun to transfer cattle to a loose method of keeping cows. He performed well in Western Europe and the USA. However, before moving on to loose content, they carefully study the methodology, determine the positive and negative points. The farmer should first prepare the room in which the animals will be.

The essence of the method

Loose keeping of cattle implies free movement around the barn and the area for walking. The cow is constantly in motion, which has a positive effect on her he alth.If you analyze the method in terms of benefits, it will give good results. Cows will feel safe, active pastime will increase comfort. This will positively affect the production of dairy products, the quality of meat.

Box content has the opposite effect on the animal. He will no longer need to move, since the feeder is located 2 meters away. Combibox content is different in that the room is divided into sections, but at the same time space is saved in the room.

Advantages and disadvantages

The loose method of keeping animals is ideal for farms with a herd of more than 400 animals. It is not possible to pay attention to each animal, because this technique will allow the animal to feel as comfortable as possible. These cows are not suitable and fit to live in isolation from the rest of the herd.

Pros and consIncreasing the productivity of workers. There will be 40 animals per barn worker.Reducing the cost of milk production. By equipping a milking parlour, with group milking units, productivity can be achieved through the cost-effectiveness and mechanization of key processes.No need for internal grazing. If the room is large, then it will be enough for the normal movement of animals. This will reduce the cost of personnel and the arrangement of a separate walking area.Increasing the level of feed intake. Due to increased activity, the cow will eat more food, on average, by 7-10%.Difficulty in recruiting qualified personnel. Loose content is characterized by the mechanization of the main processes. Not all employees can cope with modern equipment and computer programs.The need for a clear and timely organization of veterinary activities.

When cows are transferred to this method

The transfer of cattle to loose containment is carried out to achieve the following objectives:

• increased comfort for the animal;
• establishment of a he althy diet and development;
• use of special tables instead of standard feeders, which will speed up feeding;
• separation of cows into physiological groups, which will allow you to care for them and follow the recommendations of the veterinarian more effectively.

The free-range method is recommended for use in large herds (more than 400 animals). This will create ideal conditions for keeping animals, reduce the likelihood of stressful situations for animals.

How to move to loose content

This is recommended if there is enough food and good bedding. Animals with this technique move more, therefore they need a nutritious feed with a high content of proteins and mineral s alts.

Before transferring cows to new ways of keeping, a complete veterinary control is carried out. Hooves are cleaned, preventive examination for the presence of infectious diseases. It is also important to remove the antlers to avoid possible injury to the cows. This can be done by chemical, physical or thermal methods.

Loose housing is suitable for medium-sized animals. If the cow is thin or oversized, it is recommended to keep her separately in the stall. Such individuals are not suitable for free keeping. There are 2 subspecies of loose housing: a variant with box habitation and on a deep litter.

Milking features

Cows are milked in a separate room. It is designed so that the cows enter the section through a separate entrance, without mixing with animals that the farmers have not yet milked. Experts recommend taking no more than 3.5 hours to milk the herd. To meet this period of time, use individual machines or group stationary installations. It all depends on the size of the premises and the number of heads in the herd.

It has been scientifically proven that a cow's milk yield directly depends on the animal's sense of comfort. To ensure that productivity does not decrease, it is recommended to divide the herd into several groups that will be brought into the milking parlor. Animals cannot be moved between groups, they need to get used to each other's presence.

Dividing the herd

Experts recommend free-roaming animals that are accustomed to this method. Therefore, the herd should be divided into several separate groups. This will optimize production processes.

The herd is divided into pregnant dry cows, individuals with high productivity, cows with low productivity. Dry and deep-calving groups are recommended to be kept on a leash, as they are not suitable for free keeping. The rest of the groups are organized a separate section with a feeding area and a drinking bowl.

The division into groups occurs at the request of the farmer. He must independently determine by what criteria the separation will take place.

Area norms

When arranging stalls, they are guided by the rule in which the animal is allocated optimal space. To do this, measure the cow, add 15-20 cm to the result. With a free content, experts recommend setting the area rate at 4-5 square meters. If the cow is in position, she will need more space.

Feeding

Animals need especially nutritious food. A specific diet is compiled depending on the division of the herd into separate groups. Taking into account the physiological characteristics of livestock and the recommendations of the veterinarian, the farmer draws up the optimal menu, which must be balanced. This will allow the animal to get the maximum of nutrients, make it more productive.

To create comfortable conditions for cattle, it is recommended to provide free access to clean drinking water.

Milking and insemination workshops

To evaluate the productivity of cows, develop an effective culling and ranking method, the farm must equip a separate insemination and milking shop. In this room, each animal will spend several months.

In the dairy shop, animals are grouped depending on productivity. As practice shows, usually it is enough to create 3-4 groups for this.

Insemination is done both artificially and naturally. The latter option is used if the herd size is small or the farmer has specially trained staff to supervise the process. Most often, an artificial technique is used, as this guarantees an almost 100% result.

Manure removal

Cleanliness is the key to the he alth of animals, a prerequisite for the comfort of keeping. Bedding needs to be cleaned daily to keep the herd in optimal conditions. To optimize the process, it is recommended to remove the manure while feeding the animals. To simplify the cleaning procedure, the floors in the room should have a slight slope. This will significantly speed up the cleaning of manure without creating discomfort for the animals.

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