Rearing Systems and Housing Management

Rearing Systems

Extensive system:

Also known as the grazing system, animals are reared on external grazing alone, in which 90% of dry matter fed to them comes from rangelands, pastures, annual forages and purchased feed and less than 10% of the total value of production comes from non-livestock farming activities.

Semi-intensive system:

In this system which is most prevalent in India, animals are housed in covered enclosures. They are taken out to graze during the day and provided feed and fodder when they return. Quite often, the system is similar to mixed farming system.

Intensive system:

This highly evolved system involves rearing in closed enclosures, where average stocking rates are greater than 10 livestock units per hectare. Common in developed countries like the USA and UK, it is also found in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh in India.

Housing Management

• Among good farming practices, attention to the housing of dairy cattle is important.
• This is essential to ensure safe and quality milk from healthy animals kept under acceptable conditions, buffering the animals from adverse weather conditions.
• Care should be taken to provide comfortable spacing, hygiene, durable housing, and arrangements for hygienic milking.

Types of Housing

• Dairy cattle may be housed under a wide variety of conditions, ranging from close confinement to little restrictions except at milking time.
• Two types of dairy barns are in general use: the loose housing barn in combination with some type of milking barn or parlor and the conventional dairy shed.

Loose Housing

• It is a system of housing in which animals are kept loose in an open paddock throughout the day and night except at the time of milking and during treatment.
• It involves low cost of construction with scope for expansion, facilitates detection of animals in heat, and animals get optimum exercise.
• In this system, shelter is provided along one side of open paddock under which animals can retire when it is very hot or cold or during rains.
• Common feed manger and water tank is provided and concentrates are fed at the milking time which is done in a separate milking barn or parlour in which cows are secured at milking time and are milked.
• The open paddock is enclosed by means of half walls or plain wire fences of convenient height.

Advantages

• Cost of construction is cheaper.
• Future expansion is possible.
• The animals will move freely so that it will get sufficient exercise.
• The animal can be kept clean.
• Common feeding and watering arrangement is possible.
• Clean milk production is possible because the animals are milked in a separate milking barn.
• Oestrus detection is easy.
• At least 10-15 percent more stock than standard can be accommodated for shorter period.

Disadvantages

• It is not suitable for temperate Himalayan region and heavy rainfall areas.
• It requires more floor space.
• There is competition for feed.
• Attention of individual animal is not possible.
• A separate milking barn is needed for milking of animals.

Conventional Shed

• Animals in this system are confined together on a platform and secured at the neck by stanchions or neck chains.
• They are fed as well as milked in the barn, which has a fully covered roof, windows and ventilators.
• The construction of the shed depends on the class of livestock it is meant for and to what use it is to be put. You could have a cow house, calving box, bull shed, isolation box, etc.
• Conventional sheds are costly and therefore, becoming less popular.
• The sheds can be either of a single row when animals are fewer or in two rows if more animals are being reared.
• In double row housing, the arrangement should be such that the cows either face out (tail to tail system) or face in (head to head system).
• The breadth of the shed should not exceed 10 metres and the distance between animals should be 1.0 to 1.2 metres, with each animal having an individual space of 1.5 to 2.0 metres.
• The central height of the shed must be 3.5 to 4.0 metres, sloping at the edges. Good ventilation and flooring are essential.
• The animals are fed as wells as milked in the same barn.
• These barns are completely covered with roofs and the sidewalls are closed with windows or ventilator located at suitable places to get more ventilation and lighting.
• It is applicable for temperate and heavy rainfall region.
• The same type of housing can be utilized for tropical region with slight modification.

Advantages

• The animals and men caring for animals are less exposed to harsh environment.
• The animals can be kept clean.
• Diseases are better controlled.
• Individual care can be given.
• Separate milking barn is not required.

Disadvantages

• Cost of construction is more.
• Future expansion is difficult.
• Not suitable for hot and humid climatic conditions.

Single Row System:

In single row system, 12-16 numbers of animals can be kept.

Double row system:

• If it is greater than 16, then double row system is preferable.
• In double row system up to 50 animals can be maintained in a single shed.
• The distance between two sheds should be greater than 30 feet or it should be twice the height of the building.

1. Tail to tail system

• Cleaning and milking of animals easy.
• Supervision of milking also easy.
• Less chance for transmission of diseases from animal to animal.
• Animals can get more fresh air from outside.
• This system is more labour friendly system.

2. Head to Head System

• Getting animals into the shed is easy.
• Feeding of animals is also easy.
• Disinfection of the gutter will be more due to the direct fall of sunrays over the gutter.
• Animals are better exhibited to visitors.

Disadvantages

• Milking supervision is difficult.
• Possibilities of transmission of disease are more.