eChapter Name: Livestock Housing and Ventilation Management
9789358878530
eBook Name: LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
by Tanmoy Rana
A system of housing is more are less synonymous to the system of management of livestock. Housing is essential to protect the animals from adverse climatic condition (rains, hot and chilly winds). Housing also help to maintain normal health of animals by proper feeding watering and reducing environmental stresses. Housing allows the animals for proper rest, moderate exercise, suitable micro-environment and proper ventilation which are essential for comfort of the animals. While selecting the site a site for establishment of a dairy farm some points should be considered regarding topography, soil, nearby market, availability of labour, electricity, water etc. The housing system can be divided in to two type viz. conventional housing and loose housing system. The conventional housing system may be single row or double row depending upon the number of animals. The dairy farm consists of various building for different classes of livestock like calf shed/ lamb/kid/piglet pens, milking barn, maternity pen, cow shed, heifer shed, shearing room, slaughter house of pig etc. The ancillary structure of a farm are stores for keeping feed materials, equipment, milk house, silo, generator room, pump houses, AI centers, workers retiring room, office etc. The floor should be impervious and non-slippery. The floor should have a gradient toward the drain of 1 in 40 in covered area and 1in 60 in the open area for easy drainage of urine and washing of animals. The roof should be light, strong