How to Build a Cattle Shed? A Full Breakdown of Practical Methods
Cattle farming has always been one of China's traditional livestock industries, with a long history and a great variety of farming methods. The more representative ones include grassland grazing and indoor farming with cattle sheds. Today we will mainly talk about how to build a cattle shed for indoor farming.
At present, cattle sheds are generally divided into three types: semi-open cattle sheds, plastic warm-greenhouse cattle sheds, and enclosed cattle sheds, each with its own characteristics. The first type is more suitable for southern regions, since the south is presumably warm, while the latter two are more suitable for northern regions, where temperature has always been an issue that needs to be solved in farming. For a semi-open cattle shed, the number of cattle raised should be kept within 20 head, while the latter two are best for several dozen to one hundred.
The construction cost of a semi-open cattle shed is low, making it suitable for small-scale farming. Its style is roughly that the sun-facing side is open-air, with a roof built over about half the area, and the whole thing surrounded by fencing. The cattle are kept loose inside, with water troughs and feed troughs placed under the roof. The advantage of this is low investment and low management requirements. However, its effect against cold is very poor.
The plastic warm-greenhouse cattle shed has the highest cost and the most requirements. Its three sides need walls to prevent drafts, while the sun-facing side does not need a full wall; about half is left for daylighting, which can be covered with highly light-transmitting plastic such as polyvinyl chloride to achieve insulation. The cattle shed should face south with its back to the north, and there should not be tall objects within about 20 m of the cattle shed, so as to avoid blocking sunlight. Water troughs and feed troughs should be close to the walkway area; feed troughs are generally 20 cm above the ground and 1 m wide. The manure ditch must be located somewhere convenient for cleaning.
The enclosed cattle shed has the highest requirements for ventilation openings. It is a fully enclosed room, and the temperature is mainly controlled through the ventilation openings. A certain number of infrared lamps and fluorescent lamps can be installed inside the shed; infrared lamps can be used to raise the temperature. The cattle beds inside need to be slightly higher than the ground, and it is best to use earthen flooring, as this gives better insulation. Other aspects are similar to the plastic warm-greenhouse cattle shed.
Cattle farming is a path with great economic value, and for now its price has remained relatively stable. Friends who want to raise cattle can see which type suits them. Please pay more attention to Qinnong Net, where plenty of good money-making information awaits you to discover!