Beef Cattle Farm Construction Methods and Technical Points
Beef cattle farming has always been a common situation in rural areas. Backyard raisers may not pay much attention to the farm, but large-scale raisers attach great importance to it. How to build a beef cattle farm, what to pay attention to, and how to choose a site all have their own particular requirements. Let's take a look together below.
1. Site Selection Requirements
The site selection for a cattle farm is very important, as it relates to some situations that may occur later. First, the site needs to be flat ground, preferably somewhat higher than the surrounding area. Second, it should be close to a water source, because cleaning the cattle farm requires a lot of water. A location at a wind gap or in a windy place is better, as this can effectively ensure air circulation in the cattle farm and reduce the chance of disease. It is best to have a relatively open activity area nearby, making it convenient to provide the cattle with a certain exercise area. Places with too long direct sunlight exposure are not suitable, as they are not conducive to temperature control in the cattle farm.
2. Ground Treatment
The ground of a cattle farm is mainly divided into two types: one is the external activity area, and the other is the internal rearing area. For the internal area, cement ground can be used directly for easy cleaning. The ground should be relatively smooth to avoid manure residue during cleaning, which would increase the chance of disease. The ground should have a certain slope so that water or urine can flow directly out of the cattle farm. For the land outside the farm, soil with a strong sandy character can be used generally, as this makes it less likely to form standing water on the ground and is also relatively convenient when cleaning cattle manure. A layer of 20-30 cm is sufficient.
3. Shed Construction
Ventilation is an important factor to consider when building the shed. Raising many cattle can easily lead to large-scale disease outbreaks in summer due to poor air circulation. The shed roof is best built with a double-layer structure, with space reserved between the two layers, which helps with cooling, and sealing it in winter can also provide insulation. The rearing area for each cow should be 3-4 sq m, allowing it a certain amount of activity space. Each cattle pen can be separated with iron railings, as long as the cattle cannot pass through. The side facing the feed trough should ensure that the cow's head can stretch freely for convenient feeding. The opening should not be too large, otherwise the cattle will run out.
4. Attention to Details
Water sources inside the shed should be evenly distributed to ensure convenience during cleaning or feeding, but water pipes should be kept away from the feed trough to avoid water entering the trough due to improper operation and causing feed spoilage, or causing the feed to get wet and making it difficult for cattle to eat. The width of the feed trough should be controlled at about 50 cm, with steep slopes on both sides, so that cattle will not easily push food out of the trough while eating. The side near the walkway needs to be slightly higher than the walkway, to prevent residue from the walkway from entering the feed trough during daily use and increasing the chance of disease.
5. Functional Improvement
A shade shed needs to be set up in the area outside the farm, so that cattle can rest in a cool place when let out. A feeding area also needs to be set up in the outer area for convenient daily feeding. The manure cleaning channels of the cattle farm should be connected together for convenient cleaning. The manure storage area should be located downwind and at a certain distance from the cattle farm, to prevent pathogens from being blown into the cattle farm by the wind and causing infection. There have been many such examples in China, so everyone should pay attention to this.
The above is some content about beef cattle farm construction. You can also make certain adjustments according to your own ideas, adapting measures to local conditions. It does not have to be limited to certain aspects. If you want to learn more, you can follow our website.