If you are involved in raising livestock, then you know that the quality of livestock products: meat, milk, wool directly depends on the conditions of their keeping. It is very important that livestock are kept clean and warm. Every farmer can provide complete comfort to his animals. To do this, you need to learn how to build a barn for livestock with your own hands. It is important to take into account the basic rules for the construction of such structures so that no unplanned difficulties arise.
General requirements for a barn
When planning the construction of premises for keeping livestock, you need to take into account several factors at the same time:
- animal comfort;
- comfort of the serving person;
- adequate conditions for regular livestock cleaning;
- simplicity of the barn design;
- use of inexpensive building materials.
The ideal livestock barn meets all of these requirements.
Compact and practical
Location of the livestock barn on the site
Sheep barn with feed loft
It is important to position the shed so that it is easy to maintain. It is best to build it near the food storage area. This way you won't have to constantly carry heavy bags across the yard. You can act rationally and use the attic above the barn to store feed. It would be great if there is an area for walking cattle near the barn.
If you plan to use manure to fertilize your garden, build a pen near your garden beds. Animals that will regularly leave their barn to graze must have an unobstructed path to exit. Otherwise, your flower beds, vegetables or lawn risk being trampled and eaten.
Cattle barn layout
Suitable building materials
In principle, you can build a barn for livestock with your own hands from anything. The main building material from which walls are built is used:
- tree;
- brick;
- cinder block;
- foam concrete, etc.
Wooden barn with a gable roof
For small sheds on a personal plot, wood is most often used. It is warm enough, easy to work with, and such a building costs an order of magnitude cheaper. But, if we are talking about a spacious room for a large number of livestock, it is better to use other materials. A permanent shed made of cinder block or brick is much stronger and more durable.
Interior decoration consists of installing an insulated floor so that animals that sleep on the floor do not freeze or get sick. The walls and ceiling should be treated with an antiseptic or at least lime to protect against fungus and insects.
DIY rabbit shed
Rabbits, as you know, are both valuable fur and dietary meat. The shed for keeping them is different from the pens for other livestock. It is a room with several cells. The rabbit is a very capricious animal and does not allow any concessions in care and maintenance.
There is a separate cage for each rabbit
Features of rabbit breeding
The main feature of keeping rabbits is their number. If in an ordinary home shed for a cow or goat there are, as a rule, 3-4 individuals, then the number of rabbits can reach fifty. Another feature, which is partly the reason for the previous one, is that rabbits reproduce very quickly and uncontrollably. To slow down this process a little, individuals of different sexes are kept separately from each other.
Rabbits, like other animals, can be of different breeds. Some survive calmly in harsh winter conditions, while others are more picky about temperature and weather conditions. When building a rabbit shed with your own hands, you need to pay attention to the characteristics of your breed of furry animals.
In warm weather, cages with rabbits are taken out into the fresh air.
Algorithm for constructing a dwelling for a rabbit
The rabbit barn is built in such a way that it is easy to place cages in several rows. The barn should be spacious, ventilated, bright and protected from rodents. Step-by-step instructions for building a shed:
Drawing development. According to the standards, one large adult rabbit should be placed in an area of 1.5 sq.m. Thus, given that a two-tier shed system is used, for 10 rabbits you will need 7.5 square meters. m. Since the barn must have space for equipment and a person who cares for the animals, a building of 3x5 m will be sufficient. The height of the barn is assumed to be 2-2.5 m - so that it is comfortable for a person to be there.
Foundation for a wooden stable
Foundation construction. A monolithic foundation is erected for a wooden shed. To do this, holes are made at the locations of the load-bearing pillar columns, about half a meter deep. A reinforcement frame made of several pieces of steel wire is placed there and a concrete mixture is poured. The top of each foundation must be covered with a layer of waterproofing.
When the concrete gains strength, you can begin to build a wooden frame. Columns made of 20×20 wooden beams are installed on the foundations. The vertical elements are connected by a belt. Cross beams made of 15×15 or larger wooden beams are attached perpendicularly to the existing vertical posts.
Wooden frame of a small rabbitry
The shed is covered with edged boards. Openings are immediately outlined: windows and doors. The roof is made pitched. Covered with slate or roofing felt.
Then the window frames and doors are installed. Glazing is in progress.
When all construction work is completed, electrical installation work begins. Provide lighting, install sockets and switches.
Wooden house for rabbits
The simplest barn for keeping rabbits is ready for the installation of cages. The rabbit cages most often used in animal husbandry are called sheds. Sheds are a complex of identical cells-cells, adjacent to each other, located on one or several tiers. The shad are united by a common feeding trough, and sometimes by an improvised sewer system. According to the experience of farmers, this method of breeding rabbits is the most optimal.
Building a cowshed at home
Cattle must also be kept under certain conditions. A cowshed is a full-fledged home for an animal, a place where it will winter, sleep, eat, drink and relieve its natural needs. The cow gives not only meat, but also milk. Therefore, the barn must be equipped so that it is comfortable not only for the cow, but also for the milkman, who will milk the cow several times a day
Interior arrangement of the stall
Features of keeping cattle
In a lying position, an average-sized cow occupies an area of 1100×2100 mm. Of course, with such dimensions of the animal, the barn must be spacious and durable. According to the standards, at least 6 square meters must be provided for one cow. m area.
The main problem with a cow barn is cleaning. It must be done regularly, otherwise the barn will very soon turn into Augean stables. The floor in the barn is made slightly elevated. A 1 cm gap is left between the boards to allow urine to drain.
In the summer, the cow's liquid waste falls directly into the cesspool through cracks in the flooring. In winter, this method is not used, since a lot of heat is lost. In winter, a thick layer of hay is laid on the floor, which acts as an absorbent. When the flooring gets dirty, replace it with fresh one.
Each cow has a separate stall and drinking bowl with clean water.
Step-by-step instructions for building a barn
Building a barn for a cow with your own hands is not that difficult. For three cows, feeders, storage space for equipment and space for passage, a room of 24 sq.m. will be enough. The algorithm for constructing a rectangular brick building measuring 6000x4000 mm with three stalls looks like this:
It’s good when there is running water in the barn for livestock. Running water under pressure is good for cleaning up after cattle. And the fact that an adult cow can drink up to 80 liters of water per day suggests that a tap with clean water in the barn will not hurt.
Construction of an indoor goat breeding pen
Goat is one of the most common types of livestock. Animals are usually small. They are often “shared” in a barn with other animals: cows, sheep or pigs. It is advisable to build a separate shed for goats with your own hands when there are more than 3-4 goats on the farm.
Requirements for keeping goats
Goats are quite aggressive animals. This is especially true for males. They often butt heads and fight. That is why they try to separate the males in the pens. Pregnant females also need to be kept separately, since strong blows with horns, even in a playful form, can provoke premature birth.
Small newborn goats that were born in a barn are most often taken into the house by their owners. This is done in order to protect the fragile body from drafts and cold weather. After 2-3 weeks, the kids return to the barn.
Wooden barn with attic for food
An adult goat occupies 2 square meters. m of area, according to the standards. The height of the shed for goats, as for other animals, is chosen so that it is comfortable for a person, that is, 2.2-2.5 m. It is convenient to store feed for livestock in the attic, so we will consider a scheme for constructing a wooden barn for four goats, the size 4000x3000 and 2.5 m high with an attic and a pitched roof.
Animals will be comfortable in such a barn
Koshara – shed for sheep
Sheep only feel safe when they are in a herd. This means that there is no need to build a separate spacious stall for each animal - the sheep will still crowd together. Sheep spend most of their time outdoors, on the pasture. In the summer, they do not need a barn even for spending the night - a simple fenced enclosure is enough. And for wintering, you can build a sheep shed with your own hands.
Features of keeping a flock of sheep
Small shed made of foam block
For a small herd of 10 adult sheep, a room of 24 sq.m. will be sufficient. A rectangular building 6000x4000 made of foam block with a gable roof is suitable. The height, as before, is 2.2 m.
When building and arranging a barn for livestock with your own hands, it is important to take into account all the subtleties of keeping an animal. A good and clean barn will be healthy, which means that milk yield, wool quality, and the quantity and quality of meat will increase. In order not to complicate your life by getting to know a trowel or a hacksaw for wood, you can invite a professional construction team who will build such a simple building in a few days.
- up to 100 cm for medium cows;
- up to 120 cm for large ones;
Classification of stalls by length
On farms with milking livestock, it is not practical to use a table longer than 190 cm.
In this case, feces will accumulate on the platform and not in the gutter, which will require more effort when cleaning. Therefore, two types are used:
The most practical is a short stall for cows - in it the animal's rear is constantly above the chute, which makes cleaning easier. The middle model uses a fenced feeding table to prevent the cow's head from being placed in a lying position. This leads to an increase in the useful length of the stall, the use of long chains and an increase in the size of the barn, but the animals are more comfortable in them.
This method is rational for year-round tethered keeping, and also does not require additional equipment for the space.
- weight gain improves;
According to this technology, the cattle area is used only for animals to lie down. This is a fenced area that strictly corresponds to the size of the animals. Cows lie on them and slowly digest roughage (rumination occurs).
Use of litter
Do not harm animals.
This material can also be easily removed with scrapers, a conveyor or a tractor. Straw is less suitable - large particles absorb moisture less well and are more difficult to remove with a conveyor. Its main advantage is accessibility. Since farms usually use a full cycle and prepare grain feed themselves, a lot of straw is produced.
In summer, almost everywhere, animals are kept under a canopy made of four pillars 2.2 - 2.4 meters high and a pitched roof made of slate or roofing felt.
Feeders are installed under the higher part of the canopy. It is good to fence the canopy with a net to protect the animal from insects.
In winter, in cold areas, cows are kept in permanent, insulated buildings with an attic ceiling and a vestibule at the door. Attics in such premises are usually used for storing roughage and bedding.
The barn should not be heated: the required air temperature is maintained in it by the heat generated by the animal itself. An exception may be certain days in winter, when the outside temperature drops sharply.
The foundation of the room must be strong, and its upper part (basement) must be insulated from the wall with a waterproof gasket, for example from roofing felt.
Housing for livestock is usually built from local materials: wood, adobe, brick, slag concrete, shell rock and others. The best of them is adobe brick. It is made from a mixture of clay, sand and fine straw.
Bricks and cinder blocks are often used for construction. However, thin brick walls freeze in cold weather. Therefore, it is better to build brick walls with a hollow space inside and fill it with sawdust or straw cuttings.
The walls are usually built about 2.5 meters high. They must be smooth and plastered. They must be periodically cleaned of dust, cobwebs and whitened. The height of the room (from floor to ceiling) must be at least 2.3 meters.
The ceiling of the barn is made dry, light, smooth, durable, and well insulated. A wooden ceiling with insulation made from sawdust, dry leaves, and straw fully meets these requirements. Like the walls, the ceiling should be whitewashed.
The condition of the floor in the barn greatly affects the productivity of the animal and its health. It must be warm, dry, even, sufficiently durable, non-slip, impervious to liquids and convenient for cleaning from manure.
Typically, private households have wooden floors. But the best material for the floor is baked brick, laid end-to-end on coal slag; such a floor can last 12 - 14 years without repair.
The floor should have a slight slope (1 - 2 centimeters per linear meter) from the feeder to the manure ditch.
It is better to make windows in the back or side walls in relation to the animal, with an area 10-15 times less than the floor area; they should be located above the animal’s eyes. It is advisable to install windows and doors on the south or east side.
The internal dimensions of the room may vary, because there is usually space for a calf, but for one cow it should be 22 cubic meters. m, with a stall floor length of 1.9 - 2.1 meters and a width of at least 2 meters.
The feeder is made of smoothly planed boards 40 - 50 millimeters thick, with a capacity of up to 5 - 7 kilograms of roughage (hay, straw). The feeder usually resembles a trough 45 - 50 centimeters wide, 30 - 35 centimeters high and about one meter long. It can be attached to the floor, or better yet, slightly raised (suspended), this will not allow the animal to step into the feeder with its feet.
The barn should be warm, dry, bright, with good air, but without drafts, spacious and comfortable enough to accommodate the animal and equipment (shovel, broom, basket, forks, buckets). Windows must not be blocked or shaded.
For animal bedding, you can use 1.5-3 kilograms of straw, 1 - 3 kilograms of peat, 2-5 kilograms of sawdust per day.
Every day, except on very cold days (below minus 20°), the cow should be allowed out for a walk for 2 - 3 hours, and during this time the room should be ventilated by opening the doors and windows. For walks, you can use a small paddock equipped next to the barn.
A.IVASHUROV.
A cattle stall performs essential functions depending on the type of housing. With the free-stall technology, this is a simple place to rest and digest food, and with the tethered method, the animal is milked and fed in the stall. The productivity of cattle, the ease of maintenance and the implementation of therapeutic measures depend on the correct selection and preparation of the stall.
Tether stalls
This type of breeding involves the use of a stall as the main habitat of cows, which affects milk production, the strength of the immune system, and the functioning of the reproductive organs. The dimensions of the stall for tethered cows are determined by the dimensions of the animals, determined by breed factors, physiological condition and individual animals.
- up to 100 cm for medium cows;
- up to 120 cm for large ones;
- up to 150 cm for massive animals at 7-9 months of pregnancy.
Typically 120 cm stalls are used because they can be used for any animal and because of the 6 meter gap between the columns. Cattle stalls of 150 cm are used in maternity wards, and narrow ones are installed when farming specific breeds.
Classification of stalls by length
In livestock farming, stall lengths that differ from building standards are used. If in the latter option this is the distance from the chute to the feeding table, then the useful length is measured to the place of the tether.
More often used for cows are stalls with a length of up to 190 cm.
The place for cattle does not exceed 250 cm in length, and according to modern standards - 200 cm. The largest ones are used in maternity wards, where it is necessary to create the most favorable conditions in the last months of pregnancy, when the calf is actively gaining weight and shaping its appearance. At this time, the cows are constantly kept in the stall, so it is made comfortable.
On farms with milking livestock, it is not practical to use a table longer than 190 cm. In this case, feces will accumulate on the platform and not in the gutter, which will require more effort when cleaning. Therefore, two types are used:
The most practical is a short stall for cows - in it the animal's rear is constantly above the chute, which makes cleaning easier. The middle model uses a fenced feeding table to prevent the cow's head from being placed in a lying position. This leads to an increase in the useful length of the stall, the use of long chains and an increase in the size of the barn, but the animals are more comfortable in them. This method is rational for year-round tethered keeping, and also does not require additional equipment for the space.
In a short stall, the cow's head is placed even in a lying position. Its length is less than the oblique length of the body, fences must be installed on the sides, and short chains are used. You should also install a pipe in front of the feeder - a horizontal limiter that does not allow cattle to crawl into the feeder. The technique allows to reduce litter contamination and personnel work.
Features of keeping bulls
- weight gain improves;
- contact between animals is leveled;
- Animal service is made safe.
With the usual group breeding of large bulls, injuries increase, feed digestibility and its processing into mass decrease. And large and angry bulls pose a danger to staff. Therefore, from 12 months, everyone should be placed in a stall.
Their main difference from cows is their size. These are larger and stronger structures that should ensure a comfortable stay for the bull until 18-20 months, when he gains a weight of more than 500 kg. The leash is short, the bull's muzzle should be located in the feeder. The bedding is changed daily.
Freestall stall
According to this technology, the cattle area is used only for animals to lie down.
This is a fenced area that strictly corresponds to the size of the animals. Cows lie on them and slowly digest roughage (rumination occurs).
Freestall stall dimensions
Here the approach is different - the cattle should fit comfortably in a lying position. Therefore, the width is used up to 125 cm, and the length up to 280 cm. For stalls located near the walls, the length can be increased to 3 meters. If you make short places, then the udder and pelvic limbs will constantly be in the passage, where they will be contaminated with dirt and microbes, and also be injured by other animals.
It is best to use sliding models. Regulation is carried out in several ways:
- moving the side pipes – adjusting the width of the box;
- by shifting the beam for the withers, the length of the stall is changed;
- raising it or lowering it, they adjust it to the size of the cow.
Use of litter
Placing cows on a concrete floor is fraught with the development of bronchial diseases and limb pathologies. Free-stall housing necessarily involves the use of bedding, but if the free-stall method uses deep and permanent bedding, then the table accommodation requires daily cleaning.
Peat and sawdust are best for bedding - they absorb moisture well., do not harm animals. This material can also be easily removed with scrapers, a conveyor or a tractor. Straw is less suitable - large particles absorb moisture less well and are more difficult to remove with a conveyor. Its main advantage is accessibility. Since farms usually use a full cycle and prepare grain feed themselves, a lot of straw is produced.
The litter is changed every day, and in case of heavy contamination with manure - several times. The use of covering material allows you to keep animals clean, which reduces the work of milkmaids, increases resistance, and improves the prevention of hoof diseases and bursitis.
The pigsty (8-9m2) is also isolated from other rooms by blank walls or partitions. There is only one entrance here. The interior can be designed in different ways, depending on your purpose for keeping the animals (fattening for lard, bacon or raising piglets).
Partitions in a pigsty made of boards.
The feeding compartment is along the length of the animal, the width may be smaller, because during feeding the pig should not make unnecessary movements and scatter its food. In front there is a feeder, in the back there is a shield, under the shield there is a grate for the liquid collector. The second, more spacious compartment is made for animals to rest. Don't forget a baffle to protect the piglets so they don't get crushed by the sow.
Next to the pigsty, it is necessary to build a walking yard and a hole in the wall for the animals to go for a walk in good weather.
Plant a tree with a thick, spreading crown next to the paddock to protect the animals from overheating in the summer. Lighting, insulation and ventilation of the pigsty - everything is the same as in a barn.
The poultry house (8-8.5 m2) is also equipped differently today. Instead of ordinary poles, three-tier wire cages for laying hens with trays for collecting eggs, feeders, and pull-out trays for collecting droppings can be placed along the walls. This design increases the capacity of the poultry house by almost three times, frees up floor space for chickens, and there is even room for a feeder, drinker and electric heater (Brooderhaus with artificial lighting). Here you need a hole in the wall to access the courtyard, closed on all sides and on top with wire mesh. Consider a system for supplying water to automatic drinkers, make a tray for draining waste after washing the room.
There may be other options for your yard. It can be used for raising sheep, rabbits, geese, turkeys, etc.
The feed warehouse (18 m2) is made with an entrance gate and is of such a size that, if necessary, it can easily be converted into a garage. Along the walls there are compartments for different feeds. There is also an entrance to the cellar where root vegetables are stored in winter. Nearby are concrete pits for silage or pulp, covered with a canopy, and on top insulated with straw to prevent freezing. In the warehouse area there is also a shed for drying firewood, cabinets for storing equipment and tools. There may also be a winter hut for bee hives.
For a warehouse, it is better to set aside a place somewhere along the way from a residential building to a utility block, so that you can take what you need without wasting time. Here, laundry, corn cobs, onion bundles, etc. are dried under sheds.
The feed kitchen (8m2) must be connected to the animal premises, the feed warehouse and the house. It would be nice to add a summer kitchen with a smokehouse here. Two feed boilers can be placed in the oven to prepare food for animals.
Work tables and cabinets in the feed kitchen, just like in a regular kitchen, are arranged in the correct order, from left to right, from raw materials to the finished product. Nearby there is a sink with a water tap. Instead, there can be a regular bowl. It is placed on the table top, and above it is placed a tank with a tap, filled from a bucket. The crushed feed is steamed, mixed with concentrates and fed into animal feeders.
The summer kitchen attached to the utility block is a good gazebo. Here they prepare family dinners and relax. Although, it can also be used to prepare food for the winter. Next to the gazebo you can place a pit - an outdoor swimming pool. All this expands the functions of the summer kitchen. The hearth here can be equipped as a fireplace-smokehouse, where you can cook barbecue or smoke fish, sausages, hams, whatever you like best. The combustion chamber must be moved at least 2 m to the side and connected by a chimney-bed with a smoking chamber closed by doors. Arrange a wide table and benches around the fireplace.
We must not forget such an important detail of the estate as a dog house. Its opening should be directed towards the gate of the utility yard so that the watchdog can see the main security objects. In addition, from the booth to the gate, along the driveway, stretch a wire along which the dog on a chain will move around the yard. Insulate the dog house well and make sure it is dry. To do this, make a flooring from boards. Change the straw bedding regularly. If you want, you can also build a doghouse into the utility unit.
By properly locating and arranging the barnyard and other buildings, you will greatly simplify your livestock farming work.
2032 07/31/2019 6 min.When raising cattle, one should take into account not only the animal’s diet and timely care, but also create favorable conditions for life and breeding. Usually cows are kept in a specially equipped barn, built in accordance with all requirements and standards. Productivity directly depends on the temperature and humidity in the room, so this issue should be approached responsibly, starting with the choice of location for the barn and construction materials. In this article we will look at what to consider when building a cow barn with your own hands.
Specifics of the premises: project of a barn for cows
For walls you can use brick or wood.
Paula
Proper floor design is necessary not only to preserve and maintain heat, but also to retain water and properly clean manure. It is recommended to use baked brick or coal slag as a base for the floor, laid on compacted soil. On top of the main layer is laid a bedding of boards treated with an antiseptic. When using metal structures, it is important to consider a layer of insulation in order to maintain optimal floor temperature in winter. Sawdust or straw is used as bedding for cattle.
Roofs
The most functional is a gable roof with an attic underneath. It allows you to additionally retain heat, and you can also store hay in it in winter, which creates an additional air cushion. Slate or roofing felt is usually used as roofing material, and it is best to lay reed slabs or clay plaster on the ceiling itself, but more often boards fitted to each other are used, and then they are insulated with a layer of sawdust or sand. In cold regions, it is advisable to make a ceiling with double decking. It is advisable to make a so-called “cooling roof” in the barn, which is highly reflective.
When creating a roof structure, it is important to calculate that water does not flow under the eaves. To avoid this, you can make a steeper slope or install a drainage system.
Dimensions of the building being built
Even at the planning stage, it is important to think about the size of the room, based on the volume of livestock. The optimal size of the area for 1 animal is 10-12 m2, the height of the walls should be at least 2.5 meters. For large livestock, the area is calculated based on 6 m2 per animal. When keeping more than 50 heads, you need to take into account that you will need mechanical equipment, the noise level of which should be within 70 dB.
Organizing space for livestock: a place to rest
In the barn, animals should move freely and also have access to drinking bowls and feeders. In addition, it is worth including in the layout of the premises for machine milking and compartments for keeping calves. The size of stalls for calves can be made a little smaller - up to 10 m2, so it is recommended to place them separately from other animals. You can find out about drinking bowls for cows.
When planning space, you need to provide space for feeders and drinkers, as well as passages between stalls. It is advisable to immediately include in the plan the location of the future cesspool and a room for storing equipment. In the compartments where the machinery will be located, it is advisable to additionally install a layer of sound insulation so that the noise does not disturb the animals. The floor must be placed at a slope of up to 20 cm to ensure normal liquid drainage. The room must have at least 2 windows to allow natural daylight. Windows must be raised to a height inaccessible to animals.
Mandatory elements of the barn are stalls, feeders and drinking bowls.
The size of all windows is calculated from the volume of the barn. The optimal ratio is that the window area is 10 times smaller than the floor.
Contents of the heads: hood, heating and heated floors with your own hands
There must be fresh air in the barn, for which a ventilation system should be created. For this purpose, a pipe with an exhaust hood is most often used, which prevents precipitation and cold air from entering the room. The ventilation outlet is located above the roof ridge. The most optimal temperature for keeping cattle is 5-18 degrees, which avoids the animals losing heat to warm their bodies. In addition, for normal maintenance in the barn, you need to place stalls, feeders and drinking bowls, as well as a drainage ditch and compartments for calves. Read about the secrets of breeding cows as a business.
Get the stall right
The stall area per animal must be at least 2.5 m2. It is best to use metal pipes as fencing, which have a maximum service life. In the stall, the cow is on a leash, so in each compartment you need to install a ring with a fixed chain with a free length of at least 1 meter. Individual feeders and drinkers are installed in the stall, as well as a container for storing salt. A prerequisite is bedding so that the animal feels comfortable and warm. A stall for cattle must be designed taking into account the characteristics of the breed, dimensions and characteristics of the animal.
Drinkers and pig feeders for cattle
They can be (called) group or individual, and either automatic or manual. For small herds, hand-held waterers and drinkers for each animal are best. They are made of wood, metal or brick, located at head level. The optimal size of the feeder is 70x80 cm, which allows you to fit up to 6 kg of dry or fresh grass. It is advisable to divide the feeder into two compartments for wet and rough food.
The use of automatic devices is not justified when the herd size is up to 10 animals, since in the early stages it is easier to control the feeding process individually for each cow.
The main requirement for bedding is that it should absorb moisture and manure well, and also be comfortable for the animal. In addition, it must be ensured that it can be easily replaced and cleaned. Do not allow hazardous elements such as iron rods, stones or broken glass to get into the litter.
Also read about rubber mats for cattle.
Before entering the barn, you need to install a wide box of sawdust soaked in creolin, which will reduce the risk of infection entering the room.
Video: how to build a cattle pen
This video explains how a barn works and how to build it.
conclusions
- The room (pig pen) for keeping cattle should (it is important to properly and well arrange) dry, well ventilated, warm and lit with a choke, where the cow can rest comfortably.
- Wooden boards or beams and concrete blocks are used as wall materials. For large barns, frame construction technology is used during construction.
- It is advisable to make an attic in which you can store a layer of straw for additional insulation of the barn for livestock.
- There should be at least 10 m2 per animal; with a large number of livestock, the size is smaller - about 6 m2 per head.
- When setting up a barn for cows, you need to place stalls fenced with metal pipes, as well as feeders and drinking bowls for each animal. Much attention should be paid to the bedding material. It should be warm, comfortable for livestock, and also absorb moisture well.
He will tell you how to make a stall for cows.
When you decide to have cattle, you need to think carefully about the conditions for keeping them. After all, the future of the entire farm depends on a well-built barn. Despite the laboriousness of the construction process, with patience and certain skills, it is quite possible to master it on your own, without the involvement of specialists. Let's look at its main points - the choice of location for the barn, the construction of all its elements and the necessary equipment.
Choosing a location for building a barn
When starting to build a barn with your own hands, you first need to choose its location. According to sanitary standards, the minimum distance from the barn to residential buildings should be 15 m, and to a drinking well or well - 20 m. This distance will protect drinking water sources from contamination, and the home from unpleasant odors. 
In addition, it is desirable that there be pasture nearby for walking and feeding livestock. Even at the construction stage, you can plant fodder crops there - clover, alfalfa or vetch.
Design and dimensions
The area of the future barn is determined based on the planned number of herds. At the same time, for 1 adult, taking into account the feeder and passage, 6 square meters are required. m of area, and for a calving cow - 10 sq. m. Thus, the useful area of a barn for 10 cows should be 60 square meters. m, for 20 cows - 120 sq. m, for 50 cows - 300 sq. m, for 100 cows - 600 sq. m, for 200 cows - 1200 sq. m.
In addition, it is necessary to provide utility rooms. Typically, for a barn with 20 or more heads, a milk storage room, a maternity room, an isolation room, a utility block and other premises are designed.
The passage between the stalls should be at least 1.2–1.5 m, and the height of the barn should be at least 2.5 m. A floor slope should also be provided for drainage of slurry from manure and urine - 2–3°. 
The design of a large barn can be entrusted to a specialist who can competently take into account all the necessary details.
How to build a barn with your own hands
The room for cows should be spacious, well-lit, moderately warm, with good ventilation and all necessary communications. Animals must be able to freely stand, lie down, and move to their sleeping area and feeding trough. In addition, you should choose the optimal materials - high-quality and economical.
Did you know? UN experts have calculated that cows, emitting 18% of all greenhouse gases, cause more harm to the ecology of our planet than cars or airplanes. The gases and dung of these animals alone are responsible for more than a third of the methane that enters the atmosphere, which warms the Earth 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.
Foundation
The durability of the building itself largely depends on a properly laid foundation, so it must have good reliability and strength. The foundation can be of different types:
- monolithic;
- columnar;
- tape
Video: foundation construction technology for farms
If you plan to build a building from wood or a wooden frame, then it is better to make a columnar foundation. It is carried out similarly to a monolithic one, only the foundation pillars with reinforcement, insulated with roofing felt, are poured with concrete. The distance between the pillars should be no more than 2 m. Also for small barns, a strip type of foundation is used with reinforced formwork poured with concrete mortar.
Regardless of the type of foundation, care should be taken to provide waterproofing, a water slope and a sand-crushed stone layer along the outer edge. Since barns are usually designed to last 10 years or more, a concrete foundation is the best choice. It perfectly withstands the weight of an adult animal, does not become damp, does not absorb water and odors, and does not allow rodents to pass through. You can also make the base from rubble stone or brickwork.
Floor
One of the most important elements of a barn is its floor. It must be warm and waterproof to prevent the accumulation of liquid waste. To drain the mixture of water, urine and manure, the floor is made above ground level with a slope of 3° towards the drainage gutter. A greater slope should not be made, as this has a bad effect on the animals’ limbs and can even lead to miscarriages of calving cows.
The concrete floor fully satisfies the requirements for waterproofness and reliability, but it is too cold, which provokes the development of mastitis in animals. Therefore, it must be covered with a warmer material, for example, wooden flooring, which is quite easy to replace periodically.
Walls
The material for the walls of the barn can be very diverse:
- tree;
- wooden frame;
- sand-lime brick;
- cinder block;
- stone;
- foam concrete;
- sandwich panels.
Video: DIY shed. Frame walls
A small barn for 1–2 cows is often built from adobe bricks. It is inexpensive and has good thermal insulation. The basement rows in such a barn are laid out from baked bricks.
When designing, the climate in the construction area should also be taken into account. Thus, a stone barn is distinguished by the fact that it warms up slowly during the day and cools down quickly at night, which is why condensation constantly forms on its walls. Therefore, it is preferable to use brick, which is a more “breathable” material, and the amount of condensation on the walls will be reduced. 
Also a good option for a barn are three-layer sandwich panels with mineral wool insulation. In such a room, the optimal temperature is maintained - warm in winter and moderate in summer. The outside of such panels is lined with steel and painted.
Important! When building a barn, it is recommended to adhere to the following stages: building a foundation, building walls and roofing, installing windows and ventilation, installing lighting, installing doors and gates, building a manure storage facility.
Regardless of the material the walls are made of, they must be plastered and whitewashed inside. This makes the room look neat and provides good light reflection.
Roof
The most common type of barn roof is a wooden floor and a gable roof covered with slate or tiles. Under such a roof it is very convenient to arrange an attic where you can store supplies of hay, fodder or any equipment.
Shed roofs are used only for small barns, since there is a risk of snow retention and subsidence of the structure.
Windows and doors
The main lighting of the barn is natural, through the window openings. According to the standards, their total area should be 10% of the floor area of the building. The bottom of the window is usually placed at a height of 1.5–1.6 m from the floor level. 
There are several window designs:
- casement windows with double glazing;
- casement windows filled with polycarbonate;
- sliding windows with clear polycarbonate.
The doors in the barn are made of hinged ones with insulation to keep the room warm in the winter. The gate must be equipped with a lifting mechanism.
Ventilation
The importance of ventilation in a barn should not be underestimated, as in the heat of summer, poor ventilation can lead to a significant reduction in cows' milk production. And at temperatures above 25–30 °C, animals lose their appetite, which has a bad effect on their general health. 
Therefore, the barn must be equipped with forced ventilation, which ensures the removal of polluted air and the influx of fresh air. A small shed can only be equipped with vents for natural ventilation, but with the possibility of periodically ventilating the room. But the mini-farm must have an exhaust hood with dampers and distribution ventilation ducts measuring at least 15x15 cm. The exhaust is carried out through a pipe located above the roof ridge, and the supply openings in the walls are located at a height of 1 m from the floor level.
Communications
In addition to natural lighting, artificial lighting should be provided in the barn using lamps. At the same time, all electrical appliances in the room must comply with fire safety measures.
Also, even at the construction stage, they plan to supply cold water and, if necessary, connect utility rooms to the sewerage system.
Did you know? The lines on the skin of the nasolabial planum of cows are similar to the patterns on human fingers. Their prints are also strictly individual for each individual. American cattle breeders from Indiana take advantage of this by creating a database of cow nose prints to search for stolen animals.
How to set up a barn for cows
The finished barn must be equipped with stalls, feeders, drinking bowls, bedding and other necessary equipment. 
Stall
When using the tethered method of keeping livestock, the barn is equipped with stalls. In this case, the room is divided into sections 125 cm wide and 260 cm long. If necessary, the length can be increased to 330 cm. It is not worth expanding the stall, because although the cow should be comfortable, she should not turn around, otherwise she will defecate right next to the feeder.
If the sections are arranged on both sides, a passage 1.5 m wide should be arranged between them. When making stalls, the weight and strength of the livestock should be taken into account, so the material should be strong wooden beams or thick metal pipes. 
Feeders and drinkers
Drinkers and feeders are an essential part of any barn. The feeder should be located outside the stall and extend the entire width of its outer part so that the animal can eat whenever it wants. The feeder has a trapezoidal shape with a bottom width of 40 cm and a width of the upper part of 60 cm. The front side of the feeder, located on the side of the stall, must be at least 40 cm in height, and the rear - at least 75 cm.
There are holes at the bottom of the feeder, which simplifies the process of washing it. In this case, the bottom of the feeder should be located at a distance of at least 7 cm from the floor.
You can make a feeder yourself or purchase a ready-made one. A wooden feeder must be well processed to a smooth surface so that the livestock does not get hurt. In addition, there is a large selection of feed tanks made from artificial materials on sale. They are distinguished by good durability, safety, and are easy to clean and disinfect. 
The drinking bowl must be placed above the feeder and closer to the far corner from the exit from the stall. The cow should be able to drink at any time, so it is better to make the drinker automatic.
Litter: what is better, what thickness?
To keep the stall clean and dry, it is necessary to provide bedding on the floor. You can use straw, sawdust, shavings, sand or straw with dry peat. Special rubber mats are also used. However, they are quite expensive and retain moisture for a long time, which can lead to injury and the development of dangerous bacteria.
Sand, in turn, is very convenient in the summer, but freezes quickly in winter. In addition, its heavy weight complicates the process of replacing the litter.
Important! If the stalls are provided with comfortable bedding, cows will tend to spend most of their time lying down. This has a beneficial effect on the process of chewing food, the condition of their limbs and reduces the percentage of lameness among animals.
The best option is straw or sawdust. This is a lightweight material, absorbs moisture well and is easy to replace. The main thing is that the sawdust is large enough and does not produce dust, so as not to cause respiratory diseases.
When creating deep litter, first lay out the first layer of straw 10–15 cm thick. As it gets dirty, add fresh litter (once a week, 3–4 rolls or 500 kg of straw). In the spring, all livestock are turned out to pasture, and the premises are ventilated. And in the middle of summer, all the rotted straw and manure are raked out with a bulldozer. 
Also on sale are special livestock mattresses for cows, made using modern technologies. The thickness of such a mattress is 2–6 cm, the width of one layer is 120–180 cm. This covering not only withstands the weight of animals well, but is also resistant to damage from their sharp hooves.
What else is needed?
Among other things, you should organize a pen for walking animals and a manure storage facility.
Corral for walking
A barn for cows must have a walking pen outside. Its area should allow free walking of animals, and the total length of the walking path for livestock should be at least 500 m. 
The pen must be fenced using wood or timber. You should also provide a canopy under which animals could hide from heavy rain or extreme heat.
For a farm with a large number of livestock, it is impossible to do without a slurry collector consisting of a mixture of animal manure and urine.
To do this, a manure trench is installed in the back of each stall, at least 20 cm wide and at least 10 cm deep, with a slope towards the slurry collector. Typically, a manure storage facility is located directly next to the barn. Its minimum dimensions are: depth - 80 cm, width - 120 cm. When planning a manure storage facility, it is necessary to take into account the number of cows and the fact that 1 cow produces about 12 tons of manure per year. 
If cows are kept on deep litter, then a manure storage facility is not provided.
Now you know how to build a barn yourself and what rules must be followed. Cows are very demanding about their living conditions. The health of the herd, the amount of milk and, ultimately, the benefit of the farm owner depend on a comfortable room.
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It is difficult to imagine a full-fledged farming enterprise without raising cattle. Many farmers begin their activities by building a cowshed, preferring cows to other animals. The future of the entire farm depends on how well equipped the place for keeping farm animals is.
You can build a barn for bulls with your own hands, without involving expensive outside specialists. Important predetermine the number of seats, for which the barn will be designed and determine what materials the construction will be made of. Labor-intensive and costly work lies ahead, where everything will depend on the materials that will be used in construction. And also the decisive factor when calculating the price will be the climate of the area where the barn will be built.
How to build a barn with your own hands
An ox shed is usually built from logs or stone. If brick is chosen for construction, then it should be taken into account that despite the strength of the structure, cows can suffer from colds. Log barn It is better ventilated and does not cool as much during frosts. However, a stone foundation with cement can give a wooden structure good strength. Moreover, the farmer will still make some walls from stone.
A stone barn cools down quickly at night and warms up very slowly during the day, which is why condensation constantly forms on its walls. That’s why they try to use brick, because thanks to it, the ventilation of the room will be better, which means the amount of condensation on the walls will decrease.
It is possible to use other materials during construction. In some regions, adobe, aerated concrete or lime slabs are used. Most often, everything depends not only on the wishes of the farmer, but also on the climate in which he is located.
To determine the required dimensions future barn, it is proposed to proceed from such calculations. For one adult cow, taking into account the feeder and passage, at least six square meters are required, and for a calving cow, at least ten square meters are required.
One of the important details of construction is the floor. The main criteria for sex in a barn– heat and waste, because a mixture of water, droppings and urine cannot be left on the floor, as it will stagnate and rot. The floor must be made above ground level, taking into account impermeability to any liquid. The stock slope is made at least three centimeters; if the slope is greater, it will negatively affect the animals’ limbs, and in a calving cow it can lead to miscarriage.
Well proven adobe floors. They are made using boards hammered into clay. If wood is used without clay, there will be a problem of manure and urine accumulating under the floor and then frequent replacement of the flooring will follow.
How to build a barn for cows: preparation for construction
When planning work, the main thing is to avoid mistakes that will be difficult to correct later. During preparation for construction, tasks such as choosing a construction site, project, and determining the general concept of construction are solved. After all, what exactly the farmer plans to do will determine the overall picture of the construction. Perhaps the emphasis will be on dairy farming, or, conversely, meat farming. Is the owner of the farm going to breed young animals or will he buy them externally? Different options may require additional buildings.
When choosing a site for a barn, it is important to take into account such indicators as: groundwater level, wind direction and access roads to the building.
Do not forget about coordinating the project with the required authorities. Sometimes, in order to go through all stages of approval, the help of a lawyer is required, and it is also possible the project will undergo any changes.
Project
You can build a small barn for about ten bulls yourself, but if you need a large room for about a hundred heads, then you cannot do without specialists. Having at least basic knowledge in construction, you can start building a small barn.
How to build a barn for oxen? The first step is to decide on a budget. If you have about a million rubles available, then you can build a relatively small barn for 10-15 heads. A large project will require an investment of at least twenty million rubles. In such a barn they will already be used all modern technologies and design innovations.
Cowsheds are divided according to the method of keeping animals in them into free-stall and tethered. In a tie barn, the animal will be kept in a stall. Its dimensions are approximately as follows:
Calves that have grown up are taken away from their mother and kept in a common barn without a leash. For normal maintenance, 4 square meters are required. m. for each calf.
The height of the shed must be at least 2.5 meters. It is undesirable to make it higher, since the room will heat up for a long time.
If the farm is small, it is best to keep the entire herd together, without separating the dairy cows. It is enough to make several branches. On large farms, dairy cows are separated.
If the premises were built for a dairy herd, then provisions must be made the following premises:
In a large barn designed for more than a hundred dairy cows, there are usually two rows of stalls and always 2 aisles with feed, which are located near the walls. There is a row of dung in the center.
In a barn with 300-400 cows there will already be four-row stalls.
It is believed that the larger the cattle population, the more efficiently the farm operates. When building a barn, it is much more economical to build four-row bull stalls. In addition to building materials, with a four-row construction scheme it is much more convenient to introduce automation. Milking, manure removal and feed distribution can be transferred to machines.
Take care of the maternity area where the cow will calve; the calves will be kept there for up to two weeks, and then they can be transferred either to separate stalls or to a common room.
Here's what you won't need in the barn: heating system. A well-built building, without cracks and drafts, will be quite enough, because the main heat comes from the cows themselves.
Foundation
The most practical foundation, according to experienced farmers, this is a pile structure with an insulated grillage made of reinforced concrete. Be sure to take into account the terrain before selecting a grillage design. You can also make a monolithic, free-standing or pile foundation.
Barn frame
It is made of steel and mounted using bolts and electric welding. To prevent the metal from corroding, use a primer with a special enamel.
All calculations will be designed depending on the location of the future barn. Important to consider terrain features where the structure is being built, the amount of precipitation in the cold season and wind. The frame must be as strong as possible, which is ensured by vertical and horizontal connections.
Walls
Three-layer sandwich panels with mineral wool as insulation are the best option for a barn. Thanks to these materials, the livestock room will be constantly maintained at a warm temperature in winter and moderate in summer. The outer side of the panels is lined with steel and painted.
Window
The cow shed receives the greatest amount of light thanks to the windows, so close attention is paid to the construction of windows. Various designs possible and materials. Usually PVC windows with the addition of polycarbonate are installed. By design, they can be either hinged or lifting. Sliding windows are installed for the barn where the calves are kept, and several options are possible for the milking room:
- casement windows with double glazing;
- casement windows filled with polycarbonate;
- sliding windows with clear polycarbonate.
Sometimes roller blinds are added.
Lighting
There should be not only natural, but also artificial lighting using lamps. All electrical equipment in the barn must comply with fire safety measures.
Doors
Doors it is advisable to make it swinging and always with insulation. The gate is made with a lift.
Do-it-yourself drinking bowls for cows
Drinking bowls can be made of metal; at the end there should be a tap from which clean water will be supplied. They are also made from boards.
Ventilation
Poor ventilation in the summer heat can significantly reduce milk production in cows. After 25-30 degrees, animals begin to eat poorly, and this entails general losses for the farm.
Feed barns
Usually such a shed is made of wood. You should correctly calculate the capacity of the barn, because one adult animal will need about three tons of hay for food and one ton for bedding.
If a farmer is going to breed cattle, then you can purchase special mating pens for bull calves . It is very comfortable if the bull is big and the cow is medium-sized.
By following all the design rules, you can build an excellent barn for your animals, and they will thank their owner with an abundance of milk and fertility.
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