Small farm. Where to start farming? Farm business plan

There are several reasons to start breeding cattle. Some do it to sell it, others to have their own milk and sell it. There are people who bring cattle to show at various exhibitions and holidays. Today, many families decide to have cattle to meet their own needs. Whether you want to raise livestock and sell them, or you just want a couple of cows for your own use, here are some tips to start your herd.

Steps

Consider your business plan. The first thing you should do is to conduct a swot analysis of yourself and the cattle industry. Decide what kind of cows you want to have without thinking about the breeds and type of farm you want to have.

• Start Small . Do not spend all your money at once when buying or inheriting a farm. If you need to make repairs, start with the essentials. Do not buy new equipment, but buy from auctions. It's best to buy only the best necessary equipment. You will be able to buy whatever you want within 5-10 years of opening your farm.
• Try to produce a cheap product. You will be able to easily enter the market, and this great way start making money.

1. Find the best place for raising livestock for the next 10-30 years. It is very important to choose right place for your farm. You should feel comfortable and confident there.

   • You can choose a location for your farm anywhere in the world. You should take into account factors such as climate, market, topography and vegetation when choosing a location for a farm.

2. Once you have found the right place for you to open your farm, it's time to look for land to buy. If you cannot pay the entire cost of the land right away, you will have to take out a loan.

   • As a rule, the greater the demand for land, the more expensive it is. The price can also be affected by the number of inhabitants in the area.
   • Try to buy a farm that already has everything you need for raising livestock - barns, fences. So you will spend much less than if you buy a farm, which will then have to be specially rebuilt for the maintenance of livestock.

3. Find out more about where you want to buy land. Find information about land quality, vegetation, storage prices and pasture capacity, market requirements, and more. You can ask locals about the area.

   • Usually, locals can give more reliable information than special agencies.

4. Before buying equipment, study all the necessary information. Explore your financial position and try to buy only what you need necessary (and not what I want to). You will definitely need fences, drinkers and feeders, which is more important than anything else. You will also need a tractor, hayfields, trailers and handling equipment.

   • If you decide to start a dairy farm, you will need many buildings and a milking parlour. In addition, you will need a calf barn and a barn where you will keep cows that are not being milked.
     • There are a couple of things you should take into account when deciding which machine to buy for milking cows. First, are the cows accustomed to the milking process? It is better to use the machine to which they are accustomed. If you decide to raise cows yourself, find out all necessary information about the types of machines to know what suits you best.
   • If you're going to raise beef cattle, you'll need fencing, a barn, and enough water. It's all! Especially if you raise calves yourself. You can buy grain for the cows for the winter or keep the cows in a paddock, but this will raise the cost of the farm.

5. Depending on your finances and goals, decide what type of farm you want to import. The most popular farms are dairy and meat. Keep in mind that you will need more resources and effort to set up a dairy farm than a meat farm. In addition, legal requirements are much more stringent for milk producers.

   Learn all the existing breeds of cows. Choose a breed based on what you want to do, not what you like best. Remember that each breed has its pros and cons that you will have to work with.

   • If you decide to start a meat farm, choose a breed that has a good temperament and does not require a lot of care. Some of these breeds are Hereford Meat, Kalmyk Meat, Red Meadow Meat, Galloway Meat and others.
     • If, due to local market requirements, you are required to breed Black Angus cattle, be very careful when choosing your cattle. Very careful.
   • If you decide to go into dairy farming, the best breeds for this are the Jersey Dairy, Dutch Dairy, Red Danish Dairy, Guernsey Dairy and others.

6. Start with a small number of cows. Do not immediately buy as many cows as you can fit on your farm. Buy good cows with good temperament, good maternal qualities and good feed digestion. Avoid skinny cows that are about to fall over. You can buy heifers if you don't mind waiting a couple of years before you can sell their calves. You can also buy pregnant cows or a cow with calves, but you still have to wait before you can sell the calves. Remember that experienced cows are easier to handle than heifers.

   • If you want to breed cows, buy a bull only if you have 10 cows or more and don't want to resort to artificial insemination. Artificial insemination is a good solution if you only have 2-5 cows as it is cheaper than a bull, but unfortunately it is not always effective. If you want to artificially inseminate cows, you can rent a bull or arrange with another farmer who has a bull to keep your cows until they are inseminated.

7. Make sure your pasture is big enough for the breed you decide to buy. Otherwise, you will have to rent more land.

   • Decide ahead of time whether you will grow hay for your cows or store hay. Try to buy the best hay for your cows.
   • Keep in mind cow hay accounts for almost 26% general expenses farms. By having pasture for cows to graze during the summer months, you can cut a lot of expenses. Rather than buying or making hay in the winter, you might consider purchasing winter pasture.

8. Constantly monitor your financial condition and the condition of your cows, your purchases and sales and other activities. The most important thing is your financial condition, as you can use it to understand if your farm gives you income or not.

   The most important thing is that you enjoy it. Keeping cattle is a demanding occupation, but you will always learn something new and you will always have something to do.

• Try to have as few expenses as possible. Try to think ahead of your annual plan. If possible, try to keep your cows all year round in the pasture than in the paddocks.
• Keep track of your finances and the health and condition of your cows.
• Start small. Start with a couple of cows or heifers, and once you've gained enough experience, start adding to your herd.
• Ask and learn as much as you can about your case, and always have your local veterinarian's phone number ready in case your livestock gets sick.
• Plan everything in advance! Plan in advance which cattle is right for you, plan in advance which farm is best for you and how you want to manage it. Write down all your successes and failures, all thoughts and arguments.
• Buy more hay than you need. There is no such thing as extra hay.
• Check your food for nutritional value. Know when your cows need to take in the maximum amount of nutrients and when they don't.
• Watch out for equipment sales.
• There's no such thing as best breed. Angus can be a great choice if the local market calls for this particular breed. For higher temperatures, you should choose the Brahman breed.
  • Keep in mind the standards that local farmer organizations decide. Always choose and buy the healthiest cows and make sure they have good character.
• Don't keep the first heifer calves. They will be worse than the calves of older cows.
• Avoid buying a bull. Artificial insemination was created to avoid the difficulty and injury of keeping a bull.
• Immediately after purchasing livestock, consult your veterinarian about all bovine health programs.
• Fencing, water and food should be the very first things you buy and you should be sure they are working properly before you buy livestock. Buy drinkers depending on the needs of your area. For example, if the winter in your area lasts from 4 to 6 months, you should buy heated automatic drinkers so that the water does not freeze.
  • Make sure livestock have constant access to water. In winter, make sure that the water does not freeze.

Warnings

• Remember Murphy's laws, namely this one: "If something can go wrong, it will." Nobody canceled the laws of meanness.
• Don't take on things that are beyond your power.
• Always be on the lookout for bulls. Even if they look like real lambs, be on the lookout.
• For the first time, it is better not to buy sick animals, even if you really want to "save" them. Such animals are not just sold immediately to butchers, sometimes they simply cannot be saved.
• Keep your ears up when working with cows and bulls. Know how to understand the mood of the cattle and its intentions.
• Keeping livestock is not temporary job. You will have to work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Cows do not have holidays and weekends, and therefore you will not have them either.
• Try not to spend all your money in the first two years and don't buy new and expensive equipment, otherwise you will go bankrupt too quickly.
  • In other words - try not to have debts.
• Cattle are stronger and faster than you. Cows can be very dangerous when protecting their calves, and bulls themselves are very unpredictable and dangerous animals. Bulls are most dangerous when they are near a herd of cows, and also during the breeding season, since they will consider you, the farmer, a rival.
• Working with cattle is a difficult and tiring job. You will have to go through a lot of stress, you will have to deal with blood, and there will be moments when you will begin to regret that you started this business.

A cowshed for 50 heads is the best solution for a small family farm. For successful business it is necessary to follow the rules for keeping cattle. The construction of a barn, taking into account all the requirements and high-quality equipment, will help to avoid problems with the health of animals and increase their productivity. Before a novice farmer, questions arise: to build a barn with your own hands or to resort to the help of professional teams, what materials to use and how much will the project cost?

Requirements for keeping cows

The microclimate in the barn is made up of many factors, such as temperature, light, humidity, concentration of harmful gases. The cow is especially demanding on the conditions, and the peaks of sensitivity occur at 3 and 7-8 months of pregnancy.

The temperature of the content affects the processes of heat exchange in the body of cows. There is the concept of "thermal neutrality zone". This is the temperature regime at which the metabolism in the body of animals is not disturbed. For various breeds of cattle, this zone is located in the range of +4 - +20 °C.

Overheating and hypothermia of animals can also occur due to high humidity in the room. Humidity above 85% at high temperatures makes heat transfer difficult and the animal overheats. At low temperatures, high humidity leads to colds.

At the same time, air drying should not be allowed. When humidity is less than 40%, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, skin, horns, and hooves suffer.

Harmful gases such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide are a waste product of cows. Their concentration in the air is regulated by regulations. In case of insufficient natural ventilation, livestock complexes for 50 heads are equipped with forced-type hoods.

When installing the floor with your own hands, you need to make sure that it is airtight, and slurry does not penetrate into the cracks.

Natural lighting has a positive effect on the condition of animals. It prevents the development of rickets and softening of the bones, stimulates the metabolic process in the body. To allow sunlight to enter, the barn is equipped with windows.

The design of the barn should provide for artificial lighting with incandescent lamps for rearing young animals. For calves, the norm is 50 lux, during the fattening period - 20-30 lux.

A livestock farm for 50 heads of cattle is associated with the installation of mechanical equipment, the operation of which is not silent. With some adaptation to industrial noise, cows still experience a deterioration in performance under the influence of this irritating factor. According to the standards, the noise level in the barn should not exceed 70 decibels.

The installation plan for air conditioners, heaters and other equipment must be considered at the design stage. The barn must be kept clean. Manure is removed with scrapers, and sawdust flooring is regularly replaced with their own hands.

The dry period in cows is characterized by high risk mastitis lesions. At this time, hygiene should be given increased attention.

To ensure the conditions for keeping cattle, an area of ​​​​at least 6 m2 is allotted per cow, taking into account the feeder and passage, and at least 10 m2 for a cow with a calf. Based on this, the total area for placing 50 heads, taking into account the birth of calves, should be about 500 m2.

The plan for the location of the barn on the site should fit into general concept farm complex.

Materials for construction are selected depending on the climate and their availability in the region. You can build a barn with your own hands from wood, brick, cinder block or foam block.

When building large complexes for keeping cows, the frame method and sandwich panels are often used. The simplest and cheapest is frameless technology. Arched hangars are built on a lightweight foundation by building up an arcuate profile.

Estimated cost of construction and construction time:

• brick - 12500 rubles / m2 (6-12 months);
• sandwich panels - 7550 rubles / m2 (3-6 months);
• glued laminated timber - 8100 rubles / m2 (6-12 months);
• frame building - 3400 rubles / m2 (1-3 months);
• frameless hangar - 1800 rubles / m2 (2-10 days).

During the construction of the barn, the following dimensions are observed: wall height - from 2.5 m (with non-replaceable flooring - from 3 m), roof height to the ridge - from 3.5 m. Windows are placed at a height inaccessible to cows.

The floor rises above ground level. It is performed with a slope of 2cm/m for liquid drainage. A larger slope is not recommended, so as not to provoke limb diseases in cows. The best option- plank floor on clay. Boards without clay are impractical: they quickly become unusable, moreover, manure liquid flowing through the cracks will accumulate under them, releasing toxic substances.

The ceiling is made of thick boards. The gaps between them are covered with clay. The ceiling is insulated with sawdust or sand, pouring a layer of 10-15 cm. In cold regions, it is recommended to build a ceiling with double decking.

Internal arrangement and equipment

The plan of the internal structure of the barn includes the placement of the stall, feeders, passages. The stall should have the following dimensions: 1.7x1.1 m. Sawdust or chopped straw is poured onto the floor in the stalls, providing the animal with a dry lying place, or permanent wooden flooring is installed.

In the rear part, a chute is equipped for draining slurry. Its dimensions: width - 20x10 cm. The gutter should be built with an inclination towards the slurry collector. To bring the gutter out of the barn, an opening is made in the wall, which is closed with a valve.

A feeder and drinker are placed in front of the stall. The most simple feeder is a box-gutter along the length of the stall, having the following dimensions: width at the top - 70 cm, at the bottom - 40 cm, height of the side facing the cow - 25-30 cm, external - 70 cm. Such feeders are easy to make with your own hands from dry, carefully planed boards.

Feeder modifications include:

• with folding sides for easy cleaning;
• lifting with height adjustment (used when using high non-replaceable flooring).

The calf cage is placed on the side of the stall.

The construction of a barn is associated with many nuances. Without their understanding, building a quality farm with your own hands is difficult. In this case, it is better for a novice farmer to contact construction teams, choose a project that takes into account general recommendations according to the content of cattle, the climatic features of the region, the necessary equipment and order turnkey construction.

Milk is always in demand, regardless of the time of year and the current economic situation, which provides the farm owner with a stable income, and this income is easy to increase - either by expanding the farm or by producing new types of products. At the same time, the cost of building a farm and maintaining livestock is minimal.

barn requirements

The room in which the cattle will be kept must be dry, clean and warm. The height of the walls must be at least 2.5 m, the height of the roof - at least 3.5 m (to the ridge).

The room should have good natural light., but windows should be made at a height inaccessible to cows. In addition, indoors you need to arrange good system ventilation.

Construction

Before embarking on construction, you need to carefully consider the project: cows are quite demanding on the conditions of detention, and failure to comply with these conditions will certainly affect your profit.

materials

The choice of materials is determined by the climatic features of the region, but cinder blocks are optimal in terms of price and quality. It is not worth saving on the material for the floor - it is better to immediately pour concrete, since adobe and wooden floors quickly become unusable.

Plan

The most convenient is a barn with stalls on the sides and a passage in the center. Stalls for adult animals should have an area of ​​​​6-7 square meters. m. (at least 2 m wide), for a cow with a calf - at least 10 square meters. m., the width of the passage is about 2 m.

It is very important to properly arrange the floors– later on, this will help you save time on manure cleaning. To do this, the floor is raised 2-3 centimeters above ground level and a slope of 2-2.5 centimeters per meter is created to facilitate the flow of liquid. A manure chute is created at the back of the stall. The width of the gutter should be 10-15 centimeters.

Equipment for cattle

The most important equipment is feeders and drinkers. They are located at each stall.

The simplest design of a feeder that can be made by hand is a box that stretches along the entire length of the barn. In the upper part, such a feeder has a width of 70 centimeters, and in the lower part - about 40. The height of the side facing the stall is from 20 to 30 centimeters.

With subsequent expansion, it is possible to install mechanized feeders and automatic system milking, but initial stage no such equipment is required.

Feeding

Animals should be fed with high-quality mixed fodder, hay, in the summer - with green fodder and silage, if the terrain allows - take them to pasture meadows.

On average, an adult dairy cow weighing about half a ton consumes 14 to 20 kilograms of dry feed per day.. Feeding is carried out three times a day at the same time.

Pairing

To maintain and replenish the livestock, it is necessary to provide all conditions for the natural insemination of cows. For a small (20-30 heads) herd, one adult bull is quite enough.

To whom to sell milk

The end product of your farm, milk, can be sold in many different ways:

1. To hand over to large dairies (an average of 12-15 rubles per liter);
2. Sell ​​on the market independently (up to 80 rubles per liter, depending on the fat content);
3. Rent to wholesalers (up to 20-30 rubles per liter).

Recently, one of the most promising options is the sale of milk through milk machines - special vending machines for selling fresh milk for bottling. You can buy this equipment here:

• molokovend.ru;
• molmat.ru;
• vendito.pro/molokomat.html.

In addition, you can make the following products from milk yourself:

• sour cream;
• dairy products.

Milk processing will require additional investments, but the profit will be higher.

Profitability

The construction of a barn with all the equipment for 20 heads will cost 18-20 thousand dollars. Purchase of calves - another $ 2,000. Feed base for several months - 3-4 thousand dollars (feeding one animal will cost $ 4-5 per day).

Each cow gives an average of about 8-10 liters of milk per day.(the indicator can vary widely). If you sell it on the market yourself, you can earn up to $200 daily. Including the cost of feeding and keeping animals net profit will be about 1.8 thousand dollars per month.

As you can see, for cattle it brings a good income, but it requires constant attention and serious everyday work.

There is always a demand for milk. Pastures for cows are also not a problem, unless you live in the tundra or desert. If you have a desire to work and earn money, live on the land of your ancestors and bring good to people, building a mini-farm for cows is your choice!

No need to wait for investments, the main thing is that you have ingenuity and a minimum set of knowledge. And what you do not know is easy to find out on the Internet or by visiting a neighbor for a cup of tea.

Decide what your ambitions are. How many head of cattle you are ready to take on your conscience. If you need 5-20 heads for your hobby with your wife, one hangar (or forage barn) is enough for your eyes. However, an ordinary abandoned (or unfinished) house, which abounds in the village, is quite suitable. It is not difficult to remove the stove and install ventilation shafts instead of pipes, with minimal building skills. Insulate the barn, check the power supply, and you already have a place for 5 animals.

Farm arrangement

The total area of ​​your barn should be at least 1000 m2, and the height varies from 2 to 6 m. The natural shape of your building is an elongated rectangle, with a length to width ratio of approximately 5:1. However, a building of any proportions can be adapted for a barn, but all the same, animals will have to be placed according to the principle of an elongated rectangular battery.

Resolve the issue of regular water and electricity supply. The next step will be to connect the necessary equipment to control the microclimate in the room and the condition of the animals.

Finally, decide what type of animal husbandry you plan to introduce - meat or dairy. The development of the concept of your mini-farm for cows depends on this. A dairy farm involves the presence of a dairy terminal: collection, bottling and quality control and quantity of milk. The meat direction provides for the arrangement of a meat cutting workshop and a laboratory.

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Primary requirements

The way the animals are kept will depend on the number of cows. Small animals can be placed in stalls and fed according to the principle buffet. Comfort rate for one adult cattle is 20 m2.

For a herd of 50 cows, it is necessary to make separate boxes and
arrange a connection. The size of the stall for one cow is 1 m by 2 m. In the arrangement of the channel for draining liquid waste, under the boxes, it is necessary to provide for some slope. The boxing device provides a door for raking out manure, at the end opposite the feeder. The approach to the boxes must be direct.

The dairy farm must be provided with an automatic milking and bottling system, as well as an automatic water supply system. Under no circumstances should you skimp on this point.

The feeder system can be individual or group, and the feed system can be manual or mechanized.

The cow house should be bright, clean and dry, and warm in the winter, so brush up on your knowledge of the climate in your area. Log walls will not be a bad solution for building a barn, but a sandwich panel frame building is ideal for creating a favorable microclimate. A cement foundation raised above the ground, with a slight slope for liquid drainage, will reliably protect your cows from dampness. The surface of the foundation should be covered with clay concrete and boards. Straw or sawdust bedding should be updated regularly.

The ceiling is made of thick boards carefully fitted to each other. Seams and cracks must be sealed.
Sand the inside of the feeder well so that the cow does not injure her face or tongue while eating. Make a cutout for the neck in the center of the wall closest to the animal.

Recruitment

It is advisable to locate a mini-farm near residential and outbuildings. Livestock management involves hiring and providing the necessary comfort to a team of cow specialists: milkmaids, veterinarians, animal technicians, plumbers, electricians, cattle cleaners, as well as a sales manager and accountant. It's good if you find a multidisciplinary specialist and save on housing for people, but we strongly advise against saving on housing for cows.

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Video - Home farm for a cow

A mini-farm for cows will help ensure a stable income. Initially, you can buy a small livestock. Gradually, the business will increase, the number of bulls and cows in the herd will increase. The proposed recommendations will help to organize and equip everything correctly.

A mini-farm for cows will help ensure a stable income

If you are planning to arrange farming need to be carefully thought out and calculated. An exemplary business plan for a dairy farm for 20 heads includes the main points of the organization of the process and financial issues.

The main points include:

• choosing a place for a future mini-farm;
• rent or buy land plot(if not available)
• purchase of inventory;
• purchase of the initial livestock - bulls and cows;
• organization of proper care for each individual;
• maintaining cleanliness;
• cleaning of waste products - manure.

Financial issues include items of expenditure and ways to earn income on the farm. Necessary investments determine the value initial capital needed to organize a business.

The main expenses are as follows:

• purchase of building materials;
• construction of a mini-farm;
• purchase and delivery of livestock;
• wages for hired personnel;
• fodder preparation;
• payment for veterinary services.

In fact, the productivity of these animals is extremely high.

A mini-farm for 10 cows will pay off very quickly. Such an enterprise can generate income in several directions. It could be:

• sale of milk and dairy products;
• sale of high-quality beef and/or meat by-products;
• sale of skins;
• sale of bulls and heifers, i.e., young animals;
• sale of manure as an organic fertilizer;
• paid provision of breeding individuals for mating (mating) to owners of other farms.

In addition, you can also organize the sale of hay and / or silage. Of course, subject to the availability of appropriate land plots.

Farm from scratch (video)

The right choice of location

In order to build a farm for cows without any problems, you need to choose the right piece of land. It should be a level and well-trodden area. The presence of a small forest belt near the mini-farm will protect the animals from drafts and / or strong winds.

Natural reservoirs and / or sources of drinking water, according to the legal norms of the relevant laws of the Russian Federation, must be removed from places where mass livestock are kept at least 30 m, otherwise the owner may be fined a large sum. In this case, the mini-farm will have to be moved to another site.

Not less than important point- the absence of residential and / or other buildings near the place where the mini-farm will be equipped, cattle - this is an inevitable unpleasant smell. Do not create discomfort for residents of nearby settlements. On the own site a mini-farm for cows is being set up closer to the place where fruit and vegetable crops are planted. This will make it easier to use the manure to fertilize the soil. From a residential building, a modern farm should be located at a distance of 15 meters or more. Additionally, the main wind direction in the region should also be taken into account.

To easily build a farm for cows, you need to choose the right piece of land

Saving money

For a novice farmer to maintain, for example, ten or twenty heads, it is better to rent land. It will be much cheaper than buying. You can pick up a site with ready-made buildings, which, after a small repair, will provide proper living conditions for cattle. A leased plot and/or a cowshed for 50 heads has such a significant advantage as the ability to terminate the contract without any problems. For example, if a more suitable option was found.

The farm project and the initial estimate should be drawn up, focusing on recycled material. Used bricks, wood, etc. can be purchased much cheaper. The main thing is to check the quality of the goods - the degree of wear, safety, etc.

Sawdust is used for bedding in the barn. You can cook them yourself. To do this, you can buy old wood - frames, boards, lumber that are not usable.

Preparing for construction

To ensure proper housing and / or care of cows, a farm plan will help, which must be prepared in advance. You can make it yourself or find a suitable mini-farm project from friends and acquaintances.

The work site must be marked. At the same time, a place is necessarily prepared for storing building materials and tools.

Independent construction of a farm for cattle requires significant labor and time. You can speed up the process by inviting assistants. Hiring a construction team will be very expensive.

Tools and materials

Before building a farm, you need to stock up on the necessary tools and materials. For work you will need:

• dry concrete mix or cement and sand;
• brick, wood or blocks;
• slate;
• ruberoid;
• insulation;
• fasteners;
• bars and/or beams.

The tool kit must include:

• shovels - shovel and bayonet;
• roulette construction;
• plumb and level;
• technical knife;
• puncher or electric drill;
• construction mixer or concrete mixer;
• solution containers;
• saw and / or hacksaw;
• mason's tool;
• wire cutters and/or pliers;
• hammers and sledgehammers;
• overalls;
• rag.

To store a supply of materials and working tools, you can equip a small barrack or a fenced area with a canopy.

Mini farm (video)

Barn dimensions

The health of cattle directly depends on the conditions of the herd. To make the animals feel comfortable, it is necessary to plan the following dimensions of the barn:

• main area - 500 m² for 50 heads (at the rate of 6 m² per 1 adult or 10 m² for queens with offspring);
• additional area for storage of feed, inventory and equipment;
• wall height - from 2.5 to 3 m;
• height to the roof ridge - not less than 3.5 m.

Experienced livestock breeders do not advise building very large barns for a wide range of livestock. In small rooms for 10 or 20 animals, animals feel more comfortable. At the same time, the cows on the farm are healthy and give a good milk yield. In the event of infection of one or more individuals, the main livestock will be easier to protect from the disease. In addition, a barn for 20 heads is easier to keep clean and tidy in order to obtain high-quality milk and / or meat.

Independent construction of a farm for cattle requires significant labor and time

barn construction

The selected version of the mini-farm and barn project needs to be studied and, if necessary, slightly modified. This will help tailor the proposed projects to specific conditions.

A brick structure for cattle must be built on a massive foundation. Under frame, wooden or block walls, you can make a lightweight version. The roof is made 2-pitched with a high ridge. From above, a hayloft and a storage system for the necessary inventory, equipment, etc. are being equipped. Another option is a modern hangar-type barn with an arched roof. The profile for it is gradually increased to the required size.

The ceiling of the cattle room is usually made of thick board. For cold regions, double decking is required. Joints are sealed with clay. To keep warm, it is necessary to pour sand or sawdust. The layer thickness is at least 10 cm.

The floor in the barn is best made of concrete. It is bred and poured using conventional technology. The concrete floor is durable, comfortable for animals and staff. Maintaining cleanliness does not require significant effort and time.

Plank floors are cheaper. However, it is necessary to cover the connecting seams with clay. Mandatory slope for the floor in the barn - no more than 2 cm per 1 m. This is safe for cows and convenient for cleaning manure.

Inside the barn, it is necessary to equip stalls measuring 170 by 110 cm. For the manufacture of partitions, you can use the following materials:

• board;
• reinforcing bar;
• log;
• timber;
• metal pipe.

The floor is covered with dry chopped straw or sawdust. You can make wooden flooring. In the center of the room you need to leave a wide passage for the farm staff.

A canal or gutter is arranged at the back for the drainage of manure masses. Be sure to make a slope towards the tank for collecting liquid manure. The gutter is brought out through a special hole (opening) in the wall. It needs a latch.

Drinkers and feeders are easy to make with your own hands. They are placed in front of the stalls. The width of the bottom is 40 cm. From the bottom up, the feeder expands to 70 cm. The height of the outer side is 70 cm. The inner side facing the animal is not higher than 30 cm.

Conditions of detention and sanitary standards

The microclimate is very important for cattle. Therefore, in the barn of a farm for 50 heads, windows are needed for ventilation. They are located at a height of 120-150 cm above the floor. The ventilation system and heating device (if necessary) will help ensure the temperature and air circulation.

The area of ​​thermal neutrality, i.e., the optimal temperature regime, is provided in the barn, depending on the breed of animals. Usually required from +4 to +20 °C. For young bulls and heifers, warmth is especially important. Large rooms will require artificial lighting. Electrical wiring must be installed by a specialist during the construction period.