On large farms where livestock are bred, there are several ways of keeping animals.
Each of the methods has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
Therefore, before choosing a way of "living" for your cow, even she is alone, you need to carefully study all the information, weigh all the pros and cons.
After all, if the animal is uncomfortable, and especially if this animal is a dairy cow, the cow will be in a state of constant stress, which will lead to a decrease in the amount of milk it gives, as well as to a deterioration in its quality.
The method of keeping cattle directly depends on the age of the cattle, the purposes for which it is raised, and the direction in the resulting product (dairy, meat and dairy, meat).
In order for the animal to be comfortable, all factors should be taken into account in order to prevent any disturbances not only in the physical health of the cow, but also in the psychoemotional one.
The first method of content is tethered. It is considered to be the “oldest”, since initially there was no alternative to the leash.
As part of the tethered content, each cow is separated from the rest, and also fixed - tied.
The stall under each animal is separate, and each cattle has its own feeding trough and drinking bowl.
Pure dry straw, peat or other material is used as bedding in each stall.
Bona fide livestock breeders change litter every dayotherwise, the cow becomes ill with mastitis, as it lies on a dirty surface.
Walking the cows is necessary every day, as they are already in a limited and slow-moving state for most of the day.
This method is the most inefficient, as in tied animals milkiness indicators are several times lessthan the same cows, which are not limited in movement.
On dairy farms, they have long since abandoned the tying of livestock, because otherwise the process of collecting milk is very slow, and workers do a lot of extra work.
The only advantage of this method of maintenance is the ease of inspection of the animal.
Experts recommend tying only those cows that are too obstinate nature and can hit.
But you can keep animals in a limited state for a short time.
It is also interesting to read about choosing the right cow.
The next way is loose housing content. This method is especially popular on large farms, which contain large livestock numbers.
The main principle of keeping cows loose is the lack of restrictions in movement. Animals are located in large areas where there is a deep bed of sawdust or straw.
Change litter material 1 - 2 times a year. Animals can go to a small area for walking, which are located near the "living" room.
Drinking bowls and feeders for all cows are common, and the cattle has access to them constantly. Hence, one of the disadvantages of this content arises - the feed consumption is very high.
The second minus is associated with food - due to the constant access of the animal to the feeder, difficult to track the amount of food eaten.
There should also be a certain amount of fodder on the walking areas, in particular, hay and straw should be placed directly in bales under the sheds, and silage should be kept in land pits.
A huge advantage of loose housing is the accumulation of heat by deep bedding, which allows cows to feel comfortable in a large room, even in winter.
Animals can freely move around in a fairly spacious room, so there are no prerequisites for a decrease in milk production in such cows.
Sometimes use the box method of content without a leash.
To do this, all livestock is divided into groups according to a certain sign (age, sex, weight, level of productivity, etc.).
Contain groups in individual boxes.
Cows feed all together, since on the walking area they can find both rough and dry food.
You only need to control the number of concentrates that are given to animals in the parlor.
In the case of heifers, you also need to monitor the number of root crops eaten by them.
With the change of time of year, the method of keeping animals changes. In winter, they prefer stall maintenance, and in summer - pasture or stall-camp.
Pasture livestock management in the summer is the best for the animals themselves.
Cows are constantly moving, breathing fresh air, basking in the sun, feeding on fresh grass.
All this has an impact on the physical health and productivity of livestock.
Before you expel the cows for grazing, they should be examined by a veterinarian.
You also need to prepare the cows for grazing, namely, trim and clean the hooves, wash the animal and make other preparations.
On the pasture boring equip a watering place, and install containers with special salt - lick.
It is important to calculate the required amount of feed that will need to be additionally given to the cows. After all, during the day animals will eat every day in the pasture, but herbs may not be enough to maintain life in the body.
It is necessary to accustom cows to a pasture gradually, approximately in 10 - 15 days. To begin with, a couple of hours in the open air will suffice, and over time, the duration of the walk can be increased to 12 or more hours.
It is necessary to drive cattle to grazing in the morning, when the dew completely subsides. At the initial stage, cows will need to be fed with hay for a bit before walking. After a while, additional feed can not be given.
Fresh green grass contains many vitamins, but few sugars. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the ratio of sugars and proteins in the body, as well as feeding livestock molasses. The mode of walking will constantly change depending on the length of daylight, the amount of grass on the meadow, as well as the weather.
The shorter the paddock becomes, the more feed you need to give the animals so that the diet is complete and balanced. The closer the time for the conversion of cows to a winter stall, the more winter fodder will need to be given to cattle.
After the end of the summer animals are constantly kept in stalls, without walking.
Also, this method is used in the event that there is no field or meadow near the farm, where it would be possible to drive cows.
Walking the animals is needed in any case, so the walking area near the room in which the animals live, will still need to be done.
The duration of the walk is 2 - 3 hours a day. In the summer, in the case of stall maintenance, green grass should be added to the livestock ration, which should be added directly to the feeders.
Stall-camp maintenance is sometimes used in the summer, when there are too many animals, or next to a farm that is not sufficiently suitable for walking. The diet of such animals should consist mainly of their fresh grass.
On walks, cattle still need to drive, but in groups.
Also during the walk you need to provide cows access to feed, since grass may not be enough for them. The camp in which the animals live should be located on a hill, where it is very dry.
With regard to the maintenance of cows in the winter, the main thing for animals is heat. Therefore, the barn should be protected from the wind, that is, indoors should not "walk" drafts.
With automatic water supply in the drinker you need to ensure that the liquid does not freeze. The room where the cows are milked should be warm.
During the summer period, a good ventilation system must be made in the barn so that the animals do not get too hot. On the pasture you need to equip the canopy, where the cows could hide from the heat and rest.
Still, the best option for cattle would be keeping it in the open air or very long walking. So the cattle will not feel too limited and will give regular high milk yields.
