Dairy goat housing designs are an important animal husbandry management. If you are a dairy goat owner, it is likely to be your responsibility to provide adequate housing for the animals. Dairy goats need shelter from extreme weather and predators, as well as protection from heat and cold extremes.
Dairy goat housing designs should be strong, well-ventilated, dry, and well-lighted. Dairy goat housing designs should consider the natural conditions of the goats.
Contents
Types of dairy goat housing designs
There are mainly two types of dairy goat housing:
The first type is the typical animal house with a loose-straw bedding system, And the second type is a shed with pads or slatted floors that can be flooded. Dairy goat housing can also be divided according to outdoor or indoor operation in winter depending on customers’ situation or geographical features.
Best 10 Essential points for dairy goat housing
- Good floor management
- Drainage system
- Fencing
- Ventilation system
- Cleaning system.
- Separate room as age
- Stage system floor
- Communication with market
- Proper sunlight
- Proper water and air supply
site selecting
According to the organization, farm size, and annual production capacity of the dairy goat herd, the best site for dairy goat housing should be selected carefully. Good choices for a dairy farm would be a large open area with adequate soil moisture and availability of shelter from wet weather.
The higher the altitude is, the more climatic conditions are. The best site should have enough sunshine and ventilation during the summer season.
floor system
The floor of the goat housing should be made of good-quality construction material. For example, concrete or pad should be used as your floor. It will provide better support for the animals and also help to protect the goats from predators.
You can use any type of building material for the roof, however, the wooden roof will be a more economical option. Two or three layers of sheet-piled insulation are an important part of dairy goat housing designs.
stage floor system
In the first stage of dairy goat housing designs, an old house can be used as a platform for the next stage.
When the farm has several goats and needs more space, it is possible to follow this step one after another.
Fencing
The best fencing system will help you to keep your goats warm in winter when cold weather comes. This kind of dairy goat housing design is a small-scale shed, which is convenient and economical. It is easy to be moved so that it can meet the annual needs of changing local markets.
This kind of shed floor must be cast-in-place concrete or steel pad, and a metal roof can be used for extra insulation from cold weather or snow load in winter.
Roof
The roof should be wide enough to allow for adequate ventilation and prevent the animals from being injured. It should also have vents or a ridge vent to allow hot air to escape in summer.
Windows
The vent window can provide an opening for fresh air and sufficient light. But it must be small so that predators cannot attack the goats at night.
Doors
A large entry door will help you keep track of your goats when you clean the shed or provide food, especially in large dairy goat housing designs.
room classification
It is a good idea to have storage for feed and equipment in an area away from the animals. This will help keep your goats cleaner.
stall size
Dairy goat housing designs should allow for plenty of space between the stalls for good ventilation and movement. You may want to divide the shed into two or three pens.
feeding systems
There should be an accessible feed supply system that will provide food at any time of the day if needed. The goats will be more comfortable with a feeder or chute. A small storage area can also be located nearby for easy access to feed and water.
Noise
Most of the sheds include a ramp that allows the goats easier access to their food and water. A noisy environment will discourage your animals from eating at all.
Space
Make sure the building has enough room for the goats to move about freely. A dairy goat housing design should provide at least four square feet of space per goat. If you have more than five goats, be sure that you provide enough space for them to exercise and socialize properly.
Communication
If the shed is too small, the goats will have a difficult time communicating with each other. This can create stress and possibly result in sickness.
Outside
For dairy goat housing designs, good sanitation is important. You will want to be sure that the outside of your building is dry and free of the clutter that can be a haven for rodents.
fresh air
The shed should have adequate ventilation to help keep the animals’ environment fresh. This can also help prevent some health issues like respiratory infections and diarrhea.
Drainage
If you use a bedding system in your shed, make sure there is plenty of drainage for the material. If not, it can be very hard to keep the area clean and dry.
Protect
The shed should have a sturdy roof and walls for protection from the elements and problems like predators and disease.
Cleaning
Dairy goat housing designs should be cleaned at least twice a year. This can help prevent disease, keep your animals fresh, and improve the overall health of your herd.
Store
Your animals need to have a place to store feed, and you may also want to keep some supplies and equipment in your shed. At least once a year, farmers should provide shelter for the animal during the cold wintertime.
There are many different dairy goat housing designs that can be used depending on whether you are milking sheep or goats. Make sure that you have good ventilation even if you are milking sheep as well as goats.
Conclusion
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