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Animal Housing Requirements for Specific Categories of Domestic Animals | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Pregnant Cows

  • Pregnant cows should be moved to special pens or boxes 2-3 weeks before they give birth.
  • About 5% of the total female cows should have dedicated calving pens, located conveniently for the farmer to monitor.
  • These pens can be in a row or grouped together, and each should be around 3 x 4 meters with a covered area and an open pad lock.
  • The covered area needs a 1.25-meter high wall with a 1.2-meter gate into the open lot.
  • A manger and water trough should be provided, and the floor should slope towards a drain, made of moorum, brick, or cement.

Pregnant Sows

  • Pregnant sows need farrowing pens during the birthing period.
  • Newborn piglets are sensitive to cold and need a warm environment (32°C) for the first week.
  • Farrowing pens should have separate areas for the sow and piglets, with extra heat for the piglets.
  • After the first week, the temperature can be reduced to 29-30°C.
  • Pigs are sensitive to temperature, affecting their performance and health.
  • Sows need about 50 sq. ft. of space in the pen, along with guard rails to protect piglets from accidents.

Animal Housing Requirements for Specific Categories of Domestic Animals | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC

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Farrowing Crate with Creep Provisions

  • A useful addition to the farrowing pen is a special crate (Figure 1) with designated areas for piglets, ensuring a safe birthing environment.
  • The crate allows the sow to farrow without risks to piglets, and piglets have their own space beside the sow.
  • Piglets can move in and out freely, accessing both the crate and the entire pen.
  • The crate is long and wide enough for the sow to lie down comfortably but not turn around, usually made of sturdy wood or metal tubes.
  • Typically, the crate is 8 feet long and 2 feet wide, with two creep areas for piglets.

Farrowing Pen Dimensions

  • The farrowing pen should offer 15 sq. ft. of sleeping space and 1.5 feet of feeding space for the sow.
  • This space is already provided within the crate itself.
  • For the sow and her litter, the pen should have 30-40 sq. ft. of sleeping space and 40-50 sq. ft. of feeding space.
  • These dimensions ensure a comfortable and safe environment for both the sow and her piglets during birthing and nursing.

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Milking Cows and Milking Barn

  • A milking barn is a covered space where milch (milking) cows are milked.
  • It's a busy place, so it's important to put it in the center with other buildings around it.
  • The barn has individual standings or stalls for cows, arranged in one or two rows.
  • Double rows are better, and each standing is for two or three cows during hand milking.
  • The number of standings needed is half to one-third of the milch stock.
  • Standings' dimensions depend on the animal size, typically 1.5 to 1.7 meters in length and 1.05 to 1.20 meters in width.
  • The central passage between the rows should be 1.5 to 1.8 meters wide, sloping gently towards the drain.
  • Continuous mangers are on both sides along the heads of standing rows, with a 0.75-meter feeding alley beyond each manger.
  • There are shallow U-shaped drains, 20 cm wide, on either side of the central passage.
  • For a single row barn, one drain towards the standings side is sufficient.

Animal Housing Requirements for Specific Categories of Domestic Animals | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSCAnimal Housing Requirements for Specific Categories of Domestic Animals | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC

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Milking Barn Construction

  • The floor of the cow standings should have a gentle slope of 1 in 40 towards drains for easy cleaning.
  • Walls should be along the length and at each end to support the roof beams.
  • The roof should be gabled, and the eaves (projected parts) should extend at least 60 cm from the side walls.
  • Side walls can have open spaces at intervals, but in colder or heavy rainfall areas, complete walls up to the roof are needed, with windows for ventilation.
  • Each standing should have a device to secure the individual animal by the neck (see Figure 4).
  • The milking barn can be extended for down-calvers and calves, and cows in heat can stay after milking for insemination.

Sheds for Milch/Dry Cows

  • Sheds for milch and dry cows can be separate or in one shed with a partition for dry cows.
  • In small farms, all cows can be housed together.
  • These sheds have a covered area and an open paddock.
  • The covered portion is preferably made of cement concrete but can also have brick or stone-alab flooring.
  • The open paddock can have moorum or kankar flooring, and brick-on-edge is better for the covered area.

Animal Housing Requirements for Specific Categories of Domestic Animals | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC

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Broiler Birds - Raising and Housing

  • Raising Method:
    • Broilers are typically raised on the floor using various heating methods like coal, wood, gas, electric brooders, or hot-water brooding.
    • Commercial production focuses on broilers aged 8-12 weeks (up to 2 lb. each) or fryers aged 13-15 weeks (2-3 lb. each) when dressed for market.
  • Numbers Reared Together:
    • Commercial broiler producers rear more chickens per brooder and floor space compared to farm-poultry raisers due to the shorter raising period.
    • The number of chickens per brooder varies, but overcrowding is avoided to prevent growth issues and disease spread.
  • Litter and Brooding Houses:
    • Various litter types like straw, cornstalks, carncobs, moss, pine needles, shavings, and sand are used.
    • Commercial-broiler houses are typically simple, with shed-roof or gable-roof designs.
    • Houses are about 20 ft. deep, and length varies based on the number of chickens to be raised.
    • Continuous brooding houses can be up to 50 ft. deep, often divided into pens.
    • Dirt floors are common, but some use sanitary concrete floors.
  • House Design and Ventilation:
    • Houses have relatively open fronts, covered with windows or burlap in cold weather.
    • Windows in the rear provide ventilation in warm weather.
    • Ventilation is crucial, as excessive heat without proper airflow can lead to bird loss.
  • Access to Ground:
    • Chickens usually have access to the ground in front of the house or a limited yard space.
    • Green crops are grown initially, but the yard may become bare after chickens are let outside.

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What is the purpose of the central passage in a milking barn?
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The document Animal Housing Requirements for Specific Categories of Domestic Animals | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC is a part of the UPSC Course Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC.
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FAQs on Animal Housing Requirements for Specific Categories of Domestic Animals - Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC

1. What are the housing requirements for pregnant cows?
Ans. Pregnant cows require a comfortable and spacious environment to ensure their well-being. They need proper ventilation, clean bedding, and enough space to move around. Additionally, they should have access to clean water and a balanced diet to support their pregnancy.
2. How should farrowing crates be equipped with creep provisions?
Ans. Farrowing crates should be equipped with creep provisions to create a separate area for piglets to access without the sow. This area should provide warmth, soft bedding, and easy access to feed and water. It is important to ensure that the creep area is safe and secure to protect the piglets from the sow.
3. What are the housing requirements for milking cows and milking barns?
Ans. Milking cows require a clean and well-ventilated barn with comfortable bedding. The barn should have proper lighting and temperature control to ensure cow comfort. Milking parlors should be equipped with appropriate milking equipment and facilities to maintain hygiene and efficiency during the milking process.
4. What should be considered while constructing sheds for milch/dry cows?
Ans. When constructing sheds for milch/dry cows, several factors should be considered. These include proper ventilation, sufficient space for cows to move comfortably, proper drainage, and easy access to feeding and watering points. The sheds should also provide protection from extreme weather conditions and should be designed to facilitate easy cleaning and maintenance.
5. How should broiler birds be raised and housed?
Ans. Broiler birds should be raised in a well-ventilated and temperature-controlled environment. The housing should have appropriate lighting, heating, and cooling systems to maintain optimal conditions for bird growth. It is important to provide enough space for birds to move around and access to clean water and balanced feed. Regular cleaning and proper waste management are also essential for broiler bird housing.

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