Content
Cold cattle breeding is common in warmer western countries. There is experience of a similar method in Canada, which is considered a very cold region. The stereotype comes from the works of Jack London, since the "livestock" part of this country in latitude is located approximately at the level of the southern regions of Russia. Hence it follows that in the south of the Russian Federation it is also quite possible to keep cattle cold using Western technologies. To the north, the process will have to be slightly modernized.
Features of the cold keeping of cattle
Animals "native" from Central Russia are well adapted to the cold season. Cows descended from rounds belong to the "cold-loving" species. Frost is not terrible for them in the presence of food.
But with the cold keeping of cattle on farms, there are certain nuances. Herds of tours roamed a fairly large territory and went to bed in a clean, dry place.
Domestic cows do not have this option. But cattle produces manure in large quantities and at the same time liquid. When keeping a herd on the farm, the floor is quickly contaminated, the animals go to their own excrement. Feces sticks together wool, which no longer protects from the cold. Therefore, the main requirement for cold cattle keeping is purity.
In addition, there are other requirements for shelters for cows and calves:
- lack of drafts;
- hay plenty;
- the possibility of active movement;
- deep and dry bedding, preferably straw.
The latter is especially difficult to ensure. The straw does not absorb liquid well, and the solid remains at the top, dirtying the animals. Therefore, the thickness of the straw layer on the floor in case of cold cattle keeping should start from 0.7 m. And every day it is necessary to throw fresh litter on top.
Not a very good option for cold keeping of cattle: the absence of an upper hood and the intake of air from the ends of the hangar does not provide sufficient circulation, ammonia accumulates in such barns
Pros and cons of cold cattle keeping
When kept cold, contrary to some sources, the cost of milk does not decrease. Yes, the owner does not need to spend money on heating the room, but he has additional costs for bedding and feed. Other disadvantages include:
- additional costs for feed;
- possible frostbite of the udder;
- the complexity of the litter;
- the need to monitor the cleanliness and dryness of the room;
- the need to insulate water pipes to avoid rupture in cold weather.
These disadvantages may not seem obvious, but they are.
Cessation of growth and decrease in productivity with a lack of feed
In nature, animals stop growing in winter. They have to spend energy not on growth, but on heating. Partially, this moment is preserved with home content. With a lack of milk in cold weather, the daily weight gain of calves is several times lower than it could be. Dairy cows with a lack of feed reduce milk yield, spending energy on heating the body.
Frostbite
In dairy cows, the udder may be damaged when kept in sheltered pens in extreme cold.Frostbite of the tips of the ears is possible in severe frosts.
Litter
Frostbite can be avoided if the "mattress" is made correctly. With a thickness of 60 cm and more, such a litter begins to rot at the bottom, creating an additional source of heat. But the "mattress" is made using a special technology, and it does not negate the daily renewal of the top layer.
Benefits of cold keeping
With all the disadvantages of this technology, the content of the advantages may be more:
- calves accustomed to the cold grow healthier;
- an adult dairy cow raised with this technology gives more milk, she did not get sick as a calf;
- absence of aspergillus fungus in the room;
- natural ventilation, not dependent on the availability of electricity.
Frost significantly reduces, and sometimes completely stops the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms. With crowded animals, this is an important argument in favor of "cold" technology. Subsequently, a cow that is not sick gives 20% more milk than a cow raised in a warm place and has suffered "childhood" diseases. Therefore, the additional cost of feed and bedding pays off.
Fresh air inflow along the entire long wall of the barn and the upper slot in the opposite one allows the cattle to feel comfortable in the cold season
Boxing and feeding of calves in cold keeping
Newborn calves are the most vulnerable to the cold, but in Germany they are taught to live outdoors from day one. Of course, babies are provided with shelter. Moreover, all calf boxes are equipped with infrared lamps. If the animals start to freeze, the farm owner has the option to turn on the heaters. Therefore, when growing cattle, there is no special savings on electricity.
The infrared lamp supplied to the box during "cold" rearing of calves allows the farmer to hedge against mortality among young cattle during abnormal frosts
Box equipment
Each calf has a separate box made of windproof material. This is usually plastic. Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, such a stall can be equipped with a threshold that prevents the penetration of snow inside. This design is suitable for Canada and Russia in a snowy winter.
Keeping a young animal locked up around the clock in such a box is possible only if the cattle is raised for meat
The exit is usually made facing the leeward side. But for this you need to check with the wind rose in the area. The box is placed on a stand, since it must have a slatted floor through which urine will drain. The area for a cold calf barn should be either level or with such a slope that water flows from the boxes during rains and floods, and not under them.
On it, slightly grown calves should be able to run and frolic. In this way, animals warm themselves on cold days. A very small individual "walk" in Russian conditions is unacceptable. An almost motionless calf will quickly freeze. The option of placing a calf house in a room does not differ much from keeping calves in separate stalls according to the "Soviet" technology. In this case, it makes no sense to redo something in an already established system.
A complete analogue of Soviet calves, but made of modern materials - common conditions for keeping
A thick layer of straw is laid on the floor of the boxes to protect the calves from the cold. It is advisable to use the lamps within the first hours after birth, until the coat is dry.
An example of improper cold keeping of young cattle in the video below. Even the author himself admits that in the presence of such cracks and scanty bedding, his calves freeze.In fact, such a canopy does not even meet the requirements for a shelter - a shelter from wind and rain for animals, which is installed in an "open field". The canopy in the video is shallow and does not protect against precipitation. Cold air flows through the cracks.
Feeding
The gain in calves directly depends on what part of the feed goes to "building" the body, and what is used as energy for heating. And in any case, with a decrease in temperature, the daily increase decreases.
Daily weight gain for a 45 kg calf when kept cold, depending on the temperature and the amount of milk fed
If the goal of rearing young cattle using the "cold" technology is to gain weight quickly, it is necessary to solder more milk than when kept in a warm room. Reared calves in winter need more hay and compound feed. On particularly cold days, twice as much feed may be required.
Cold keeping of dairy cattle
In fact, there is nothing fundamentally new in the cold keeping of dairy cattle. And today, most cowsheds in Russia are not heated. Cattle are kept in cold rooms. The temperature there is higher than outside, solely due to the animals themselves.
But due to the size of the cows and their large crowding, it is usually warmer indoors than outdoors by 10 ° C. For animals, this is enough and is no longer necessary.
The disadvantage of Soviet-built cowsheds is exhaust ventilation on the ceiling and the supply of fresh air through the doors at the ends. The windows were sealed up. Since people are cold in such conditions, the doors were usually kept closed in winter. As a result, moisture accumulated in the room, mold multiplied.
Modern cold barns require a slightly different design. The building is positioned so that the longitudinal wall of the barn is perpendicular to the main wind direction in the region. On this side, cracks are made in the eaves at a height of at least 1.5 m and openings in the wall. On the opposite side, under the roof, a long gap is left through which warm air will escape. This design provides good ventilation and at the same time provides protection from wind and precipitation.
It is also possible to keep dairy cattle in cold hangars "without a fourth wall", although it is more convenient to keep meat animals in such buildings. It is only necessary to cover the upper part with a film, leaving a large gap at the bottom for ventilation and feeders. The barn is positioned so that the open part is on the leeward side.
Cold keeping of beef cattle
Beef cattle do not have such a large udder, and they are not threatened with frostbite. Animals of this direction can be kept in tent hangars or under deep awnings. The latter should be fenced off on three sides. A gap is made between the long wall and the roof for warm air to escape. The second long wall is not made. Instead, a feed zone is organized. In severe frosts, the fourth side can be covered with a removable banner. Other requirements are the same as for keeping dairy cattle.
Conclusion
The cold keeping of cattle, with the correct organization, allows you to maintain the health of animals and increase milk yield. Calves grow up strong and with good immunity. But if the technology of cold keeping is not followed, cattle will suffer from myositis and mastitis.
