Farm for cattle: equipment, projects, construction

Nowadays, such a form of private entrepreneurship as cattle breeding is very popular. Mini-farms are common, which are small complexes for maintaining a herd of approximately 20-100 cows. On such a farm you can keep farm animals to produce milk and meat. However, the first step to starting a profitable business is setting up a farm.

How to build a farm for cows?

Cattle farming, where farm animals are raised, provides an opportunity for financial profit. First you will have to buy a couple of dairy cows. And over time, the herd size will increase, which will contribute to the growth of business profitability.

But before you decide to start farming for profit, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.

To build a mini-farm for cattle, you will first have to resolve the following issues:

select a site for a barn;
purchase or lease a plot of land;
acquire the necessary tools;
purchase several heads of livestock of both sexes;
create certain conditions for keeping each individual;
maintain cleanliness in areas where animals are located;
clean up manure.

It should also be taken into account that when running a farm you will have to incur considerable expenses for:

purchasing building materials for a future farm;
construction, to hire specialists, since all the work must be done with one’s own hands (for example, assistants are needed to erect a roof);
purchasing and transporting cows;
hiring workers to care for animals (the farm owner can handle 1-2 animals on his own, but if the herd size reaches 10 animals or more, he is unlikely to be able to do the work without outside help);
feed purchases;
payment for veterinary services.

Over time, when the farm is already operating at full capacity, profit can be received from sales:

meat and milk;
skins;
bulls and heifers;
livestock feces as fertilizer.

In addition, even mating can bring profit if you have a stud bull on your farm.

Equipment

Rubber mats

Rubber mats for cattle are cheaper than polymer mats for cattle, and the quality leaves much to be desired. They are not shock-absorbing and do not protect the cow well from the cold.

Important! The thermal conductivity of rubber is 5 times lower than that of polyurethane. Therefore, you also need to lay sawdust or straw on top of rubber mats for cattle to make the animal warmer and softer

At the same time, a rubber mat for barns has a number of advantages:

does not deform;
serves for 2-3 years;
safe from an environmental point of view;
the animal does not slip on it, which means it is not injured.

For cows, the rubber mat is sold in different sizes: 120x180 and 90x160 cm. Its weight is up to 25 kg. There are holes for mounting in the barn. Thanks to a special tape, manure and urine do not get under it.

Rubber mat

Animals like to lie on cow bedding that contains bacteria. It is irreplaceable and lasts for a year and a half. Reduces costs for the farmer, as fewer employees are required to care for the livestock, and there is no need to add straw or sawdust.

Comber and brush

Thanks to the cow scratcher, the animal feels happy and even produces 3.5% more milk. The brush also helps keep the animal clean.

Cow brush

Headlocks

A modern cow farm is indispensable without headlocks for cows. The parts of the tool are made of plastic, so there is no noise from slamming.

Drencher

Using a cow deluge allows workers to infuse liquid into the animal quickly and efficiently. With this device you won't have to carry water in buckets. You just need to bring the hose to the cattle's mouth.

Stun gun

Thanks to this tool, you can neutralize a mad cow for a while. But it is worth remembering that a stun gun is not suitable for a bull. The animal will not let you get that close.

Note! In addition to purchasing everything described above, the farmer should disinfect the barn twice a year, feed the animals properly, avoid drafts in the barn and avoid dampness.

It is important to regularly take blood samples to check for pathogens and get vaccinated. The veterinarian should regularly examine the livestock

A veterinarian should regularly examine livestock.

For hardware milking it is necessary to provide a milking stall

Scales for cattle are used to check the weight gain of animals; cows are weighed before sale. The scales are a platform with a fence for fixing the animal.

If small private farms do not have the opportunity to buy scales, the weight of cows is determined by measuring the oblique length of the body and chest girth. To calculate the weight, the Trukhanovsky formula is used. The result obtained is increased by 5% - 10% when the animal’s fatness is high, and reduced by the same percentage when the animal’s fatness is below the average level.

Drawing on how to make wooden feeders

Metal hay feeder

How to obtain a building permit?

A simple way is to enter into an agreement with a construction company that will do all the necessary work. The main thing is to carefully read the terms and conditions specified in the contract. You need to work exclusively with professionals to avoid future problems. Also during the construction process, the requirements put forward by environmental, sanitary and fire services should be taken into account.

To obtain permission to build a livestock farm, the customer must send the following documents to the administrative authorities:

a diagram of the land plot where the construction of the object is proposed with the obligatory designation of places of archaeological heritage, if any;
diagram of the land plot with the location of the facility up to the red line;
data regarding engineering structures indicating the site plan and connecting the facility to engineering supplies.

In addition, the following must be provided:

statement;
documentation confirming the right to use the land plot;
design of architectural buildings.

Administrative authorities may not make a decision in your favor if there is a discrepancy with the project regarding the use of the land plot or if deviations from the prescribed norms and rules are found.

We legalize your business: state registration

Officially, a farm from scratch begins with state registration of the enterprise.

Every farm owner is required to legitimize his business by opening an individual entrepreneur or LLC. Most often, the first option is chosen as it is simpler and more profitable in terms of taxation.

If you plan to supply products to retail chains, first get the go-ahead from Rospotrebnadzor and firefighters. You will also need a land lease agreement.

Since food is produced on farms, the owners must have documents confirming its decent quality. If we are talking about meat production, it is necessary to obtain a veterinary examination.

Requirements for a barn

The main requirement for livestock farming and livestock sheds is the availability of reliable and spacious premises. The inside of the building must be dry, clean and warm. According to established standards, the walls of the building must be at least 2.5 meters in height, and the roof - 3.5 meters close to the ridge. In addition, the building must be equipped with a ventilation system; window openings must be made slightly higher than the animals’ heads reach, so that daylight can enter the barn.

If these requirements are met, it is possible to make a good profit regardless of the period of the year. The owner of the farm will have to care for the herd, milk the cows, keep animals for meat, and sell the skins. This will ensure a stable material income, since these products are always in demand. To increase profits, you can expand your farm over time.

Summary:

1. investments - 5,585,000 rubles.

2. payback period – 32 months.

3. average monthly profit - 176,666 rubles.

Sources

https://business-poisk.com/biznes-plan-molochnoj-fermy.html
https://to-biz.ru/kak-otkryt-molochnuyu-fermu/
https://vipidei.com/proizvodstvo/vyrashhivanie/otkrytie-molochnoj-fermy/
https://agrobuilding.com/objects/livestock/barn/stroitelstvo-molochnoj-fermy-investitsii-i-okupaemost
https://biznesovo.ru/biznes-plany/biznes-plan-molochnoj-fermy
https://www.beboss.ru/bplans/185-biznes-plan-molochnoy-fermy-na-100-golov
https://Proekt-sam.ru/proektzdanii/proekt-mini-fermy.html
https://pokras-stroy.ru/ferma-dlya-krs-na-50-golov
https://pokras-stroy.ru/stroitelstvo-molochnoy-fermy
https://mirfermera.ru/688-tipovoy-proekt-korovnika-na-50-golov.html
https://molferma.com/sozdanie_mol_fermi/stroitel-stvo-sovremennoj-molochnoj-fermy-kak-postroit-korovnik.html
https://pokras-stroy.ru/kozya-ferms-na-50-koz
https://BusinessXXL.ru/molochnaya-ferma/

How to design a barn?

Having decided to build a mini-farm for raising farm animals, the first step is to design a barn for keeping livestock. When constructing it, they often resort to frame or frameless construction methods. When choosing a frame technology, the structure is built taking into account the wishes of the future owner; for this, the following building materials are used:

brick;
cinder blocks;
concrete slabs.

With the frameless method, structures are built that resemble hangars, the creation of which uses metal. Such buildings are a more economical option, but they do not have window openings, so the resulting barn will end up without natural ventilation.

When constructing hangar buildings, certain requirements must be observed:

it is necessary to provide for the possibility of connecting the electrical network and water supply;
Special devices must be installed in the premises to monitor the well-being of animals. Devices are needed to monitor changes in the microclimate;
the area of the building must occupy at least 1000 m2;
the height of the building must be at least 6 meters;
the size of the structure is determined by the size of the future livestock. For a herd of 50 heads, it is necessary to build a barn reaching approximately 70 m in length and up to 15 m in width.

An important role is played by what kind of products the farm owner expects to produce - dairy or meat. This must be taken into account when designing a future mini-farm.

If the farmer expects to receive income specifically from the sale of milk, he will have to build a separate building where the collection, bottling and quality control of the product will be carried out. As for the farm for raising meat breeds, it is necessary to equip a special place for cutting carcasses, a workshop and a laboratory.

How to keep livestock using the tether method

The economic farmer takes care of his livestock. If you use the untethered method in a hangar, then the building should:

connect to the water supply and electrical network;
maintain special equipment that monitors the well-being of animals and the indoor microclimate;
be with an area of at least 1000 m²;
the height of the room must be above 6 m;
for 50 cows, the size of the hangar should be 15x70 m.

Important! It is worth considering which products will predominate: dairy or meat. With the free-stall method of obtaining milk, when cows have free access to the feeder and can also walk, milking is done in a special room

The main technology for collecting milk is carried out in:

With the free-stall method of obtaining milk, when cows have free access to the feeder and can also walk, milking is done in a special room. The main technology for collecting milk is carried out in:

boxing;
combibox;
on deep litter that does not change.

The advantages include:

high efficiency;
improved working conditions;
good handling of livestock.

Of the minuses:

animals become just a herd, without nicknames;
they fight for food and water;
the amount of feed consumed increases;
Additional requirements apply to animals.

Additional Information! A dedicated milking parlor uses either a herringbone or tandem approach. The length of the milk pipeline is reduced by 5 times, which improves the quality of the dairy product and also provides the required sanitary care.

To keep cows free-stall, the following conditions must be met:

ensure separate maintenance of livestock;
eliminate the disorderly movement of milked and unmilked cows;
ensure the passage of milked animals to the paddock or to the feeding trough.

This method guarantees an increase in milk yield and faster weight gain for animals. The cattle stands in its own compartment, which has an area of up to 2.5 m². Here she lies, relieves her natural needs, and has access to a feeding trough. Almost all large farms use this method.

The disadvantage is the need to increase the labor force to feed the animals, clean up after them, as well as veterinarians to monitor the health of the animal, since chronic diseases develop in sedentary cattle.

Pros:

animals do not collide and are not injured;
each animal receives as much feed as it needs, the stronger animal does not eat the weaker;
feed consumption is reduced by 10%, which is beneficial for the farmer;
It is easier for veterinarians to monitor each animal;
the cow produces 20% more milk, and the calf gains weight 15% faster;
milking cows is easier.

Note! If you build stalls in a barn correctly, urine and manure will flow outside the barn. There is a standard way of milking in a special milking parlor

In this case, the cows have an automatic tether, but it can also be semi-automatic. This doubles the productivity of milk production

There is a standard way of milking in a special milking parlor. In this case, the cows have an automatic tether, but it can also be semi-automatic. This doubles the productivity of milk production.

Note! In addition, the cows pass through the wash, which ensures the purity of the product.

The process of building a mini-farm for cattle breeding

For novice livestock farmers who want to try their hand at raising dairy cows, the smartest thing to start with is to set up a mini-farm to house a maximum of 30 head of cattle. To build a complex, you can turn to professionals for help by ordering the construction of all the necessary buildings. You can also do all the work yourself. In the first case, you will not have to make any special efforts, but this will require significant financial investments.

The building in which 30 cows will be kept must be equipped with the following premises:

cattle pens;
a stall for giving birth to cows;
sections for young individuals;
fodder section;
compartment for storing equipment;
gutters for removing livestock waste products;
washing;
boiler room;
laboratory.

In the future, if the business proves successful and generates stable profits, the farm may be expanded. In the process of building a barn to house 50-100 cows, you will have to think about how to automate work on the farm, acquire automatic devices (so-called mixers - grinders, mixers and dispensers, a milking machine, a manure conveyor, an automatic drinker). Animal pens in this structure are often arranged in 2 rows.

A livestock farm for keeping 100-200 cattle is already a large-scale production, which requires complex design documentation (separate boxes where the cows will eat and rest, a feed passage, a passage for livestock, 6-8 rows with stalls). It is better to entrust the construction of such barns to a construction company with experience in this field of activity.

When a farmer for some reason (for example, due to a lack of material resources) is unable to keep 30 cows, he can build a barn designed for 20 cows. Such a mini-farm is characterized by a smaller number of pens and the absence of a sewer system (manure will have to be removed manually). Often the best option is to build a new building for housing cows, which takes place in several stages.

Drawing up a business plan

The success of farming activities, first of all, depends on a competent feasibility study. Not every entrepreneur can afford to build a barn with their own funds. Therefore, special attention should be paid to drawing up a business plan for a 10-head cattle mini-farm with all calculations.

Efficiency calculations take into account such basic indicators as:

Rent for the use of land under a barn and pasture for walking and feeding animals in the summer.
Design and construction costs. For cows, you can convert one of the outbuildings or rent an empty collective farm. This method seems economical only at first glance. An old, unsuitable premises will require serious investment in repairs, refurbishment and disinfection. The construction of a new barn will, of course, cost more, but it will meet all the necessary standards.
Payment for connection to utilities: electricity and water supply. In some cases, you will need to pay additionally for the creation of a transformer or distribution substation, cable lines within the boundaries of the site.
Purchase of necessary equipment: milking machines, drinking bowls, feeders, buckets, cans, cleaning equipment.
Purchase of dairy livestock and feed: hay and feed.
Costs for conducting routine veterinary, sanitary and epidemiological examinations, purchasing medicines and veterinary preparations.
Salary of hired personnel: milkmaid, cattleman or laborer.
Taxes, payment of interest on the loan and costs for consumed resources: electricity, water.

The profitability of the project is calculated based on the average wholesale price per liter of milk and milk yield. By comparing the financial costs of the project and the annual profitability, they obtain the payback period and draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of the investment.

Choosing a site for a farm

The location plays an important role for the future of livestock farming. In terms of the level of impact on the environment, a farm that houses cattle with fewer than 1,200 animals belongs to the third category of sanitary safety. As a result, such a farm must be located at least 300 meters from residential buildings. It is necessary to provide for the possibility of providing the farm with running water.

When choosing a site for a livestock farm, you need to pay attention to the depth at which the groundwater lies in this place. The distance to them should be 5-6 meters to prevent flood and storm flooding. It is advisable to choose a plot of land with nearby meadows for pasture, where cattle can walk and eat fresh green grass. The area near the barn should be landscaped to reduce the spread of unpleasant odors and dust pollution.

Entrepreneurs often have to think about how to reconstruct an old farm, thinking that this way they will save money. But in the past, barns were most often built from concrete, which has now been recognized as unsuitable for use in livestock farming.

Important! Old buildings are often equipped with poor ventilation systems, and equipment in pens is difficult to dismantle. It is best to demolish the old building in order to build a new barn in its place.

Design step by step

Let's consider the main stages of creating a project, choosing structural elements and interior decoration.

Foundation of the building

A foundation or foundation is necessary to ensure the longevity of the structure. For small wooden farms, you can use a homemade columnar foundation.

The tape or monolithic version is suitable for heavy structures located above the zero cycle. The top fertile layer of soil must be removed and transported. Then they dig a trench 50-70 cm, reinforce and lay concrete.

Load-bearing walls

Traditionally, wood and red brick are used to build barns. Wooden structures retain heat well, but they are susceptible to rotting, burning and are short-lived. Pre-treatment of wood with an antiseptic and fire retardant will help reduce the risk of negative effects.

Brick barns have high thermal conductivity, so in regions with cold winters it is advisable to make a two-layer brick wall, placing insulation between the layers (mineral wool, non-woven fiber, penoplex, etc.). This inevitably entails increased costs.

It is worth paying attention to buildings made of sandwich panels. These wall structures are easy to install, they are quite durable and have a long service life.

You can also use adobe, which retains heat well inside the building. From such environmentally friendly and warm material you can build a barn for 2 heads. Hollow adobe is placed in 1 brick using cement mortar, the base is lined with red solid brick.

Window

Natural light is preferable for a barn.

The requirements for windows are:

The openings should be at a height of 1.2-1.5 m from the floor.
Location on the south or east wall.
The total area of windows is about 10% of the total size of the room.
Must be installed so as not to impede ventilation and washing.

Any design can be chosen - both sliding and retractable. Most often, windows made of polycarbonate or PVC are installed.

Lighting

Good artificial lighting is an important factor in high milk production, especially in the autumn-winter period.

The regulatory requirements for it are as follows:

for stall lighting – 50 lux;
for feeders - 75 lux;
in the entire room as a whole - no more than 200 lux.

It is better to use LED lamps. They emit brighter light than fluorescent ones, which dim when the room temperature drops.

The lighting mode in the cow barn needs to be adjusted relative to the daylight hours:

from 4:10–4:30 to 8:10 the light becomes more intense;
from 16:10 to 20:10 it is gradually dimmed.

At night, lamps are lit with a power of 10-25 W. Complete darkness is unacceptable, otherwise the risk of injury increases.

Gates, doors

It is important that the doors do not allow drafts into the room and close tightly and comfortably. It is advisable to use swing structures, filling them with insulation, this will help retain maximum heat in the premises during cold weather. Gates equipped with lifting mechanisms are more convenient to use.

Ventilation

Exhaust air is removed from the barn using exhaust ventilation. The cross-sectional size and number of ventilation ducts depend on the dimensions of the room in plan and are determined by formulas (if the number of heads exceeds 200).

In small buildings, an exhaust pipe made of metal or boards is mounted on the roof. It is equipped with a fan and a damper that closes in rainy and windy weather. Fresh air is supplied through the windows. If they are absent, openings with dampers are created in the walls for air intake.

In small rooms, natural air exchange is sufficient (warm air rises and cold air enters through openings in the lower part of the walls). It is also permissible to use forced ventilation (installation of fans).

Floors

A warm and dry floor is the most important condition for the health of cows. In addition, it must be waterproof.

The wooden version perfectly meets the requirements, but it is short-lived, since the material quickly wears out under the influence of the aggressive environment of the barn. Hollow brick, which is placed on edge on slag or insulation, will last longer.

Concrete floors are also used, but animals feel discomfort in such rooms and often get sick. When choosing this type of coating, you must insulate it with extruded polystyrene foam.

Stall

Each cow needs a separate, spacious stall. It is constructed from boards or metal pipes, sometimes from brick.

The dimensions are:

width ─ 1.25 m;
length ─ 2.6-3 m.

Mobile structures are considered more practical because their dimensions can be changed if necessary. The width and length of the cow stall depending on the weight of the individual is shown in the table.

Feeder

The materials for their manufacture are boards and bricks.

Dimensions of cattle feeder:

height – 0.65 m;
width – 0.8 m;
length – 1 m.

The animal in the stall must be tied with a soft and dense rope, the length of which is 1-1.5 m.

Litter

To additionally insulate the floor and increase comfort in livestock sheds, bedding rugs and mats are used. They are highly durable, which helps reduce the risk of hoof diseases and prevent the possibility of injury when the animal kneels.

Most often, bedding for livestock is made from the following available materials:

sawdust;
straw;
shavings;
sand.

Monolithic rubber mats are also used. They are very functional in winter, but are quite expensive.

Manure storage

Designed for collecting slurry and processing it into fertilizer.

In a year, a cow can produce 10-12 tons of manure. Its quantity is affected by the type of feed and the type of bedding.

An open-type manure storage facility should be built with a depth of 0.5-1 m with dimensions of 2.5 × 2.5 m, not far from the barn, its walls should be lined with stone or concreted. A layer of clay (20-25 cm) is laid out on the bottom. The bottom slope is towards the liquid collector. A canopy is erected over the storage, the manure is compacted to a height of 1.5-2 m, then a layer of straw 10-20 cm thick is laid and watered with slurry.

A liquid collection well is installed nearby; it must be below the freezing level of the soil, and also covered with a shield.

In regions where there is a lot of rainfall, a closed type manure storage facility is installed. With this option, manure flows through a pipe or chute into a barrel. Here the slurry rots without loss of nitrogen and much faster than in the first option.

Corral for walking

An area of 500 m2 or more - depending on the number of heads in the herd - should be located near the barn. It must be equipped with a canopy and fenced so that animals do not escape. You can use laminated veneer lumber, unedged or edged boards, and build a canopy from corrugated board.

Subtleties of farm construction

In some cases, it is necessary to equip a hayloft on the farm territory. For this option, it is necessary to install forced ventilation. The optimal height of windows in the room is 1.5 m.

Warm barn

For winter keeping of livestock, an insulated room should be prepared in advance, focusing on the walls and floor. In addition, it is important to treat windows and ventilation openings.

The technology for preparing a winter shed is as follows:

Carrying out thermal insulation of the floor. For this purpose, logs are installed on the concrete, and insulation (foam plastic, polyurethane foam, mineral wool) is placed in the space between them.
External wall cladding with mineral wool or polystyrene foam.
Roof insulation.
Caulking cracks in window frames and doorways with insulating material.

Stey for bulls

Structurally, it is practically no different from a general barn.

When you decide to build a farm for bulls, remember that according to the standards, an area of 12 square meters is required for one beef bull. m. When designing stalls, the dimensions of the bull must be taken into account. It is very important to choose the right floor. The best option is a boardwalk with a cement or concrete screed. It will last a long time and can withstand a lot of weight.

Cow barn

If you plan to keep only one cow on your home mini-farm, you should take into account a number of nuances.

It is not advisable to use expensive wood as material for a cow shed.

It is better to pay attention to more accessible materials:

brick;
shell rock;
foam blocks;
cinder blocks.

It is very important to make the floor higher than ground level and whitewash the walls inside the room, this will protect them from the spread of mold.

What building materials and tools are needed?

First of all, it is necessary to decide what building materials to use for the construction of the barn, since this determines: how quickly the construction will take place, how reliable and durable the structure will be, and how comfortable the animals will be in it.

Buildings in the construction of which concrete was used did not justify their worth, since they have increased thermal conductivity. During the summer months, it is very hot in such a barn, and during the cold season the heat does not stay inside the building. The use of wood is more expedient, since this material has low thermal conductivity. Although there are some disadvantages: the material is fragile, fire hazardous, the boards can rot, and their cost is quite high.

Brick is successfully used in the construction of mini-farms. This building material is capable of excellent heat retention and excellent protection from outside noise.

It is not advisable to use bricks for the construction of a large complex for keeping cows. In this case, it is better to use modern SIP panels (sandwich panels consisting of slabs with insulation between them). This building material is characterized by quick construction, relatively low cost, and excellent thermal insulation.

Calculations of costs, income and payback

Calculating the profitability of a dairy farm must begin with investments. Their size depends on many factors. One of the main ones is the scale of production. Let's consider the financial plan for organizing a dairy farm for 50 animals.

Download dairy farm business plan

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The implementation of such a farm project can amount to 5-6 million rubles. This includes the installation of a farm with an area of about 1000 square meters. m. Next, you should take into account the cost of connecting various communications: water supply, electricity, heating system. According to average prices, the cost of work can be 100 - 200 thousand rubles.

Equipment for a dairy farm is a rather expensive, but necessary project item. It will require at least 2-2.5 million rubles. The purchase of such special equipment as an MTZ-80 tractor and a Gazelle-type truck will cost around 3 million rubles. You need to buy attachments for the tractor, which in themselves are quite expensive. But you can’t do without it on a dairy farm, since with its help many specific and necessary works are performed. You can add another 500 thousand rubles to purchase such equipment.

Expenses

Next, we calculate the costs of maintaining animals and farm infrastructure.

Salaries for workers (four people). If you take an average of 30 thousand rubles per month for each person, then for the year the salary costs will be 360 thousand rubles. Plus 30% insurance contributions to the Pension Fund and the Social Insurance Fund, which will amount to 108 thousand rubles.
The cost of feed may vary. If hay is harvested by production forces, then this cost item will be significantly reduced. But, if you buy all the feed, the costs will be very significant. On average, this is 1.5-2 million per year for 50 heads.
Expenses for veterinary services are approximately 100 thousand rubles per year.
Utility bills – 80 thousand rubles.
Other expenses: fuels and lubricants, repairs of premises, equipment and machinery, etc. For this article you need to budget approximately 150 thousand rubles per year.

Income

Income from a dairy farm depends on various factors: the productivity of the herd, the selling price of milk, and the cost of transport for transporting products. If we take the average annual yield from each cow - 5000 liters, then from 50 heads we can expect 250,000 liters. The average cost of one liter of milk in different regions of the country can vary widely. If we take the average price of 25 rubles, then the income of a farm of 50 heads will be 6,250,000 rubles.

From this amount you need to subtract the Unified Agricultural Tax, 6% and you get 5,875,000.

Thus, the payback on a dairy farm is quite low and, even with good business management, can take at least 3 to 4 years.

Calculations for a farm of 10 heads

For a mini-farm of 10 heads, all calculations must be divided by 5, since the previous calculations were performed for a farm of 50 heads. That is, investments could amount to -2-3 million rubles. It must be borne in mind that with such minimal investments, building a farm is out of the question. The best option would be to rent a small, adapted room, which needs to be equipped to a minimum.

On such a mini-farm, manual labor will predominate, but there is no point in attracting hired workers. It is better to maintain such a farm by one family. The prospect of developing such a farm is quite problematic. The viability of a mini-farm will depend on the hard work and patience of the entrepreneur.

How to calculate sizes?

Taking into account the established standards for breeding farm animals, the area of the floor in the pen for one individual should be approximately 5-6 m2. And if we take into account future offspring, the size of the stall increases to 10 m2.

On average, the pen should reach 170 cm in length and 110 cm in width. Parameters may vary depending on the live weight and dimensions of the animal. The floor in the stall should be sloping in the direction of the chute for collecting feces, which is calculated as follows: 2 cm per 1 meter of pen length.

Important! The width of the sewer drain should be at least 30 cm so that it is convenient to clean it with a shovel.

The width of the stall should be at least 1.8 times the width of the individual in the area of the hips (hooves). In this case, the animal will be able to lie down or rise without hindrance.

But regarding lighting, one stall requires approximately 1 m2 of window opening. The window size should be 50 cm * 70 cm. The ceiling in the room for keeping cattle should be at least 3 meters above the floor, and the curbs should reach 15-20 cm in height, so the cow will not partially occupy the passage in a lying position. The walls between the pens are most often made at 2/3 of the length.

Equipment and interior design

It is important not only to build a barn correctly, but also to carefully consider its internal arrangement (Figure 4). To maintain livestock productivity, you need to draw up a plan for the location of animals in advance so that there is enough space for the entire livestock

In addition, the interior of the building must be properly treated to prevent animals from suffering from mold, mildew, or drafts.

If we talk about the general rules for the internal arrangement of a barn for 50 heads, then the main nuances will be as follows:

The size of the stall for one adult should be 1.7 * 1.1 meters. However, if you plan to keep cows with calves, the area of one compartment needs to be increased.
It is better to make the floor wooden, since the concrete surface is too cold and can cause colds in cows. It is advisable to use sawdust or straw as bedding, and this covering should be changed regularly as it gets wet.
A chute is installed at the rear of each stall to drain slurry. It should be built in such a way that the gutter has a slight slope towards the collector or cesspool. This will make your work easier, since the waste products of livestock will gradually flow into the pit. At the point where the chute exits the barn, a small opening is made in the wall and covered with a valve.
In the front part of the stall there is a feeder and a drinker. The simplest model of a feeder is a trough with sides. Such a product can be easily made with your own hands from planed and sanded boards.
If you plan to keep cows and calves together, next to each stall you need to build a small compartment or cage in which the young animals will be kept.

Compliance of the internal space with sanitary and hygienic standards also plays an important role in maintaining the health and productivity of cattle. The problem is that pathogenic microorganisms actively develop in the barn environment. To prevent this, you need to regularly clean the premises, remove residual manure from gutters and change the litter. In addition, immediately after the construction of the building, it is necessary to plaster the internal walls and whitewash them with lime. This substance has antibacterial properties and prevents the development of fungi and mold inside the barn.

Construction stages

Once the design documentation has been confirmed, you need to begin directly building the farm. Construction is carried out in stages and consists of the following:

The fundamental part is being laid. A pile foundation is considered reliable. Initially, bored piles are driven into the ground (at a distance of approximately 10 meters), they are covered over the entire surface with roofing felt to protect the foundation from environmental influences, and with heat-insulating material, followed by the installation of a reinforcement cage, and a concrete mixture is poured. The load on the foundation can be applied only 21-30 days after the final hardening of the concrete. This type of fundamental part helps to reduce the thermal costs of the building; it is considered practical.
The supporting frame is mounted using electric welding. A water-dispersion primer is applied over the frame to prevent corrosion.
Walls and roof are being erected. When using bricks as building materials, make masonry 1.5 bricks wide, so the building will be more durable. And when using SIP panels, they are faced on the outside with subsequent painting. To secure the roof, a non-running system is most often used (it is quite easy and quick to install).
Windows are being installed. Window openings should be given special attention. Windows must be made of a material that includes polyvinyl chloride and polycarbonate. They can be made hinged or sliding.
Doors are being installed. The best option for a barn is to install swing doors with additional insulation.

What is a must-have on a farm?

After moving out the “box” of the building, it’s time to start equipping it. In order to create comfortable conditions for raising cattle and comply with all established sanitary standards, the building must provide:

Ventilation system. It is needed because waste products release carbon dioxide and ammonia into the air. You can install natural ventilation by installing ventilation curtains or a light ridge, or forced ventilation by installing fans and valves.
Lighting system. In addition to window openings, the installation of lighting fixtures with fluorescent or LED lamps is required. During the daytime, illumination should be maintained at 200 lux, and at night, low-power lamps that glow red should be used.
Appropriate microclimate. During the hot season, the temperature in the barn should be maintained within +8-22 degrees using cooling radiators or fans. And in the cold months, especially at extremely low temperatures, you can use infrared heating, blankets for cows, or heat lamps for babies to warm the animals. Hygrometers should be installed in rooms to measure humidity levels. To reduce the impact of external noise on livestock, sound insulation is carried out.
Containers for food and drink. You can get one in a specialized store or build it yourself. An automatic drinking bowl made of stainless steel with a self-cleaning function is considered comfortable. As for feeders, they should be separate for dry and wet food.
System for disposal of livestock waste products (mechanical removal using scraper-conveyors, underground storage, use of hydraulic and gravity technologies).

Distinctive features of free-stall farms

Although many dairy farms use tether housing, today farmers are increasingly switching to free-stall systems. In such a situation, the cow is in a separate box, which is an area fenced on three sides with a floor raised in relation to the passage by 15-20 cm. On such a farm, there are boxes where cows rest, combined boxes with containers for feed, and specially equipped platforms for milking.

The animals themselves approach the food containers. Feces are removed from the passage by a wheeled tractor equipped with a bulldozer shovel. The advantage of untethered technology is higher worker productivity. This is possible thanks to group housing of livestock, saving time and the use of equipment for automatic feed distribution and water supply, and automatic milking.

How to organize a walk in the pasture?

To increase the milk productivity of the herd, grazing of livestock on pasture in combination with physical activity and the inclusion of green fresh vegetation in the diet plays an important role. To fulfill these conditions, it is necessary to organize a walking area for the cows.

Each herd should be allocated a separate area, located close to the farm and a water source. If the pasture is located more than 2 km from the farm, a summer camp needs to be set up, where the camp needs to be fenced off and a temporary utility building built.

Fences must be built around the pasture. Water in a nearby reservoir must be tested to ensure it meets existing health standards. Animals should be grazed daily for 8-10 hours. When the vegetation on the pasture territory is reduced by half, the herd must be moved to another meadow.

A dairy livestock farm is an enterprise with a full production cycle. So in the process of building such a farm, you need to pay attention not only to building materials, but also to the correctness of the design. It should be remembered that only if all requirements for keeping livestock are met, the milk yield of cows can be increased and, as a result, the profit of the farm can be increased.

Overview of the dairy industry in the country

Milk is on the food safety list. This is an essential product, just like bread. But, in Russia, until 2000, the percentage of production of this product was steadily falling, and only by 2015 there was a significant increase in the production of milk and dairy products.

An interesting trend is emerging today - the number of small dairy farms registered as small businesses is growing. These small enterprises have overtaken large agricultural enterprises in such indicators as:

increasing the number of dairy herds;
increasing the productivity of dairy cows;
increase in product marketability.

A business plan for organizing a cattle breeding farm can be viewed here - https://business-poisk.com/biznes-plan-fermerskogo-hozyaystva.html

Small dairy businesses have become especially active after the introduction of state support for the state program “Development of Dairy Animal Husbandry.” Farmers in this area cooperate directly with dairies, a third of them sell milk independently.

Since the level of initial investments in the dairy production business is quite high, and the payback period is calculated for 3-5 years, farmers should focus on modern technologies for keeping and feeding cows, robotic installations and mechanization means.

It is also necessary to consider in the business plan not only the production of raw milk, but also in the future its processing and production of various dairy products. This will undoubtedly require additional investment. With such a low-profit business, investing is quite risky. Read about how to properly draw up a competent business plan here.

All countries practice state support for the development of agricultural enterprises. In Russia, there is also such government assistance to entrepreneurs involved in agricultural production.

Support and lending to dairy production

The milk production business is expensive and requires significant investment. The state provides support to milk producers through several programs:

subsidy per liter of commercial milk sold. Only premium grade milk is subject to subsidies.
Subsidized interest on loans through accredited banks.

Reimbursement of a certain portion of expenses for business projects. Refunds are made up to 40% of investments for modernization and re-equipment, for the purchase of highly productive livestock - up to 50%. Refunds are made no earlier than 2 years after the launch of the milk production project.