Two-room sloping floor shed for suckler cows
Animal-friendly shed system with low straw requirement
Animal-friendly methods that are widespread in suckler cow farming are almost always based on bedded resting areas. In order to minimise the bedding the usage a sloping floor shed should be considered. On a littered, sloping lying surface, the animals tread the manure downwards at the correct stocking density onto a flat surface, which is cleaned regularly, i.e. daily. This is done with automatic manure removal systems or by pushing it off with a tractor. In larger herds, it is recommended to install partitions in the lying area to reduce ranking fights. As a general rule, on-site supports in the manure area should be avoided, as they impede the flow of manure. In suckler cow farming, it is important to set up a calf area that the calves go to immediately after birth. If necessary, the calves can also be fed separately there. Separate compartments for breeding bulls should be considered as well as calving pens for winter calving. It may be necessary to divide the herd into male and female calves. Drinking troughs are mainly installed in the area of the feeding table. Due to the extensive type of housing, it is important to ensure that the drinkers are frost-proof. Ball drinkers or heatable individual drinkers have proven successful.
Essential dimensions for a sloping floor shed
| Depth of the resting area | 4.00 - 7.00 m |
| Resting area requirement per cow | ± 4.50 m² |
| Resting area requirement per calf | 1.20 - 2.00 m² |
| Alley width feeding area | 3.00 - 4.00 m |
| Feed spaces per animal | 1:1 bis 1:1.2 |
| Feed space width | 0.67 - 0.75 m |
| Slope of resting area | 5 - 8 % |
| From a depth of 3.00 m | 6 - 10 % |
| Steeper slope for lighter animals and lower stock rate | |
| Bedding requirements - kg/head/day | 3 - 5 kg |
| Bedding requirements - dt/head/200 days | 6 - 10 dt |
| Straw requirements - ha/head/200 days | 0.12 - 0.2 ha |
More Planning Examples
Freestall barn for dairy cows
- The available space corresponds to the requirements of large-framed animals (see below)
- Cold shed with sufficient fresh air supply but without draft for an animal-friendly climate
- Resting comfort with rubber mats or bedding
Open barn for beef bulls
- Correct density level and group size
- Pen dividers: sturdy 4 or 5 bar panels
- Drinking troughs: built into dividers for protection
Calf barn with fix installed boxes
The design of the barn and the construction of the boxes ensure an optimal exchange of air. This can considerably reduce the germ load and thus significantly improve the health of the calves.
Calf barn with mobile pens
An in-out method is therefore much easier with calves. We offer holding systems which offer to keep calves up to 8 weeks individually in mobile pens.
Two-room bedded pack barn for suckler cows
- The ideal solution with regard to building costs, work load and animal comfort
- Separate area for calves which only calves can enter
- Separate calving, sick animal and breeding bull pen
Single-room bedded pack barn with raised feeding area for suckler cows
- Livestock-friendly housing system for the professional suckler cow farmer
- Continuous easy access at the feed front to the feed table despite of deep litter
- Separate calving pen for optimum monitoring of the calving
Single-room bedded pack barn for suckler cows
- Simple and animal-friendly livestock housing
- Level surfaces in new sheds may be used alternatively (machine hangar, straw storage)
- Utilisation of old buildings
Open stable concept for horses
- Optimal stable climate for man and horse
- Calm animals through lively social contact
- Rational feed technique
