Farm animals. Livestock farms and complexes

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Agriculture in our country today, unfortunately, is in a rather difficult post-crisis situation. And while crop production, albeit slowly, still continues to develop, there is a serious decline in animal husbandry. This is due to many reasons. However, it is still possible to correct the situation. To do this, you need to use new technologies in keeping and breeding animals, as well as take care of the reconstruction and modernization of old agricultural complexes.

What animals are bred in Russia?

Small farms and large agricultural complexes can have very different specializations. But most often, agricultural companies and individual entrepreneurs breed such types of farm animals as:

• pigs;
• cattle (cattle);
• small ruminants (small cattle);
• rabbits of meat and skin breeds.

In this case, in each case, a certain technology of breeding and maintenance is used. All agricultural animals listed in the list are distinguished by good productivity and relative unpretentiousness in relation tofeed and care.

Features of keeping cows

The profitability of farms and agricultural enterprises engaged in cattle breeding depends mainly on the following factors:

1. The right choice of breed. Most often, dairy cows are kept on farms today. Representatives of such breeds are able to give up to 5-6 thousand liters of milk during the lactation period. There are, of course, meat varieties of cows. With proper organization, it can also be quite profitable to breed such animals. Their main value is very tasty, juicy, usually "marble" (with thin layers of fat) meat.
2. Developing a suitable diet. The main food of cows is, of course, grass and hay in winter. However, these animals must also be fed root crops, cereals, bran and compound feed. They include meat and bone meal, yeast, various vitamin and mineral supplements in the diet.
3. Arrangement of a suitable barn. The barn for these animals must be carefully planned. At least 6 m2 of area should be allotted per cow. These agricultural animals themselves must be kept in individual stalls. At the same time, feeders and shelves are installed along the working passage. For milking, feeding and watering, the use of special equipment is economically justified.

Features of keeping pigs

In this case, at firstit is also important to pay attention to the breed. Breeding pigs, since they are characterized by precocity and fertility, with the right approach to business, can be a really very profitable occupation. After all, these animals are distinguished not only by rapid weight gain, but also by precocity, as well as fertility. From one sow alone, you can sometimes get up to 14 cubs in one farrow. Grow these animals for about six months. During this time, the weight of piglets increases by 15-22 times.

Of course, the profitability of a pig farm is determined primarily by the correct organization of production. In this case, diseases of farm animals are excluded and their productivity increases.

Currently, beef, bacon and tallow pigs are raised by farmers. The latter are unpretentious and quickly gain weight. Breeding bacon and meat breeds allows you to earn income by selling very high-quality expensive meat. Today, about 30 breeds of pigs are bred in Russia. In any case, you should choose the one that is best adapted to the climate of this particular area.

Features of the organization of the pigsty

When designing a barn for these farm animals, the focus should be on minimizing manual labor and maintaining cleanliness. Floors in modern pigsties are usually made inclined (to drain urine and liquid feces). At the same time, special equipment is installed next to the barn - septic tanks. A prerequisite for successful contentpigs are also arranging ventilation and good lighting.

The barn itself is divided into several parts: for adult animals, young animals and sows. Sometimes they also equip a room for slaughter. But more often, animals that have gained enough weight are still handed over to slaughterhouses.

Feeding pigs

For rapid weight gain, these farm animals should be fed the following varieties:

• coarse - grass and herbal flour;
• juicy - root crops (potatoes, fodder beets);
• concentrated - cereals.

Feeding of farm animals of this group is organized in such a way that they receive as much protein as possible. Therefore, the main emphasis in the diet is on cereals. Pigs can be given oats, wheat, barley, etc. They also include carbohydrate feeds in the diet - beet pulp, molasses. Their use helps to improve the digestibility of cereals by animals.

Features of MPC content

Such types of farm animals as goats and sheep are also very popular among domestic farmers. It is believed that their breeding can be quite profitable. The technology of keeping these animals is grazing or stall-pasture. The first technique is usually practiced in warm regions.

In cold regions, a herd of sheep and goats is most often kept by the stall-pasture method. But even in this case, winter pastures are sometimes practiced.

Feeding goats

Premises intended for keeping goats and sheep are usually insulated with straw in order to avoid the occurrence of colds in animals in cold weather. They feed goats and sheep from the nursery, and continue to graze in the fall until the snow layer reaches 10-15 cm. When kept in a paddock, hay is used as the main feed. Also, goats and sheep are given brooms prepared in advance from branches of deciduous trees. Of course, these animals should receive agricultural and concentrated feed. It can be cereals, compound feed, bran.

How rabbits are kept

Fur farming in our country, unfortunately, is practically not developed. Farm animals such as dairy cows, pigs and sheep have been bred for a very long time and traditionally. The maintenance of rabbits is mainly carried out only by small farmers. Meanwhile, the cultivation of these animals can be a truly profitable occupation. Rabbit meat is considered unique because it does not contain cholesterol. Hence its high cost. Rabbits breed very quickly.

The disadvantage of keeping these animals on farms is only some difficulty in care. Infectious diseases pose a serious danger to rabbits. In case of technology violations, a very large lunge can be observed. The main rule of keeping in this case is to maintain cleanliness in cages or aviaries.

The rabbits are fed the same as other farm animals. At the same time, the main focus is on roughage.(grass, hay, brooms).

Cattle farm: organizational features

Of course, for breeding farm animals, first of all, you should build a corral, shed, barn or pigsty. However, farms and large agricultural enterprises are usually complex, which, among other things, may include:

• water supply and sewerage systems;
• access roads;
• veterinary stations;
• quarantine isolators;
• running yards;
• green spaces.

Water mains are brought to cowsheds, pigsties, etc., usually from autonomous wells through trenches at a depth below freezing of the soil. To distribute water, they are connected to special equipment. In most cases, a livestock farm is also equipped with a primitive sewage system. When choosing septic tanks and arranging drainage systems, it is important to correctly calculate the volume of drains.

Veterinary stations are usually organized only in large farms. Small farmers, if necessary, invite specialists from nearby settlements. A quarantine isolator must be in every household. Animals are placed here not only if they are suspected of having a contagious disease, but also immediately after purchase. The latter measure avoids the spread of a possible infection to an existing herd of sheep, goats or cows. Green spaces are used for protectionthe territory of the complex from the winds and protect it from drifts.