Efficient Animal Handling Layouts for Farm Success

Animal handling layouts play a crucial role in rearing and keeping animals, ensuring their welfare, and minimizing stress and injuries. These layouts encompass various structures such as crushes, spray races, and dipping tanks.

(a) Crush

A crush is a versatile structure used for training animals in racing and implementing important husbandry practices like dehorning, de-worming, hoof trimming, and tag application. Typically constructed from timber or steel, a crush stands at approximately 150cm in height, with a width of 70cm at the top and 30cm at the bottom, spanning a length of 190cm. It consists of an entrance race with a drop gate at one end and another gate at the opposite end.

The primary purpose of crushes is to restrain animals during crucial procedures such as artificial insemination, vaccination, deworming with acaricides, temperature readings, pregnancy diagnosis, identification through deworming, and blood sampling.

Advantages of using crushes:

1. Versatility in performing various operations like deworming, vaccination, spraying, artificial insemination, and pregnancy diagnosis.
2. Cost-effective construction makes it accessible for small-scale farmers.
3. Utilization of locally available materials for construction.
4. Enhanced control over the use of acaricides.
5. Facilitates ease of animal handling during farm operations.

Disadvantages of crushes:

1. Lack of durability, susceptible to damage caused by livestock.
2. Relatively slow tick control method.
3. Requires significant labor input.
4. Acaricide wastage due to the lack of reusability.
5. Inadequate coverage of animals with acaricides.

(b) Spray Race

A spray race refers to a structure equipped with motorized sprayers that uniformly distribute acaricides on animals from all directions. Alternatively, it can be a confined area where cattle undergo spray application delivered through pressurized pipes.

The spray race serves multiple purposes, including restraining animals during artificial insemination, ectoparasite control, vaccination, deworming with acaricides, temperature readings, pregnancy diagnosis, identification through deworming, and blood sampling.

Advantages of using a spray race:

1. Reduced acaricide wastage.
2. Efficient for handling large herds, allowing the spraying of numerous animals within a short time.
3. Ensures proper coverage of animals with acaricides.
4. Requires minimal labor, with only one person needed to operate the spray race.
5. Suitable for handling small animals like goats and sheep.
6. Ability to spray sick or pregnant animals.
7. Reduced risk of accidents due to the absence of swimming.

Disadvantages of using a spray race:

1. Expensive construction.
2. Potential nozzle blockages.
3. High power consumption leads to increased costs.
4. Requires technical skills for proper handling.

(c) Cattle Dip/Dipping Tanks

Cattle dip or dipping tanks are structures equipped with a full tank of dip wash used for controlling external parasites, particularly ticks, on animals. These tanks typically consist of an entrance race, swimming bath, exit ramp, and draining race, all constructed using concrete.

The animals enter the dip tank by passing through the entrance and stepping into a footbath filled with clean water to cleanse their feet. They then proceed to the swimming bath, which has dimensions of 4.6 meters in length and 1.6 meters in depth, where they are fully immersed. After the swim, they ascend the sloping exit ramp and move to the draining race, where excess dip wash drains off and returns to the swimming bath.

Cattle dip/dipping tanks serve the purpose of dipping cattle, sheep, and goats with acaricides, treating foot rot, and controlling external parasites.

Advantages of cattle dip/dipping tanks:

1. Efficient handling of large herds of cattle, sheep, or goats within a short period.
2. Low labor requirement.
3. Reusability of acaricides or dip wash, reducing wastage.
4. Ensures proper coverage of animals with acaricides through full immersion.
5. Cost-effective if owned communally.
6. Requires less technical expertise compared to spray races.
7. Rapid vector control through animal immersion.

Disadvantages of cattle dip/dipping tanks:

1. High initial construction costs.
2. Requires an expert or someone with technical knowledge to determine the appropriate concentration or strength of the acaricide.
3. Increased risks of accidents, such as drowning.
4. Inability to immerse sick and pregnant animals.
5. Contamination of acaricide, for example, by cow dung.
6. Introduction and spread of diseases like foot and mouth.
7. Labor-intensive construction and draining processes.
8. Environmental pollution after draining.

Prior to constructing a cattle dip, several factors need to be considered, including the nature of the enterprise, the topography of the region, the availability of labor, ease of accessibility, and proximity to a water source.

The essentials of a well-designed cattle dip or dip tank include:

1. Dip capacity ranges between 13,000 to 22,000 liters.
2. Concrete foot bath and dip tank/drainage race.
3. Proximity to a permanent water source.
4. Smooth walls to facilitate the flow and splashing back of acaricides during dipping.
5. Slip-resistant dip tank floor to prevent accidents.
6. Properly designed correcting yard.
7. Foot boot bath to wash animal hooves and control foot rot.
8. Gentle steps on the ramp to ensure easy exit from the dip tank.
9. Sock pit for safe and convenient disposal of used acaricide.
10. Leakproof floor and walls to prevent acaricide seepage into the soil.
11. Well-drained location with adequate space for holding animals.

Factors to consider when siting farm buildings:

Topography (slope of the land): Avoid flat areas prone to dampness and steep slopes that can lead to instability. Gentle slopes are ideal, while swampy or marshy areas should be avoided due to mosquito breeding.

Availability of water: Situate farm buildings near a permanent water supply for livestock and domestic use, such as boreholes, running streams, or wells.

Protection from scorching winds and sun rays: Avoid building structures in the path of dry, scorching winds. Design buildings to minimize exposure to direct sunlight.

Size of buildings: Ensure sufficient space in farm buildings to accommodate livestock, crops, farm implements, and machinery, avoiding overcrowding that can contribute to disease transmission.

Proximity to the main road: Ideally, position farm buildings near the main road for easy transportation of farm produce to markets.

Location on the farm: Centralize farm buildings to facilitate easy access to fields and other areas of the farm.

Panorama or surrounding view: While not essential, a pleasing view of the surrounding area can provide a relaxing atmosphere for farmers after a day's work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, animal handling layouts play a crucial role in promoting the welfare of animals while enhancing operational efficiency on farms. Crushes, spray races, and cattle dip/dipping tanks offer different advantages and disadvantages, catering to the diverse needs of farmers. By understanding the purpose and considerations for each layout, farmers can make informed decisions about which structure best suits their specific requirements.

It is essential to prioritize factors such as construction costs, durability, labor requirements, acaricide usage, and animal coverage when selecting an animal handling layout. Additionally, careful consideration should be given to siting farm buildings, taking into account topography, water availability, protection from adverse weather conditions, size requirements, proximity to main roads, and overall farm accessibility.

By implementing well-designed layouts and considering these important factors, farmers can create an environment that promotes animal welfare, minimizes stress and injuries, and enhances the overall productivity of their farming operations. Ultimately, the integration of efficient and effective animal handling layouts contributes to sustainable farming practices and the well-being of both animals and farmers alike.