Sheep and Goat Housing - PVNRTVU SHIKSHANA

HOUSING

HOUSING (SHELTER AND SHED)

Sheep do well under natural conditions. Any intensive system of housing the sheep is detrimental to their health and adversely affects their growth and wool quality. For housing code of practice for sheep housing as laid down by Bureau of Indian Standards (I.S: 27331985) mentioned below may be followed:

Plan

It is necessary to provide yards for housing sheep kept for wool and meat production and goat kept for meat production.
The number of units of each type to be provided in yard would depend upon number of animals to be looked after. The area of each unit shall depend upon the minimum floor space required for each animal and number of animals to be kept in each unit.

Location

Dry, elevated and well drained place not exposed to strong winds, hot or cold. A place where there is a longer period of shade in a day should be preferred. Longer walls should face the north-south direction in plains.

Floor space

Minimum floor space requirement per animal (sheep or goat).

Type of animal	Minimum floor space per sheep/goat ( m)
Ram or buck in groups	1.8
Ram or buck individual	3.2
Lamb or kids in groups	0.4
Weaner in groups	0.8
Weaner, individual	0.9
Yearling/goatling, individual	0.9
Yearling/goatling in groups	0.9
Ewe or doe in groups	1
Ewe or doe, individual	1.2
Ewe with lamb	1.5

Housing for sheep is kept for wool and meat, and goats kept for meat productions
Units
(a) Sheds
(b) Shearing shed and store room
(c) Shepherd’s room.

TYPES OF SHEDS
Commonly, at the rate of 2 sq.m per animal and 1.2 m above ground is provided for each shed. Shed must be fenced.

Type of shed	Size (m)	Height (m)	Maximum animals
Ewe or doe shed	15 x4	3	60
Ram or buck shed	4 x2.5	3	3
Lambing or kidding shed	1.5 x1.2	3	3
Lamb or kids shed	7.5 x4	3	75
Weaner shed	7.5 x4	3	75
Yearling/goating, shed	10 x5	3	50
Sick animal shed	3 x2	3	1
Shearing shed or store room	6 x2.5	3
Shepherd’s room	6 x4	3

Ewe or Doe shed

These are meant for housing ewes or does kept for breeding purpose.

Ram or buck shed

These are meant for housing rams or bucks kept for breeding purpose. This shed must be partitioned lengthwise to form three equal compartments. The partitions may be of wooden planks and should not be more than 1 m high from the floor.

Lambing or kidding shed

These are used as maternity room for ewes or does. A manger for feed and a bucket for keeping water should be provided in the shed.

Lamb or Kid shed and Weaner shed (7.5 x 4 m)

This is used for lambs or kids that are weaned until they attain maturity.
This shed should be partitioned breadthwise dividing it into two compartments.
The compartment having the dimensions 5 x 4 m should be used for unweaned animals and the other compartment having dimensions 2.4 x 4 m should be used for weaned but immature animals.
Lambs or kids shed should be provided at the rate of 5 such units for 60 breedable ewes or does.

Sick animal shed (3 x 2m)

This is meant for segregating ailing and disabled animals.
The door of it should be 1 m wide and 2 m high on one of the broad sides of the shed.
The lower half of the door may be made of wooden planks and the upper half of wire netting. There should be a window of 0.7 m wide and 1.2 m high with a wire netting cover.

Shearing shed and Store-room (6 x 2.5 m)

This room should consist of two compartments with a dividing wall. One room is for strong wool and shearing tools and the other for storing feed and medicines.
The door of it should be 1 m high in front side. It may have two windows of 0.7 m wide and 1.2 m high each, on each of long sides of room.
This should be covered with wire netting. One holding pen for about 30 sheep in front and the other holding pen behind shearing shed should be provided to hold shorn sheep after shearing.

Shepherds house

It is meant for caretaker and it should be located at a convenient place in yard. It should pave a door (1 x 2 m) on the long side of the shed facing the passage of yard.
There should be 4 windows, one of these should face the passage of yard and other facing outside. Each window should be 0.7 m wide and 1.2 m high covered with wire netting.

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Note:
1. Wooden batten, flooring should be constructed 1 m above ground level. The sides of the plank should be rounded and clearance between two planks should be to 1.5 cm for easy disposal of dung and urine. Width of each plank should be 7.5 cm to 10 cm and thickness 2.5 to 4 cm.
2. A suitable drain of 7.5 cm depth and 30 to 40 cm width should be provided at the end of floor side.
(b) Walls:
•These should be of brick in lime mortar up to 2/3 of the height from floor level and remaining 1/3 may be of bird proof netting.
Requirement for a unit of 200 sheep under different system of rearing

(a) Floor:

Conditions	Type of floor
1. Hot dry, arid or semi-arid areas	Kaccha or sandy
2. Heavy rainfall areas	Wooden battens
3. Shearing, store room and shephered’s room.	Moorum floor

Systems of rearing	Lands of pastures (8animals/ acre)	Poor type (5 animals/ acre)	Housing	Equipment	Feeding
Intensive grazing system	25 acres	40 acres	Ewe: 200 sq ft. covered area	Fencing material, tattoing machine, feeding and watering troughs, drenching gun, syringe, dip, scissors, tail docker, hoof parer.	Mineral supplements, hay requirements for lean months in rainy days etc.
			Ram: 100sq.ft. covered area
			Lambing and young stock: 750sq.ft. covered area
Intensive grazing system with suppleme-ntation	25 acres + 4 acres of irrigated land for fodder production	40 acres + 4 acres of irrigated land for fodder production			Mineral supplements, hay requirements for lean months in rainy days etc. + 3.54 quintals of green fodder to be produced from the land
Intensive	25 acres	40 acres			Same as in a system of 200 g of concentrate mixture containing wheat bran, rice polish and oil cake (1:1:1) for about 3 months
Stall feeding	8 acres for fodder production + 2 acres of conc. Production		Ewe: 200 sq ft. covered area	All those at 1 except fencing	7 quintals of green fodder + 250g concentrate mixture for about 3 months
			Ram: 100sq.ft. covered area
			Lambing and young stock: 750sq.ft. covered area +
			Ewes: 600 sq.ft open area
			Ram: 500 sq.ft open area
			Young area: 3000 sq.ft open area

For shearing and store room, the walls on three sides except in front should be of brick in cement mortar.

Lean to gable type roof may be made of plain or corrugated asbestos sheets. The slope of roof would depend upon rainfall and other climatic conditions.

(d) Gate:

At least one gate (0.8 m width x 1 m height) must be provided in each shed.

(e) Manger:

It should be of cement concrete with two compartments for providing feed and hay at a height of 45 to 60 cm above the ground.
The number of mangers and water troughs would depend upon number of animals. Water troughs may also be made of cement concrete or galvanised steel.

(f) Dipping tank:

It may be made of galvanized steel sheet or constructed of brick in cement mortar. It should be located at one side of the yard.

(g) Foot path:

It may be of galvanised steel sheets or brick in cement mortar al the entrance to the yard to protect from foot rot disease. It should be well embedded in the soil.

(h) Lighting:

A 60-watt bulb for each 25m² floor or equivalent fluorescent tube light should be provided.

HOUSING MANAGEMENT OF GOAT

HOUSING MANAGEMENT IN RURAL AREAS

House for goats must be secure, dry, well ventilated, free from parasites, droughts, clean, well lighted and facing east west direction.
House must be on higher level for easy drainage House should be able to provide protection from rain, cold, direct sunshine and winds.
Comfortable house is one where inside temperature remains between 15°C to 25°C. Three to five goats may be kept in one house of 2.1 m in length and 1.5 m in width.

HOUSING FOR GOATS IN COLD WEATHER

In rural area the suitable ground level house for cold weather is built with a rammed earth floor and brick walls of about 1.5 m high.
The ‘A’ shaped roof of 3.5 m height in centre is made of thatched, straw/tiles/asbestos. It is covered by straw.
Hopper types windows like those in poultry houses are made. Painting walls from outside helps in reducing temperature inside.

HOUSING OF GOATS IN WARM AND HUMID CLIMATE

For a warm and humid climate a raised level is suitable. It is made of bamboo rails and has no side walls. The floor made of bamboo is raised by about 1 m off the ground so that excreta and urine may fall through gaps in the floor.
The ideal width of the shed is 3 to 3.5 m with a manger of 35” wide running through the centre. Goats are tied on either side with a floor space of 1-5m² per adult goat.
Bucks must be housed separately from the milking goats and separate sheds for pregnant doe, kids and sick animal be constructed.

ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF GOAT HOUSES ARE AS FOLLOWS

Factors	Desired features	Reasons for
Soil	1. Sandy loam	(1) To keep surroundings clean
		(2) To keep dry: proper drainage.
		(3) Avoid cracks near foundations,
		For good yield of crops to prepare legume hay.

		Neither too dry nor too moist for longer life of sheds.
	2. Fertile
		For easy drainage, clean surroundings avoids foul odour, and prevent parasitic infestation.

	3. Condition



	4. High lands
Site	1. Easily approachable	1.to supervise well and take care
Site	2. Spacious	2. for future expansion
Sunlight	i) Exposure of floor to sunlight	(1) To remove dampness.
		(2) Checks germs growth.
	(ii) Inside temp 15° to 25°C.	(3) Keeps floor dry and building clean.
		(4) Facilitates work
	(iii) Humidity level 12-15 mm Hg (vapour pressure)	(5) Benefits animals
Orientation	East-West	(1) For cooler environment.
Orientation	East-West	(2) More radiation.
Shelter design	Open type sheds	To keep appropriate microenvironment in relation to macro environment for good health.
Winds	(i) no direct draft of hot and cold winds.	(1) To provide shade and cool environment
		(2) To prevent sudden change in temperature
	(ii) Planting trees as wind breakers	(3) To avoid bad effect on body physiological norms.
		(4) To provide emergency feeds.
Market	Near	(1) For ready, easy and cheap availability of raw materials.
		(2) Easy disposal of meat, milk and male kids.
		(3) To stabilize prices.
		(4) To reduce expenses on storage of meat (refrigeration Cost).
Durability	Longer life	1.better look
		2. easy to keep clean
		3. low maintenance
		4. long life
		5.less infestations and infections
Accessibility	Main road	(1) Little away from mass road.
		(2) Quick disposal
		(3) Quick procurement of raw material
		(4) To minimize cost of transport.
Surrounding	Safe, clean and unvegetated	(1) To prevent thefts
		(2) Safety of animals and farms goods.
		(3) To prevent economic losses
		(4) To increase comforts to goats.
Electricity	Enough, continuous	(1) Run machine without pullouts and noiselessly.
		(2) To process meat products
		(3) Speedy work
		(4) Security reasons
Buildings	Clean, dry, free from droughts	(1) For cleanliness
		(2) Good environment inside
		(3) Good health of animals
		(4) To reduce ailments
Width and size of shelter	1.Wider space (5 to 6 m)	To reduce heat load on body of goats.
Width and size of shelter	2. shaded area	To reduce heat load on body of goats.
Doors	Wide enough free from sharp objects and nails	(1) To permit easy entrance
Doors	Wide enough free from sharp objects and nails	(2) To prevent injuries
Height of shelter	3.5 – 5 m	(1) For proper ventilation
		(2) To reduce heat load
		(3) To provide wholesome environment
Shape of roof	‘A’ shape	(1) To save the other half side from direct solar radiation.
Shape of roof	‘A’ shape	(2) To reduce heat increase from roof
Roofing materials	Hay thatch, earthen tile, asbestos for hot climate	(1) For avoiding heat stress
		(2) Cheaper
		(3) To reduce heat load
Floor	(1) More space in hot weather	(1) For convective removal of heat
	(2) Slotted, raised for humid hot climate	(2) For good ventilation Easy cleaning.
	(3) Cork brick floor for hot climate.	(3) for thermal resistance
	(4) Concrete floor	(4) to keep animals cool
Floor space in sq.ft. (yadav, 1992)	1. Adult goats 12 to 16 sq.ft. per goat, and 60 goats per shed
	2. Lactating and pregnant – 20 sq.ft. per goat and 8- 10 does per stall
	3. Bucks 20 sq.ft. per buck and one buck per stall
	4. Kids (7 days to 3 months) 5-6 sq.ft. per kid and 20-25 per shed
	5. Kid (3-6 months) 8 sq.ft/ kid with a log for exercise
	6. Kids (6-12 months) 0 sq.ft. per kid
	7. Sick animal 20 sq.ft. per each pen and one per stall
Design of shelter	Easy to carryout operations	To make feeding and cleaning easy

FLOOR SPACE, FEEDING AND WATERING SPACE FOR GOATS (Balsare and Singh, 1992)

Goat	Floor space (m²)	Maximum animals per pen	Shed height (cm)	Feeding space / animal (cm)	Watering space / animal (cm)
Kids	0.5-1	20-25	Heavy rainfall areas: 220	30-35	5-Mar
Kids	0.5-1	20-25	Dry: 300	30-35	5-Mar
Adult female	1-1.5	60	“	40-50	5-Apr
Pregnant and lactating doe	2	10-Aug	“	40-50	5-Apr
Adult male	2	1	“	40-50	5-Apr

CONVENTIONAL SHEDS

1. Suited to temperate regions.
2. Designed, ground level raised with complete roof, walls, windows and ventilators.
3. Suitable to small sized flock.
4. Goats are kept in these by chains tied around their neck.

LOOSE HOUSING SYSTEM

Advantages

Suitable to large sized flocks.
Suited to semi-arid regions
Less expenditure
Easier for future expansion
Provides more comfort to animals
More goats can be accommodated in a given area
Less labour requirement
Feeding and watering easier.
Freedom of movement gives benefit of exercise
Benefit of sunlight, cool weather at nights.