Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
other microbial by-products while providing oxygen.
Typical standards for concentration of some gasses in
animal housing include below 0.3% for carbon dioxide and
below 25 ppm for ammonia. The minimum ventilation
requirement for confi nement - housed ruminants is 0.35 m 3
per kg body weight per hour or between 0.43-5.66 m 3 per
minute (15 - 200 ft 3 ) in summer and 0.57 m 3 (20 ft 3 ) per
minute in winter. This value can change depending on the
level of production (higher metabolic rate) and air humid-
ity. Lactating and fast-growing animals under humid con-
ditions may require a higher rate of air ventilation. Propeller
fans are commonly used to deliver a large quantity of air
for ventilation at a predetermined speed set according to
the need for optimum temperature or humidity. The ven-
tilation rate may vary depending on the ambient tempera-
ture, and as it increases, the ventilation rate increases for
comfort of the animal.
because in comparison to sheep, they are aggressive, ambi-
tious, not well insulated, and like to investigate.
Animal Welfare
Welfare of an animal is a state of its physical and mental
health. When animals are housed in confi nement, although
they are provided shelter, food, and water, they are no
longer in their natural habitat of grazing or in the case of
goats, browsing. This may impose a physical or mental
hardship on animals and in turn promote parasitism and
endanger their health. Goats in their natural state exhibit
different behavior that must be observed and promoted
when in confi nement housing.
Animal Psychology
The goat is one of the least domesticated livestock and its
natural tendency is free roaming and browsing. While
roaming and browsing in extensive or natural systems,
where a majority of goat populations are kept, they control
when to eat, drink, and seek shelter for warmth or cold.
These distinct behaviors should be considered when con-
fi ning goats, more so than other livestock species. Many
scientists have discovered that giving the animals more
control of when to eat, when to drink, or even when to be
milked may be important in managing animals in groups
and this may positively impact their production (Appleby
and Hughes, 1993). An automated system of feeding,
watering, lighting, heating, or even robotic milking gives
control to animals to choose their activities. This may
reduce antagonistic encounters arising from competition
for access (Hunter et al., 1988), or too rare or frequent use
of the resources. Individual animals' needs are different
and the automated systems enable animals to predict
changes in their environment and may contribute to their
social well-being and productivity. With current advances
in technology, many of these systems are available that
may be adopted for goat production.
Animal Health
The housing environment, especially in confi nement or
the intensive systems, has a major infl uence on animal
health and productivity. Environment in such a system
refers to a collection of factors including physical,
chemical, psychological, and biological factors that affects
animal welfare, health, and performance. Although a
number of infectious diseases have been controlled through
the use of vaccines and better management, disorders of
the digestive and respiratory tracts and skin diseases are
prevalent in goats kept in confi nement housing. In dairy
goats, mastitis and lameness are typical problems. Good
environmental hygiene, elevated fl oors and adequate space
allowance for animals is desirable.
Animal Comfort
Animal housing must create a comfortable environment
for the animal by providing a reasonably clean, dry, secure
area, with temperatures within the thermoneutral zone
(10-30°C for ruminants), and unrestricted space for rest or
sleep. The importance or priority of each factor may
depend on the type of animal being used, either for milk,
meat, or fi ber. The level of cleanliness of housing is more
important for a dairy goat to avoid mastitis than a meat or
fi ber goat. Also comfortable housing will provide for
freedom to drink and eat, as well as allow goats to express
their natural behavior of being playful, jumping, running,
and fi ghting. Housing should be constructed with proper
design and structural materials that are safe and provide
animals freedom from injury. Unlike sheep, it is more
challenging to provide comfortable housing for goats,
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND
HOUSING COMPONENTS
Careful consideration should be given when deciding
which types of structures to include on the farmstead. Barns
and other farm structures come in all shapes and sizes, and
there is also a wide variation in costs associated with erect-
ing these structures. Although building plans can be easily
changed on paper (with little or no cost), once construction
has begun they are often diffi cult and costly to change. In
the U.S., local governments have different zoning laws,
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