Housing Requirements
Session 1 - Introduction to Housing Requirements

This resource is suitable to support Level 2 Agriculture courses.

Reasons for Housing Livestock

To prevent poaching of the land in winter (to prevent damage to pastures and to fulfil cross compliance requirements)

To make it easier to feed and check the livestock.

To provide shelter to the animals.

To provide better working conditions for the stockman.

To increase the numbers of livestock that can be kept on the farm.

Heating

Most adult farm animals do not require extra heating when housed, however young stock such as piglets may have additional heating in the creep area.

Ventilation

Livestock need sufficient fresh air in their accommodation to maintain a healthy environment.

A good flow of air through a building will reduce air moisture content (lower levels of humidity) and reduce condensation.

graphic of air slats showing field behind them

Disease Prevention

Good ventilation also reduces outbreaks of respiratory disease by eliminating the environment in which disease causing organisms thrive.

The aim is to have a good air flow without draughts and maintain a comfortable temperature (avoiding overheating).

Cross section graphic of a room with slats. From left: 'Fresh wind in', in middle: 'warm air moving upwards', and from right: 'Fresh wind in'

Natural vs Forced Ventilation

Cattle and sheep housing systems in the UK rely on natural ventilation, with air drawn in through the sides of the building (e.g. through Yorkshire boarding) and leaving via vents in the roof (e.g. open ridges).

Forced ventilation may be installed where air is blown into a building. Such systems operate to increase the air flow when certain environmental conditions occur e.g. on still, humid days.

Toxic Gases in Housing

Livestock need ventilation to ensure that the air is relatively dust free and that there is no build-up of toxic gases.

Gases from slurry or litter can build up to levels that are dangerous to both livestock and farm workers.

Agitating Slurry in Slated Floor Housing

When slurry is agitated or stirred it releases more gas; many buildings will have hazard warning signs to remind people of the dangers, but if slurry has to be agitated or stirred in a store under a building, livestock should be moved out of the housing to prevent problems.

The main gases produced will be carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S).

graphic of chemical buildup of Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Ammonia, and Hydrogen Sulphide

Stocking Rates

The numbers of animals that can be kept in a given area is referred to as the stocking rate or when indoors, the housing density.

This will vary between systems, types of housing and the age and type of livestock.

graphic of fence overlayed with text 'stocking rate' and graphic of shed silhouette with text 'stocking density'

Space Allowances

Graphic with text: 'Grassland Ewes (60-90kg live weight) = 1.2 - 1.4 m2 of floor space for each ewe during pregnancy', 'Grassland ewes with lambs at their feet (up to 6 weeks old) = 2.0 - 2.2 m2 of floor space for each ewe and lamb / lamb', 'Lambs amd sheep between 12 weeks and 12 months old = 0.75 - 0.9 m2 of floor space for each lamb', 'Rams = 1.5 - 2.0 m2 of floor space each'

Pregnant Ewes

Where possible, pregnant ewes should be kept in groups of less than 50 as this makes it easier to give individual attention at lambing time.

Cubicles

If cattle are housed in cubicles it is recommended that there should be 5% more cubicles than the number of cows in the housed group.

Cubicles must be large enough for the stock being housed, cubicles that were designed for Friesian cows are too small for the larger Holstein cows.

Generally cubicles are used for housing female cattle; male animals are not as well suited to the accommodation as they will foul the bedding when they urinate.

Flooring and Bedding in Cubicles

Cubicles need to have enough clean bedding to keep the cows comfortable otherwise cows may suffer from contact or pressure sores.

Bedding may be a mixture of materials, e.g. rubber mats with wood shavings on top. Sand can also be used.

To ensure the bedding stays clean the passage ways should be regularly scraped out (at least twice per day for non slatted passage ways).

Straw Yards

Straw yards must be large enough to for all of the cattle to be able to lie down and move around freely.

Table with 4 rows: 'Live weight of the animal (kg)'; 'Bedding area (m2/pen)'; 'Area for roaming & feeding (m2/pen)'; 'Total area (m2/pen)' and columns below: '200, 2.0, 1.0, 3.0'; '300, 2.4, 1.0, 3.4'; '400, 2.6, 1.2, 3.8'; '500, 3.0, 1.2, 4.2'; '600, 3.4, 1.2, 4.6'

Slatted Floors

If cattle are housed on fully slatted floors then different space allowances apply.

Table with 4 rows: 'Live weight of the animal (kg)'; 'Area (not including troughs)(m2/head)'; 'Trough space for limited feeding (m2/head)'; 'Trough space for free feeding (m2/head)'. Columns below are as follows: '200, 1.1, 400, 100'; '300, 1.5, 500, 125'; '400, 1.8, 600, 150'; '500, 2.1, 600, 150'; '600, 2.3, 600, 150'

Which Animals Suit Slatted Floors?

If slats are use they must be of the correct size for the type of livestock. Ewes and young lambs should not be put on slatted floors unless there is additional, suitable bedding.

Fully slatted floors should not be used for breeding cows, however partially slatted buildings (e.g. cubicle housing with a slatted passage way) may be appropriate.

Considerations of Housing Type

When housing cattle, the size of the animals, the type of animal, the type of bedding, the production system and whether the animals have horns must all be taken into consideration.

graphic with text: '1. Size, 2. Type, 3. Bedding, 4. Production System, 5. Horns'

Housing Cleanliness

Stock should have a dry, comfortable lying area, with dry, clean conditions under foot.

This means that stock must be regularly cleaned out and bedded down.

Many farms do not grow cereals and have sought cheaper alternatives to straw bedding e.g. cubicles and slats. If the floors and lying areas are not dry and clean, this will be an animal welfare issue and will also lead to increased incidence of disease.

Tethering Animals: Tying by the Neck

Few animals are tethered when housed, it is no longer legal to tether sows or calves.

If cows are tethered in cow sheds, they must be untethered at least once a day for exercise.

When tethered they must be able to groom themselves.

Floors

Floors (in passageways and other areas) must be well maintained.

If the floors are too rough they may damage the livestocks’ feet, if they are too smooth they become slippery which is dangerous for both the stock and the handler.

image of cows feeding through slatted gate

Housing Requirements Session 1 - Introduction to Housing Requirements