How many hectares of pasture is needed to graze one cow and how to organize

How much milk does a Simmental cow produce?

After the first calving, a Simmental cow gives 15-18 liters of milk per day, after the fifth - up to 25 liters. During lactation – up to 4.7 tons. The fat content in the milk of first-calf heifers reaches 4.1%, and with age it drops to 3.9%. Among the livestock there are individuals that produce milk with a fat content of up to 6%.

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Calculation of pasture area

Lesson 5

Calculation of pasture area

Purpose of the lesson

— master the organization of a paddock grazing system, learn to determine the area of ​​pasture for livestock, the load, the number of paddocks, their size and system of use.

There are two systems for using pastures: free and paddock. In the first case, the pasture is used haphazardly. When driven grazing, the pasture is divided into sections - paddocks, which are grazed in a certain sequence, which protects the pastures from overgrazing and spoilage, and increases productivity by 20...25% compared to unsystematic grazing.

Cultivated pasture is a highly productive land created by radical or superficial improvement of natural forage areas, as well as grassing of arable land, on which a pasture area has been established, livestock grazing is carried out in portions and appropriate care of the grass stand is carried out.

Cultivated pastures can be long-term, used for more than 5 years, and short-term, used for up to 5 years. Land areas located near livestock breeding complexes and, due to natural conditions, suitable for creating highly productive grass stands are allocated for cultivated pasture. These conditions correspond to river floodplains (especially the central and near-terrace parts), lowland meadows and estuaries, drained swamps and slope lands.

For the organization of non-irrigated cultivated pastures, areas with heavy and medium soil texture are considered the best, and for irrigation - with medium and light soils.

Cultivated pastures for dairy cows and calves up to six months of age must be placed near the farm, and when creating cultivated pastures in remote areas, special camps must be built. The movement of cows from a farm or summer camp to a distant paddock should not exceed more than 2 km, and calves - no more than 0.5 km.

Young cattle over six months old, beef cattle and sheep can be fed only on pasture grass and do not require complex equipment in the camps to maintain them. For them, it is possible to organize cultivated pasture in more remote areas and allow movement over a distance of 2.5...3 km (and for ewes and lambs up to 1.5 km).

For each economic group of animals it is necessary to organize independent pasture areas. It is advisable to locate several plots in one area, which reduces the area under cattle pastures, reduces the cost of fencing and irrigation, and facilitates pasture care and veterinary supervision of animals.

The area of ​​the plot is determined depending on the number of livestock and its need for green fodder, the food supply consumed and the distribution of the green mass harvest over periods of the grazing season.

Pasture load is the number of heads of livestock that can be grazed per 1 hectare during the entire grazing period. The pasture area is determined based on the capacity or load, which is determined by the formula:

,

where N is the load per 1 hectare of pasture, heads;

P—consumed feed supply, c/ha;

K is the daily norm of green feed per head, centners;

D is the duration of the grazing period, days.

Find the required area for 1 head. Multiplying this value by the number of animals in the herd, we find the required pasture area. This area should be increased by 30...40% to create an insurance fund and remove areas from grazing that are left for improvement and haymaking.

The number of paddocks into which the pasture should be divided is calculated using the formula:

,

where K is the number of pens;

T is the period of grass regrowth, days;

t is the period of use of one pen, days;

2 - 4 - reserve insurance pens (from 2 to 4).

Paddock area is determined by dividing the total pasture area by the number of paddocks.

When organizing a pasture area, the following must be taken into account:

· the pasture should be located at a distance of no more than 0.5...1.0 km from the farmyard. If this distance is greater, then a summer camp is set up in the pasture where animals are kept. Pastures, paddocks, and runs for livestock must have certain boundaries and be surrounded by a fence;

· pens, if possible, should have the same area and rectangular configuration. The width of the pen is set so that one animal has 1.5...2.0 m for adult cattle, 1.0...1.25 m for young animals from 1 to 2 years old, and 0.4... for adult sheep. 0.6 m, horses - 1.5...2.0 m. The length of the pen should not be 2...3 times greater than the width;

· optimal composition of a herd of cows 100 heads, young cattle 200, a flock of sheep 1000, a herd of horses 100 heads;

· runs are laid in the driest areas. The width of the run from the farm to the pasture for cattle is 10...15 m, for sheep 30...40 m. Inside the pasture, each paddock must have direct access to the run. The width inside the pasture run for cattle is 8...10 m, for sheep - 15...20 m.

Distance to watering hole:

· optimal 300…500 m,

· maximum permissible 2…3 km for adult cattle,

· 1…1.5 km for calves,

· 2.5…3 km for sheep,

· 0.5 km for pregnant sows at 4 months and weaned piglets up to 4 months,

· 1…1.5 km for single sows, pregnant sows up to 3 months and replacement young animals.

The daily water requirement of adult cattle and horses is 50...60 l, young cattle 30...40 l, sheep 4...6 l;

To shelter animals from the sun in daytime rest areas, it is necessary to arrange green umbrellas or canopies per head:

· adult cattle 10…12 m,

· young cattle 4…6 m,

· adult sheep 2.5...3 m,

· lambs 1.5...2 m.

Determination of the total pasture area required for grazing.

There may be 2 approaches to solving the problem, it depends on the conditions for allocating pasture areas.

1. Some type of pasture (hayfield or pasture) is supposed to be used during only part of the grazing period and, moreover, once. Then the entire amount of feed needed by the herd for the period of use of this type of pasture should be divided by the yield of the pasture in a given season. Then the required number of pens and the area of ​​each pen are determined.

The annual need for pasture area is determined by the formula:

,

where A is the animal’s need for pasture feed during the grazing period;

B is the pasture productivity throughout the entire grazing season.

Let us assume that the productivity of the pasture is 40 tons of green mass per 1 hectare, and the duration of the grazing period is 150 days. One cow requires 60 kg of pasture feed per day, therefore, 9 tons are needed for the entire grazing period (0.06 t × 150 days). Thus, one cow will need 9 tons during the pasture season: 40 Knowing the size of the area for one cow - 0.22 hectares of pasture, it is easy to determine the pasture area required for the entire herd.

2. Cattle are kept on the same type of pasture throughout the entire grazing period. It is impossible to do here as in the previous case, since the amount of forage mass in individual segments of the grazing period, in individual grazing cycles, differ very greatly. Grass regrowth slows down especially significantly in the second half of summer. Therefore, the calculation process here is somewhat more complicated. First, determine the area that can be used during the first grazing of the pasture, before the grass becomes coarse (Table 9, points 1...8). For short, this area is called the main area. Then it is determined how many days the animals will have enough food in the main area (in total for all grazing) and how many days during the grazing period there will be no food in this area (points 10...14).

Table 9

Calculation of the pasture area required to fully provide the herd with pasture feed

The necessary additional area is determined on which the animals can be fed in the second half of the grazing period, when there is not enough grass in the main paddocks (points 15...16). Additional area on cultivated pastures of the forest and forest-steppe zones, where the regrowth grows well, is represented by paddocks in which the grass stand is mowed for hay or silage during the heading phase, when there is an excess of grass on the pasture. The residue that has grown after mowing is removed. The harvest on the pasture taken as an example during early mowing is distributed approximately in half - out of 150 centners per 1 hectare of gross harvest, 75 centners are mowed and 75 centners grow in the form of waste.

Observations and calculations show that, depending on differences in productivity due to different natural conditions and different agricultural techniques in the forest zone, the additional area should be in the range from 30 to 150% of the main one.

The main area of ​​the pasture must be divided into at least 8 paddocks (Table 9, point 9), which in the forest zone on cultivated pastures are usually additionally divided into 2...3 parts by electric fences. The number of pens in the additional area (clause 17) is set so that the area of ​​the pens is approximately equal to the pens in the main area.

In cases where it is possible to allocate only pasture for the herd, which is obviously insufficient in area, it is still necessary to calculate the required area using the method outlined above. This will make it possible to identify in advance the main indicators for compiling pasture rotation (see below), as well as the need to mow part of the pasture area, determine the possible collection of hay, or the size of the green fodder deficit.

The lack of grass has to be compensated by feeding livestock. Based on the number of paddocks calculated from Table 9, the student needs to draw up a pasture rotation diagram.

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For business

The first action of a novice businessman is to find out the presence of competitors . You need to open a farm far from identical points. Another aspect is identifying demand, analyzing and establishing sales points.

You can supply products to markets, stores, and factories. To expand your business, it is advisable to find a sales market in neighboring cities.

If breeding bulls for meat as a business recommends you, we recommend reading our article on where to start and how to properly organize this business.

Decor

If your farm has 2-3 cows, business registration is not necessary. If livestock breeding is planned on a farm scale, registration is necessary (in the future, it is necessary to obtain certificates of product quality). Also, official registration will help you take out a preferential government loan if your own funds are not enough to develop your business.

Employees

It is recommended to involve residents of the village in which the farm is located. The list of main vacancies :

• vet;
• accountant;
• manager responsible for sales;
• handyman-cleaner;
• milkmaid (if there are no milking machines).

At the initial stages, the farm owner can serve as a manager and accountant.

Costs and income

The total amount for opening such a business is no less than 650,000 rubles. Costs will include equipment (construction) of a barn, purchase of cattle, registration of activities and payments to employees.

Additional expenses may be necessary to optimize the business: purchasing devices for feeding feed, water or waste removal, constructing a building for a slaughterhouse.

On average, with a livestock size of 10-15 individuals per month, you can get up to 2 thousand liters of milk and 200 kg of meat. Sales of milk will bring up to 1,000,000 rubles, meat – more than 1,200,000 rubles. Additional income will come from the sale of manure. The investment will fully pay off within 10-12 months after opening the business .

How to write a business plan?

Next, you will learn how to make a business plan for raising cows for meat or dairy cattle for a farming business. A business plan is a clear and consistent presentation of ideas, strategies, possible risks and results. It is necessary to define the areas of activity, as well as:

1. rational choice of territory;
2. defining initial objectives;
3. organization of the technological process;
4. customer base;
5. calculations of expenses and profits.

It is better to think through and draw up a business plan with the involvement of specialists (experienced farmers, lawyers). It is important to accurately define goals and identify all possible problems to minimize their impact on the process.

Raising cows is a profitable business , since food products will always be in demand on the market. When opening your own business, you need to choose the right place and buy suitable breeds of cows. In the future, proper care will bring success to the business and profit to the owner.

Combined breeding method

Keeping and breeding cattle at home for a novice farmer can be combined. This means that there will be individuals in the herd both for meat and for milk. There are mixed breeds of cows, bred by breeders and ready for both purposes.

Such universal breeds as Simmental, Lebedinsky, Swiss, Red Gorbatovsky, Kostroma are suitable for business. All of them are capable of achieving large body weight, and females produce an average milk yield of 3,000 to 5,000 kg per year. Almost every breed is capable of producing 50% of its weight for slaughter. The growth of calves is quite active and by six months they weigh quite impressively.

All of the listed animals have high levels of taste for meat and dairy products. This is a clear plus for a successful business.

Is breeding profitable?

Many beginners wonder whether it is even profitable to keep a cow on the property. Say what you will, but based on expert reviews, in recent years there has been a significant reduction in the number of cows in the country. However, in fact, all this happens because of the labor-intensive process of caring for animals, and not because of unprofitability. Agree, you will have to devote a lot of time to the cow. Regular grazing, feeding, twice-daily milking, vet checks and keeping the barn clean will all take a lot of your energy.

Nevertheless, you can make money in this business, and not bad. It is believed that a high-yielding cow is capable of producing from 3.5 to 6 thousand liters of milk per year. This means that on average a farmer can earn up to 220 thousand rubles from one cow. Provide quality conditions for the animal, take care of it, and the business will soon produce the first visible results.

What it is?

Animals will bring considerable income , since milk can be used to make butter, cheese and other fermented milk products, freeze meat, sell it fresh, or seal a stew.
Another option for generating income is raising and reselling young animals. The first step of a novice farmer is a thorough analysis of the slightest nuances of the future business. Before understanding how to breed cows, it is necessary to understand the ultimate goals of this action.

1. Analysis of the conditions of the region of residence (are there fields for grazing).
2. Economic factor (competitors and product market).
3. Features of keeping cows in winter and summer.
4. Clarification of the final goal (obtaining meat, milk or complex products). Selection of appropriate breeds.
5. Environmental factor (where to sell manure).

Cows are distinguished by their large size, good appetite (they consume a lot of feed) and demanding conditions in their place of residence, but all these aspects are quickly covered by finished products.

Purchase of young animals

The purchase of calves is selected depending on the purpose for which you need them: for meat or dairy products. Breeding cows for milk as a business (you will find a video on this topic at the end of the article) will be a pretty good start for a beginner. To choose the right dairy stock, you should pay attention to several features.

When purchasing animals, be guided by your own experience and advice from experts.

Cows that are best suited for milk have a round midsection and underdeveloped muscles, so their bellies are often oddly shaped. In addition, they have thin horns and a more elongated head. In dairy cows, the withers are quite sharp, and the loin is aligned with the croup of the cattle's body. Together they form an almost straight line. Of course, the udder must be very large and completely hairless. After milking is finished, it decreases greatly and forms small folds.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the age of the individual, since over time she will produce less and less milk. How many years an animal lives can be calculated by its horns, that is, by the number of lines on them. When you count all the ridges on the horns, simply add two more years to this number and get the exact age of the cow. Everything is more than simple.

Great income will be brought not only by the sale of milk, but also by raising cows for meat. So, now let's turn our attention to the selection of these breeds. They differ in the following features:

• heavy weight;
• suitability of carcass;
• cow's adaptability to climate change;
• a healthy uterus so that the cow can bear calves every year;
• rapid growth of young animals.

Such cows are very rarely purchased for sale; most often they are taken for the sale of meat. This type of business is the most profitable business, but also the most difficult.

What are the specifics of the case?

The lifespan of 1 cow is more than 25 years . It takes at least 5 years for a calf to grow into a full-fledged and healthy animal. The average weight of weight living in households is 600 kg, on farms – 400 kg.

What features should be taken into account? In the first place are the rules of care in different seasons. Throughout the year, animals need to create optimal living conditions (maintain temperature, humidity). It is necessary to feed and milk the cattle, observing the regime. A paddock should be equipped for walking, but it is preferable to take the cows out to pasture (meadows, fields) in the warm season.

Specifics of building a farm for profit

Raising cows on farms can be considered a fairly profitable business if you follow basic farming standards. The breeder must understand the following issues:

• types of livestock for producing dairy and meat products, what are their differences and advantages;
• features of raising livestock of the selected breed;
• nuances of content in different seasons and seasons;
• opportunities for marketing and selling dairy and meat products.

The farmer will need to draw up a business plan that will include:

• initial costs, start-up capital;
• fixed and variable costs;
• possible profit from sales.

Based on calculations, it is possible to assess the real possibilities of running a farm.

Important features of starting a business are the need to maintain documentation and compliance with production standards.

Disease Prevention

An important preventive measure in the fight against common diseases is vaccination, which must be carried out starting from the age of two months. You will need to be vaccinated against pasteurellosis, brucellosis, foot and mouth disease, anthrax and rabies.

In order to prevent the occurrence and development of infectious diseases, it is also important to keep the barns clean and dry. Once a week, it is advisable to treat the premises with slaked lime or caustic soda. In addition, it is important to prevent livestock from coming into contact with wild animals and rodents.

To prevent many diseases, it is necessary to vaccinate cows in a timely manner.

The health and well-being of cows must be systematically monitored. If you notice lethargy, refusal to eat, or discharge from the nose and eyes, you should call a veterinarian.

Sanitary and veterinary standards

In addition to a constant comfortable temperature (not lower than ten degrees Celsius), it is recommended to maintain a relative air humidity of at least forty percent and no more than eighty . In addition, it is important to pay attention to the fact that an area of ​​at least four square meters must be allocated for each individual.

It is recommended to keep young animals separately from adult animals. Infected and recovered individuals must be quarantined.

How much land is allocated for pasture to rural residents per 1 head of cattle?

The wire was attached with metal staples to wooden slats (width 5-6, thickness 2-3, height 100-110 cm), located between the posts every 5 m. The slats only touched the surface of the ground and prevented one row of wire from overlapping another during the wind, and also in winter, when it sags due to frozen snow or ice. The top row of wire was pulled at a height of 110 cm, the remaining rows were distributed evenly - in four-row sections after 20-25 cm, in three-row sections - after 30-35 cm.

In fenced pastures, animals were kept without shepherds. However, to organize a watering place and carry out preventive veterinary measures, one worker was assigned to each herd—the herd caretaker. When necessary, he was assigned assistants.

We are equipping the building

The best option for maintenance is an old farm.
Building a building from scratch is not an economically viable option. An alternative is to rent a ready-made barn. The room should be located away from residential buildings and sources of water . According to sanitary standards, the minimum distance to a house is 15 meters, to wells - 20 meters. It is preferable that it be located next to the garden (manure disposal).

If you decide to build a barn yourself, pay attention to the materials. Brick or foam concrete are suitable for construction - they retain heat well. It is advisable to make the floor from cement - it is durable and hygienic. Wood is not recommended, as the material absorbs odors and rots quickly.

Stall organization

If there are a large number of animals, you need to equip stalls . For comfortable keeping of 1 cow, 2 sq.m. is enough. Be sure to make a slope for waste drainage. The stall should have a separate door for cleaning (located on the opposite side of the feeder).

If you want to receive large volumes of milk, consider the water supply and purchase milking systems. It is more profitable to buy a special device than to regularly pay milkmaids.

A useful addition to a barn is a loft. This is a convenient place to store hay. It will also allow for additional insulation of the ceiling.

About reproduction

The sexual age of heifers is 8 months, the onset of physiological maturity occurs at 18 months . Live weight by this period reaches 300 kg. Female cows have a sexual cycle that repeats every 21 days.

For proper insemination, mating must be done 10-12 hours before feeding. The duration of pregnancy is 285 days. In the second half of the term, fetal movements are observed in the right side of the abdomen. In the last month of pregnancy, you need to stop milking the cow (give physiological rest).

It is important to provide pregnant cows with a balanced diet. Their diet should include hay, succulent feed, concentrates and mineral supplements (chalk, salt, flour).

Signs that labor has begun - the cow looks at her belly, moos loudly, and stomps her hooves. The owner needs to treat the paws, tail and genitals with potassium permanganate and wipe with a towel. Cows usually do not need other human assistance when calving.

Keeping bulls

Breeding bulls for meat as a business requires high-quality maintenance and care. During the warm season, they need daily walking. It is not recommended to keep such individuals in a stall all the time, although this way they gain weight very quickly. This method makes them aggressive and contributes to various diseases.

Setting up a paddock involves expenses for a beginning farmer. Accordingly, he must arrange the right place for walking, which must be constantly kept clean. This method produces very good quality beef. If the number of heads is quite impressive, then you will most likely need house helpers. The point of recruiting personnel and wages for it should be considered at the initial stage and when building a business plan.

If you still choose a method of keeping bulls on a leash, then you need to take care of high-quality equipment, as they can be aggressive. In the stall, individuals must be well secured. On the other hand, this method allows you to assess the condition of the animal, make various measurements, and veterinary examinations.

Breeding bulls as a business for the production of meat products in a pen requires less costs than housing in a stall. One of the reasons for this conclusion is that much fewer employees are needed to operate.

Warnings

• As mentioned above, do not shout or chase the cattle as... this will only increase stress. And when they feel cornered, it can make them aggressive. Trapped animals are very dangerous and can seriously injure you or even kill you.
• Excited, wild movements can also cause a lot of damage to equipment and the animals themselves. Walking calmly and slowly is the fastest way to get them moving and on track without any problems.

Choosing good cattle

The first rule is that the breed must meet the designated purpose of the business (meat, dairy). When purchasing, find out about the productive qualities of the parents. It is recommended to purchase purebred breeds, since crossbred individuals lose important characteristics. Pay attention to your body type :

• elongated head;
• bulging eyes;
• there is no vegetation on the ears;
• wide depressions between the ribs (a sign of developed alimentary and pulmonary systems);
• long and thin tail;
• developed rump and wide rear (for good calving);
• elastic skin;
• loose udder;
• length of juices up to 8 cm.

Purchase of young animals

The purchase of calves is carried out with an identical goal: compliance of the breed with business goals. Young animals of the dairy breed are distinguished by long legs and a bony body structure, with a light head. The tail of such calves is long (to the middle or below the hock).

Beef calves are characterized by short legs, a heavy head, a small tail and a “knocked down” body type. To obtain meat, farmers recommend buying bulls , as they gain weight more quickly and their meat is less fatty.

Common factors for young animals of any type are a moist nose, shiny coat and no symptoms of stomach upset (signs of health).

Common types

The following dairy breeds are suitable for keeping in the climate of our country.

1. Black-and-white (large cattle, cup-shaped udder, high milk yield).
2. Kholmogorskaya. Individuals have a small udder, but produce more than 8,000 liters of milk per year.
3. Yaroslavl breed. Its distinctive features are weak muscles, low weight, and high milk yield (6000 liters per year).

In addition, farmers involved in the production of dairy products often choose the Red Steppe breed of cows. You can read more about this breed here.

Which meat breeds should you pay attention to? In first place is Ukrainian meat. Up to 65% meat and skin are sold. Cows are unpretentious to food and quickly gain weight. Also on the list are Hereford, Aberdeen Angus (60% meat) and the elite Charolais breed (for bacon).

We provide the right watering place

Sources of water for cattle grazing may be different, but it is better not to use rainwater, as it has a poor mineral composition. However, if other options are not suitable, you can take it, but then the animals need to be given mineral supplements.

Artesian waters, which lie deep underground, on the contrary, have a rich composition. But sometimes they are oversaturated with salts and other substances. Cattle may refuse to drink such water or become even more thirsty.

If there is a river, pond or lake nearby, you need to make sure the water is safe. The place chosen for the watering hole must be fenced and a descent convenient for the cows must be made.

If there are no sources of water nearby, drinking bowls are made by digging wells in the ground. Every time after the cows drink, the water is changed so that bacteria do not multiply there. For the same reason, the soil around the drinker should not be allowed to “sour.”

Remember that the distance from the grazing area to the water should be no more than 2 km, so that the cow can walk back and forth without getting tired. Cows need to drink 3-4 times a day, in hot weather - up to 5 times. Water temperature is also important. In summer the optimal temperature is 16-20 degrees, in winter 8-12. For calves, the water temperature should always be 15-16 degrees.

Sales of products

This is an equally important stage of business. Having decided what kind of product should be the output - meat or milk - the farmer needs to sell it.

If the farm is aimed at breeding and raising meat heads, then after purchasing young animals, meat will be available in about a year. Dairy cows produce milk constantly, except at calving time. Related products can also be supplied. These are skins, milk (cheese, butter, kefir, sour cream), semi-finished meat products. At the beginning of the article, mention was made of such a direction as the sale of young animals. If you know how to organize the raising of calves, this can become an additional profit.

Any of the goods, be it milk or meat, can be sold wholesale or retail. Many processing plants often collaborate with farms. It is also possible to enter into agreements with catering outlets and shops. Guided by the main advantage - the environmental friendliness of the products - it is necessary to establish high-quality sales of products.

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