Housing designs is one of the most difficult tasks in any livestock farming business & neglected area. Due emphasis on this aspect is needed for the successful running of the organized goat farm. Goats are more sensitive than sheep & they needs special housing attention than any other livestock.
Physiological & health requirements of the goats should be given priority. Biological needs should be given priority, only after satisfying these needs question of labor economy, methods of feeding & product disposal should be considered.
A good design brings all the requirements together under 1 roof. An outbreak of disease can lead to closing of unit because the infectious disease passes with great ease to all the other stock. In these circumstances infections can only be arrested by evacuating the whole site of the livestock. Most successful building designs attempt to limit the no. of animals in close contact. Young animals of the flock are more sensitive for disease & mismanagement. Therefore unit size should be limited to reasonably low level; it can be very much higher for adults. Young animals are more susceptible for disease and & mismanagement, these animals should be kept in small groups. Recommended density is 20 -25 / pen (Balsare & Singh 1992)
Large farms are more efficient in utilizing the resources than smaller units. As a combine view of economist & veterinarian (taken from Sainsbury 1988) maximum animals that should be held at 1 site is 1000.
Further question arises how far these sites should be built? Some of the diseases have their effect up to 30km so we cannot take this factor because of unfeasibility. Ideally, in Indian conditions 1 house should accommodate 100 animals along with their followers. If you need to expand the farm, add another house of 100 animals in end to end position. If space is less and end to end farm is not possible than add a farm in parallel position but the distance between 2 houses should not be less than 70 feet.
Periodically depopulate the building means empty the farm and clean it with disinfectant like LYSOL & fumigate with KMnO4 + formaldehyde especially in kidding pens and sick animal wards. One thing should always keep in mind that introduces all the animals into the farm once after vaccination & deworming. Do not add animals to the existing flock as it is the main cause of disease outbreaks. Keep same size & sex animals together this will reduce conflict & fighting among them.
If animals are crowded excessively in one part of the house, this part become polluted with the dung & exhalations to the abnormal & harmful degree; the humidity becomes high, adequate air movement impeded & the animals may soon become sick.
Land requirements
- For every 60-70 adult goats 1 acre of land (4046 m²) for fodder is required for 100days.
- Farm land can be better utilize by following silvi pastoral system in which trees can be planted in the sides which can provide fodder as well as wood. (Recommended by IGFRI).
- To accommodate 100 goats and their followers 70 x 70 sq.ft space is required. In this space open & closed area are in the ratio of 2:1.
- Cost of erection of closed shed per unit area is around Rs 90 -125/- depending upon the worth of the area.
Per animal space requirement
| Animal type | Floor space (m²) | Maximum animal per pen | Shed Height (cm) | Feeding Space per animal (cm) | Watering Space per animal (cm) |
| Kids (7days to 3 months) | 0.5 – 1.0 | 20 – 25 | 300 | 30 -35 | 3-5 |
| Adult female | 1.0 – 1.5 | 60 | 300 | 40 – 50 | 4 -5 |
| Pregnant & lactating female | 2.0 | 8 – 10 | 300 | 40 – 50 | 4 -5 |
| Adult male (entire) | 2.0 | 1 | 300 | 40 – 50 | 4 -5 |
| Sick animal | 2.0 | 1 | 300 | 40 – 50 | 4 – 5 |
Location of land & climatic needs
Following points should be consider
- Site – spacious and easily approachable, lone land with strong boundary/fencing, should be elevated
- Soil – sandy loam for easy drainage and cleaning and fertile
- Sunlight – exposure to floor to remove dampness, goats can tolerate greater degree of temperature.
- In all conditions 60 – 70 % humidity is best (12 – 15mm Hg vapor pressure)
- Winds – no direct draft of hot and cold wind, this can be achieve by planting trees around the farm fencing which provide cool healthy environment as well as fodder.
- Market & accessibility should be available near the farm & make arrangement of reliable transport
- While transporting give animal free choice clean drinking water & anti stress solution like vitamin B complex & vitamin C
- Electricity for tube well for uninterrupted water supply.
- Goat is most efficient in water utilization after camel. Water is needed for farm activities.
- Height of shelter should be 2.7 to 5m (2.7m height is most recommended from economical point of view) to provide proper ventilation & to reduce heat load.
- Shape of the roof – “A” shaped; to save other half side from direct radiation.
Types of sheds required for an organized goat farm:
Flooring
Most of the time kuccha floor is seen in the farms. This have its own limitations along with advantages. The main advantage is its cost effectiveness, it has been said that all the urine passes into the soil which make farm shed clean. Hoof problems are also lessen in these types of floor. But they are difficult to clean & disinfect which is the main limitation of these sheds and infection persists for long time. Concrete floor is easy to clean and disinfect. For kids wooden floor is recommended which provide insulation from ground.
Ventilation requirements
THI
Orientation of farm
Avenues for integration & future expansions (proposals for BIOGAS PLANT & AQUACULTURE)
Fencing
Working facility area
Equipments used in an organized goat farms