How to make a manger for a cow. Sheep feeder options For combined feed and grain
The productivity and profitability of cows is largely determined by their living conditions. It is desirable to place a cowshed at a small distance from other outbuildings. For its construction, a small covered room with a height of about 2.5 meters is suitable; for each adult animal, 20 square meters are needed. m. area.
DIY cow stall
The stall for the animal must be made small, the width should be about one meter, the length is two meters. It must be made from strong building materials - hollow pipes, logs, bricks, boards or stone. The most rational option is to use logs, since they are less prone to rotting and deformation.
On the farm, a stall for an animal can be made independently using bricks, if the area of \u200b\u200bthe existing premises is of considerable size. To do this, it is necessary to build the base of the cowshed, and then lay the bricks using a special mortar. Such stalls are popular and widely used in villages and villages, they have good ventilation and moisture does not accumulate in them.
There is a feeder in front of the structure, and a waste channel in the back. The channel must have the required level of slope to drain into the storage tank. Above the exit of the channel from the barn, you need to build a window that will be used to clear manure. The passage to the stall should be straight, without curved lines and turns. On the left side of the stall, with its optimal design, there should be a small free space that can be taken away for storing water tanks or a cage with a small calf.
DIY cow feeder
The feeder is made from oak or pine boards. Before its construction, the boards are cleaned, dried and polished to avoid traumatic injuries to the animal. Three types of feeders can be distinguished: lifting, folding and moving feeders.
The most efficient type of design is the lifting trough with folding walls, it allows the best cleaning of the trough from food and its disinfection. For the manufacture of such a feeder, you can take the following overall dimensions: the bottom width is about 45 cm, the upper width is 80 cm, the height of the outer side is 30 cm, the inner one is 1 m. On the inner side of the feeder, you need to make a protrusion for the neck of the animal.
An efficient and economical type of feeder is the design with a grate. The grate should have the same length as the feeder and a slope of about 45 degrees to the front wall. When using this type of feeder, feed and hay are not scattered around the stall and the animal does not trample it.
Barn drawings
Video Lesson: Barn Overview
Barn temperature
In the process of keeping and caring for cows, it is necessary to maintain an optimal temperature regime in the room, since it significantly affects the animal's metabolism. The most favorable temperature range in the barn is considered to be 10 - 20 degrees Celsius and the humidity is about 75%.
In the event that the temperature in the room for keeping cows is lowered relative to the required range, the metabolic processes of the animal increase and heat production increases, as a result, the animal will require more feed. A decrease in the temperature in the barn can also affect the reduction in milk yield.
An increase in the air temperature in the barn leads to thermal stress, a deterioration in appetite, the composition of the blood changes and there is an increase in the frequency of respiration and the work of the heart muscle, and ultimately a decrease in milk yield.
By the way, waste from growing cows (manure) can be used to provide energy for this barn. To do this, you will need to build or buy a large plant for the extraction of biogas from manure. Although, with straight arms, you can
A reliable and convenient feeder for livestock is a guarantee of health and good productivity of the animal and successful work farmer. You can create a functional and easy-to-maintain place for feeding cows on your own, with your own hands, having understood the types of structures and the requirements for them. About the features of such manufacture - later in the article.
Requirements for feeders for cattle
Designing where cows and calves will be fed while in the stall or pasture is very important. The main criterion is the need to have separate containers for dry and wet food, as well as a drinking bowl. Let's take a closer look at the features different types structures.
For pasture
During a walk in the pasture in spring and summer, the cow has the opportunity to independently obtain food for itself by eating grass. 
In the autumn, this may cause certain difficulties, so farmers should provide for the possibility of building a feeder or area for feeding cows, which should have the following characteristics:
- functionality;
- capacity;
- easy and infrequent maintenance;
- little loss of food.
Important! The conical feeder is the safest structure for grazing cows with dry food. Also, its advantages include ease of assembly and operation, strength and durability.
Another option for pasture feeders is a square cage with a crate. It is often used on the farm due to its low cost, but it can be traumatic for the animal due to the risk of its head getting stuck between the bars. 
Maintaining the health and productivity of cows, especially dairy breeds, requires the inclusion of grains and balanced feed in the diet.
For convenience and the least loss of this type of feed, as a rule, automatic feeders are used - devices that minimize the loss of raw materials and provide access to the required amount of food. They are also indispensable helpers when raising calves in a stall. 
For the stall
When organizing a place for feeding indoors, it is necessary to act, taking into account such factors:
- the number of heads of livestock;
- type of keeping cows;
- technical or manual conditions service.
If the farm has a large number of livestock, then it is rational to use automatic feed stackers on the table, and in small ones it is more convenient to use a mounted feeder, replenishing stocks manually. 
To feed cows in a stall, it is necessary to create a table - a structure raised above the floor level by 15–30 cm, as a rule, fenced with low (up to 50 cm) walls. The wall prevents dry feed from falling under the feet of the cows, and also serves as a barrier, protecting the cleanliness of the table and hay from manure that lies on the floor.
Hay tables, if the animals are able to move freely in the barn, can be:
- vertical. A feeder with straight bars allows the animals to move freely and is a more comfortable design for the cows;
- oblique. This design has inclined rods, cows are in a certain fixed position during meals and do not move freely;
- automatic. The most expensive design, which has such an advantage as the ability to fix the animal for veterinary examination. If necessary, the cow can be fixed in one or another required position.
If the animals are in one place, it is enough to organize a simple feeder. 
It is worth noting the need to use different containers for different types of feed - coarse and liquid. The stall feeder can be made independently.
Did you know? In order to protect young animals from the desire of older relatives to eat their portion of food, experienced farmers recommend installing automatic feeders with limiters in the conditions of keeping adults and young individuals in the same room. Calves will be able to easily stick their heads into the feeder, but larger cattle will not be able to do this.
Types of structures
Feeder designs may vary depending on:
- the type of feed for which it will be used;
- the material used in the manufacturing process;
- the number of livestock for which it is created.
Under the hay
Dry feed in the form of cut and dried grass is a must for feeding cows, as it can compensate for the lack of fresh herbs in the cold season. For the convenience and rationality of the use of hay in walking areas, special feeders for livestock are organized - as a rule, they have a conical shape. This is convenient for animals that can freely approach the feeder and eat as needed, in addition, this design is comfortable to serve. 
Conical structures have several advantages over traditional wooden cages:
- ease of assembly;
- safety for animals - the risk of injury is minimized;
- durability;
- feeder strength.
For feed and grain
Diverse nutrition is the key to good health and high productivity of the cow. In order to enrich the diet of cattle with the vitamins and microelements it needs, it should be fed with grain and compound feed. Automatic feeders are very popular for this type of feed. Their advantages can be called:
- Low percentage of feed loss.
- An easy way to provide the required amount of food for a cow.
- Especially often automatic feeders are used in farms where the young are bred.
Automatic feeder with animal recognition system: 1 - feed hopper; 2 - control station; 3 - antenna; 4 - pulse sensor; 5 - cup feeder; 6 - screw dispenser.
How to make a do-it-yourself cow feeder
There are many ways to make a feeder for a large cattle on one's own. We will consider the simplest and most popular methods.
from wood
Materials needed to make a wooden trough for 6 cattle:
- 8 wooden boards measuring 15 cm x 4 cm x 6 m;
- 1 board 10 cm x 4 cm x 6 m;
- 6 boards 15 cm x 4 cm x 40 cm;
- 1 kg of nails 100 mm.
Instruments:
- roulette;
- pencil;
- Circular Saw;
- carpentry corner;
- long line;
- ropes;
- a hammer.
Manufacturing steps:
Video: How to make a cow feeder
The benefits of drinkers and feeders
To give the required amount of milk or meat, the cow must drink enough water. For 1 liter of products, you need about 4 liters of liquid, that is, 60-80 liters per day. It is worth equipping special feeders and drinkers for cattle for several reasons:
- Cows will not scatter food under their feet. This will ensure its cleanliness and reduce consumption. The time for cleaning the stall will be reduced.
- It will be possible to dose the feed and adjust the components of the diet.
- The water will always be fresh, it is easy to clean the drinkers. Devices are compact.
- Animals will come to a certain place. This will make it possible to inspect them if necessary and pacify the violent ones.
If the farm is large, it is better to equip automatic drinkers. Weather and types of food affect the amount of water in a certain way. An unstable bucket is often used to water calves, but the owner must control the process.
Requirements
The herd must be protected from all sorts of damage. To make a cow feeder with your own hands, you should choose the right material. It shouldn't be toxic. This requirement is met by:
- wood;
- cast iron;
- stainless steel;
- durable plastic that does not contain harmful substances;
- brick;
- a rock.
Lead and similar metals are not suitable. Wooden products are not covered with paint and varnish.
Drinking bowls and feeders are created so that animals do not litter. Pregnant cows and young animals should not drink cold water. The structures should not have sharp corners and protrusions.
If the cattle are not tied up, drinking structures are placed near the feeders. So that the cows do not touch the edges of the structure with their larynx, it is worth maintaining the distance between them and the floor. Feeders should be spacious.
Types of drinkers
The main purpose of the devices is the timely supply of water in the right quantities. Today, farmers use two types of drinkers:
- Individual - when the cows are tied.
- Group - when animals are not kept on a leash. They can be portable and stationary. The former are used in pastures, the latter in the barn.
Often in farms there are level structures. The principle of their work is the supply of water in portions. The pressure makes the device work and provides fluid to several animals at once. The disadvantage of such a device is its unhygienic nature. There is a risk of spreading infections.
Do-it-yourself drinkers
The most convenient plastic container. It serves for a long time, withstands temperature extremes. For the manufacture of group structures, stainless steel is often used.
simple fixture
At home, they make simple designs: they hollow out a recess in the deck, fix the bucket, plaster and equip the drain. Water is added as needed. Make sure that the cracks are well sealed, otherwise the flow rate will increase.
For large farms, structures are made in the form of a toe, a gutter. A pipe is brought to them from the water supply. The fluid is supplied through a valve. For bulls or heifers, an individual drinker is installed. The milk trough is able to drink 8-10 heads of young animals.
Another one of simple ways group drinking is a large-diameter sawn pipe with welded ends. It is often used in pastures where there is no running water.
Automatic fixture
Provides animals with water at any time and in unlimited quantities. Making drinking bowls for cows with your own hands begins with the construction of a separate tank.
Float valve design
The name explains the water supply scheme. It is identical to the work of the drain in the toilet bowl. Creation consists of the following steps:
- a vessel is fixed at a height;
- the flow of water into the drinking bowl is provided by means of a pipe;
- so that the liquid stops flowing, use a damper attached to the rocker arm;
- a float is installed in the autodrinker and its other end is fixed.
For the design to work, the float must be heavier than the damper. It will lower as the liquid level drops. Then the valve will rise and the liquid will flow. When filling, the flap will close again. The winter structure is supplied with heating.
It makes no sense to make an individual drinker for cattle automatic. The device is used to provide liquid to many heads.
cup design
The description of the principle of operation is similar to the previous one. The difference lies in the fact that an autodrinker in the form of a bowl acts as a valve. When the water decreases, it rises, at the same time the damper opens. When filling, the container lowers and the valve closes. This type is great for tied cows. The main problem of the cup design is to teach cows to drink from such containers.
Nipple design
It is difficult to make it by hand. Not everyone knows how to make a nipple, so it's easier to buy one. The size of the teat drinkers for calves depends on the age of the babies. In order for the young to learn to drink with the help of the device, you will have to make an effort.
DIY feeders
Designs must be functional. They are installed to reduce feed consumption.
Simple fixtures
If the livestock is small, they often make a feeder from any tree. Chipboard is best not to use, especially if the barn is damp. The cross section of the structure should be in the form of a trapezoid. The dimensions are as follows:
- about 80 cm deep to fit the head;
- 80 cm wide at the top.
It is better to install a vertical crate in front. This livestock feeder will last a long time.
pasture
Hay in the form of stacks or in bulk is mixed with manure. In the cold season, a feeder will be an excellent solution for providing animals with food. First, they are determined with the project and select a drawing.
To make it convenient for cows to get food and not scatter it, a cylinder-shaped design is often used. It is blocked from below, which allows small fractions not to fall out. At the edges equip the crate. The advantages of the design are as follows:
- cows cannot get a large amount of hay at once;
- strength and durability;
- exclusion of injury to cows.
A homemade hay feeder can also be square. The crate in this case is made vertical. The cost of producing such a structure is small. Minus - cows or bulls get stuck between the bars, which causes injury.
Do-it-yourself drinkers for cattle
Gas cylinder for drinkers
Conclusion
Ensuring optimal conditions of detention makes the economy profitable. The type of feeders and drinkers is chosen depending on the direction, number of heads and funds.
Drawings can be found on the Internet or in special publications. This design will provide the bull or heifer with the necessary amount of milk until such time as they switch to adult food.
Is a container for food, that is, a feeder. We think that this subject is important not only in cattle breeding, but also in other branches of household farming. However, the cow feeder must comply with certain rules. Any container or trough will not work here. For different feeds, they should be different: for dry and wet separately.
The most important feeder is for hay and grass. It must be hinged, have a rectangular shape. To prevent spillage of food, many owners make the front wall slatted, but with such a condition that the animal can easily stick its head between the partitions.
Wet mash and grain can be given in a bucket, as well as in a special plastic container. Today they are commercially available and used for both cows and horses. Most often, to save space, it is made hinged and corner, as in the photo.
From the point of view of convenience and hygiene, the feeder is considered the most acceptable, which has a folding side wall and a hay grate. It should also be possible to remove the container. In the summer, when the animal is in the pasture, it can be dried well in the sun, and it is also easy to clean and wash.
As for size, feeders from 100 to 120 centimeters in length are used for cattle. The width, as a rule, is about 60-80 centimeters, and the width of the bottom is 35-40 centimeters. The outer board is made up to 75 centimeters high. What are the options for home-made and purchased feeders, look at the photo in our article.
Manufacturing instructions
So, the easiest way to make a do-it-yourself cow feeder is from wooden boards. If you are not afraid to work with wood, you know how to clean it properly, then such material will become not only natural and clean, but also comfortable. You can use pine or oak. Today there are three options for feeders: mobile, folding and lifting. We will produce lifting with folding walls.
We will need:
- wooden boards;
- woodworking tools, grinder;
- measuring tape;
- drawing;
- steel bars or wooden slats.
Manufacturing
- To begin with, we find suitable boards, dry them, clean and grind them.
- We take a drawing and set the required dimensions: the width of the bottom is 45 cm, the width of the feeder itself is 80 cm, the height of the outer side is 30 cm, the inner side is 100 cm.
- On the inner side, for the convenience of the animal, we make a small indentation for the head and neck.
- After the structure itself is ready, it is possible to make a lattice from wooden slats or steel rods. It will prevent scattering of hay. For convenience, we provide several options for do-it-yourself feeder drawings.
Video "Modern purchased plastic containers for cows"
In this video, you can see what modern plastic containers exist for, as well as what they can be used for.
A good farmer knows that everything that is done by one's own hands is not only convenient, but also pleasant. Today, any master can build a barn for his cow, and make a convenient, correct container for food. How to make a cow feeder with your own hands, let's talk right now.
Peculiarities
One of the most important items in a cow stall is a food container, that is, a feeder. We think that this subject is important not only in cattle breeding, but also in other branches of household farming. However, the cow feeder must comply with certain rules. Any container or trough will not work here. For different feeds, they should be different: for dry and wet separately.
The most important feeder is for hay and grass. It must be hinged, have a rectangular shape. To prevent spillage of food, many owners make the front wall slatted, but with such a condition that the animal can easily stick its head between the partitions.
Wet mash and grain can be given in a bucket, as well as in a special plastic container. Today they are commercially available and used for both cows and horses. Most often, to save space, it is made hinged and corner, as in the photo.
From the point of view of convenience and hygiene, the feeder is considered the most acceptable, which has a folding side wall and a hay grate. It should also be possible to remove the container. In the summer, when the animal is in the pasture, it can be dried well in the sun, and it is also easy to clean and wash.
As for size, feeders from 100 to 120 centimeters in length are used for cattle. The width, as a rule, is about 60-80 centimeters, and the width of the bottom is 35-40 centimeters. The outer board is made up to 75 centimeters high. What are the options for home-made and purchased feeders, look at the photo in our article.
Manufacturing instructions
So, the easiest way to make a do-it-yourself cow feeder is from wooden boards. If you are not afraid to work with wood, you know how to clean it properly, then such material will become not only natural and clean, but also comfortable. You can use pine or oak. Today there are three options for feeders: mobile, folding and lifting. We will produce lifting with folding walls.
We will need:
- wooden boards;
- woodworking tools, grinder;
- measuring tape;
- drawing;
- steel bars or wooden slats.
Manufacturing
- To begin with, we find suitable boards, dry them, clean and grind them.
- We take a drawing and set the required dimensions: the width of the bottom is 45 cm, the width of the feeder itself is 80 cm, the height of the outer side is 30 cm, the inner side is 100 cm.
- On the inner side, for the convenience of the animal, we make a small indentation for the head and neck.
- After the structure itself is ready, it is possible to make a lattice from wooden slats or steel rods. It will prevent scattering of hay. For convenience, we provide several options for do-it-yourself feeder drawings.
A - ground; b - adjustable in height: 1 - side trough; 2, 3 - bent twig and tendril of the bucket holder; 4 - crossbar; 5 - feeder; 6 - riser; 7 - hole; 8 - stopper; 9 - bucket; in - feeder-leash: 1 - side trough; 2 - feeder; 3 - collar; 4 - riser; 5 - chain; 6 - bracket
Video "Modern purchased plastic containers for cows"
In this video you will be able to see what modern plastic cow feeding containers are and what they can be used for.