When designing a cattle handling facility, it’s necessary to consider not only the efficiency of the facility but also the welfare of the animals and the safety of workers. Incorporating design features that promote animal welfare, reduce stress levels, and improve worker safety can lead to a more productive and efficient facility while promoting ethical and sustainable practices. In this blog, we’ve outlined some unique and creative pointers to consider when finalizing cattle handling facilities design.
5 Ways To Choose The Best Cattle Handling Facility Design
Creating a facility that prioritizes animal welfare, reduces stress levels, and improves worker safety not only leads to a more efficient operation but also supports ethical and sustainable practices. Let’s read about innovative ideas to consider when choosing cattle handling designs.
1. Consider Animal Welfare
Cattle are social animals that need to interact with each other to maintain social bonds and reduce stress. Incorporating design features that allow for social interaction, such as a holding pen where they can gather and interact with each other, can reduce stress levels and promote animal welfare. Providing adequate space for cattle to move around and lie down comfortably can also reduce stress and promote animal welfare.
2. Think About Noise Levels
Loud noises can be stressful for cattle and can cause them to become agitated and difficult to handle. You need to understand cattle behavior and handling and design the facility to minimize stress and noise levels as much as possible. It can include using sound-absorbing materials, designing curved walls instead of sharp corners, and positioning noisy equipment away from the main handling area.
3. Lighting
Cattle have sensitive eyes and prefer dim lighting. Use natural light as much as possible, and avoid harsh or flashing lights that can cause distress. You can also use light-colored walls and non-reflective surfaces to make the space brighter without increasing lighting.
4. Design For Ease Of Cleaning
A clean and hygienic facility is vital for animal welfare and worker safety. Incorporate design features that make it easy to clean and disinfect the facility, such as sloping floors, smooth surfaces, and easily accessible water and waste drainage systems. It’s important to ensure that there are no areas where waste can accumulate when finalizing cattle handling facilities design.
5. Use Technology
Incorporating modern technology, such as automated weighing and sorting systems, can make the facility more efficient and reduce stress on cattle. For example, automated weighing systems can eliminate the need for manual weighing and reduce the time cattle spend in the handling facility. It can also reduce the number of workers needed to handle the cattle, increasing efficiency and reducing labor costs.
Make Your Farm Animal-Friendly Today!
Incorporating design features that prioritize animal welfare, reduce stress levels, and promote worker safety can lead to a more productive and efficient cattle-handling facility. Ultimately, a well-designed cattle handling facility can improve animal welfare, reduce stress for animals and workers, and increase productivity and profitability for your operation. If you are looking for the best cattle handling facilities design, contact the Deesing Livestock Handling system. We provide services to design to improve your cattle’s lives. Check our website to understand our services.
