On the basis of an in-depth study of the literature, we note that different housing systems for cattle are used in practice. On farms with cattle, tied-in housing system, free barn with cubicles, free barn without cubicles on deep straw or pressed manure, compost bedded pack barn and barns with permeable floor are used in practice. Each of the mentioned cattle housing systems has its advantages and disadvantages. Which type of housing system for cattle the farmer will choose, depends on the place where the farm is located, construction costs, maintenance costs and the possibility to cover the investment in the barn and equipment. The farmers want the stables to be designed in such a way as to allow the animals as much comfort as possible, to be environmentally friendly and to enable the breeder to work safely and efficiently. Cattle should be able to move freely in the barn, have access to pasture, have constant access to high-quality feed and water, and have possibility to socialize with other animals in the herd. The introduction of modern technologies such as automatic feeding, robotic milking, automatic calf feeding, robotic cleaning of slurry alleys, and other modern technologies contribute to better production results, better animal health, better reproduction, and longevity of animals, and provide breeders with more flexibility in performing daily tasks in the herd. The B. Sc. Thesis examines the advantages and disadvantages of different housing systems for cattle from the perspective of Slovenian breeders.
|