The Design of Beef Cattle Housing, Report of the CIGR Section II Working Group n° 14 Cattle Housing

Many people are involved in the design and specification of beef cattle housing : engineers, architects, extension services, building contractors, and finally the facility manager himself. To achieve a high satisfaction level it is necessary to take into account a range of different factors when defining the optimum animal house for a specific situation. These factors include – animal productivity targets, animal behaviour, animal needs, animal dimensions, climate, labour availability, manager preferences, animals handling and personnel safety. This Report presents a compendium of applied knowledge and understanding of the principles of housing and management of beef cattle. It has been prepared by respected professionals with extensive knowledge of the science and practical design, construction and management of beef cattle housing in Europe and North America. An attempt has been made to provide the busy professional designer and manager with an understanding of the underlying principles that form a basis for engineering and construction solutions.