Space requirements

[Rob R]

After a winter where things didn't go to plan due to us not getting the building renovated before winter set in I am just sitting down to plan our winter housing arrangements for this year in advance and I wondered how much indoor space other people allow for their Dexters? I'm working on about 5.4m2 per cow/heifer/bull/large steer including unweaned calves and 3.2m2 for a weaned calf/yearling does that sound about right?

[Jac]

Found this stocking density recommendations for loose housing on my computer no idea where it came from

Up to 100 kgs 2.6 metres sq per head
Up to 200 kgs 4.4 metres sq per head
Up to 350 kgs 7 metres sq per head
Above 350 kgs 1.75 metres sq per 100kg (with a minimum of 8.7 metres sq)

[Rob R]

Thanks Jac. On that basis it looks like I might be under-estimating. I'll crunch the numbers tomorrow but it looks like we'll need a bit more.

[SteveM]

One thing i have noticed based on the winter just ending is pens where we have had less cattle have far shallower depth of bedding to muck out. The pen that had the heaviest stock level is around twice as deep as the others. will have a measure up to see what our stocking level was but guessing it would be quite low

[Rob R]

We certainly find the bedding used per head is much higher, and more frequent, if the pens are full. I ran the figures through comparing my own above, and Jac's figures above and found that the extra needed for next winter was twice as much with Jac's than mine, but if you count the animals that are just over the threshold as being within it (ie a 202kg animal given 4.4m2 instead of 7) then the figures were about the same.

[Jac]

The figures included is total space required assuming that there was no yard area available for them.

We're putting up some Calf-tel Multi-max hutches at the moment opening onto a yarded area. Ten year guarantee - seem quite good if a little expensive, but then they have a re-sale value or we can take them with us if we move.

http://www.calftel.com/products/multimax