Shelter management for dairy animals: A review

Abstract

Shelter managemant is the manipulation microclimate of animals to suit best to their welfare reducing climate stress without affecting much to the cost of construction Shelter should be designed to meet the requirements for health and comfort of the animals, convenience and comfort of the operator, efficiency of labourand materials handling and compliance with applicable health regulation. problems related with housing are cost. ventilation,scare resources, hygeine. manifestation of disease, behavioural concerns etc. Amelioration of these problems could be achieved by management intervention with respect to various components of housing and installation of cooling system to reduce heat load. In moderate, hot and dry and hot and humid zones, it is better to provide walls at south and west side for protection from rain and wind. During extreme weather condition open sides of shed can be covered temporarily with gunny bags, plastic sheet. bamboo mat, straw panels etc, Area-wise housing strategies for different kind of kind animals can be identified and evaluation of new housing design to suit for diffrent local condition based on locally available resources in this context could be explored. Inter-relationship of various factors affecting shelter condition need to he carefully identified and addressed.