Essential Tips for Building Effective Cattle Pens in Your Farming Business

How to build cattle pens: Cattle farming will never lose its appeal as the demand continues to increase year after year. It’s no wonder that many cattle farmers have successfully made a profit from this business.

However, starting a cattle farming business requires caution in many aspects, including the construction of the cattle pens. Cattle pens must be clean to prevent cattle from easily contracting diseases. Ensuring that the pens are well-built will help the cattle grow healthily. Here are the steps to building cattle pens according to the Buku Pintar Bertenak & Berbisnis Sapi Potong by Drh. Samsul Fikar and Dadi Ruhyadi.

How to Build Cattle Pens in Your Farming Business

Location and Position of the Pens

The authors believe that the location, position, and orientation of the pens significantly influence the development and growth of the cattle. It is recommended that the pens face east to receive sunlight. Sun exposure is beneficial for the cattle and helps prevent stress. If you plan to build a single pen, facing it east is highly recommended. However, if you’re building double pens, a north-south orientation is also suitable.

Pen Size

Before determining the type of pen, first understand the type and size of the cattle when fully grown. Additionally, consider whether you will be raising a large number of cattle. For each cattle, the pen size should be 15×25 m, 1×15 m, or 15×2 m. Estimate the space to ensure the cattle can move freely, including the placement of drainage channels. This is crucial to prevent the cattle from becoming stressed.

Pen Construction

The construction of the pens must be made from quality materials. However, since this is a business need, you might opt for more affordable construction.

Nonetheless, there are several essential aspects to understand when building the pens:

• Drainage and Pillars: A drainage system to facilitate cleaning waste. Additionally, make the pen pillars from rounded wood, as they are more durable and won’t harm the cattle.
• Walls: Do not make the pen walls completely closed. Create open walls to maintain air circulation and prevent odor and disease buildup. You can use wooden planks, concrete walls, bamboo panels, or boards. Some farmers only build walls around the feeding and drinking areas, with a height of 0.5-1 meter.
• Roof: You can use tiles, thatch, asbestos, or even zinc for the roof. For beef cattle, asbestos roofing is acceptable as these cattle types can tolerate heat. Some cattle may only need an open roof. Usually, pregnant cattle are placed in open areas to facilitate the birthing process.
• Corridor: If the pens are individual, there will usually be a corridor for you to pass through while feeding and watering the cattle. The corridor size is typically 0.5-1 meter and made of cement. Ensure you create a textured surface to prevent slipping.
• Drainage Channel: The recommended size of the drainage channel is 10-20 cm, placed inside the pen, precisely at the rear end of the cattle. This allows for easier cleaning.
• Feed and Water Troughs: The feed and water troughs should have a 2:1 ratio. If the feed trough is 1 meter long, the water trough should be 0.5 meters.

Apart from these points, make sure you clean the pens regularly. This is crucial to prevent cattle from becoming stressed and contracting diseases. It’s also beneficial to occasionally let the cattle outside for fresh air.