| Buildings
Roundhouse completes a Designing the internal
Triple
environment for
livestock buildings
The award winning Roundhouse has
reached another milestone by having one
customer buy 3 Roundhouses for one farm.
Dr Martin Heywood, RIDBA Technical Consultant.
airy Farmer, Chris
McDonald from
Heddon on the
Wall in
Northumberland
bought his first
RH30 in 2011 to house his dairy
calves, convinced the ventilation
benefits would solve the
pneumonia problems he was
incurring.
This unit, the first of its kind for
calves at the time, was so
successful that in 2013 Chris
ordered a second RH30 for his dry
cows. In this second building Chris
built a five stall parlour to take
colostrum from the freshly calved
cows to feed the calves. The cows
then re-join the main herd only
once Chris is happy they are over
D
the calving and their feed intake
meets set parameters.
Having bought two RH30’s we
thought Chris was done, but in
spring 2017 Chris asked if we
could fit a RH45 on the farm for his
followers. Specifications were
agreed and planning submitted
and in November 2017 work
commenced on site. The
Roundhouse is now complete and
in use and now we wait to see if
he’ll go for a forth!
Chris is unique in having three
Roundhouses, but we do have a
farmer with a current order for
three Roundhouses for this year
and we have another existing
RH30 owner, with his site being
prepared ready for a RH45.
28 | Farming Monthly | June 2018
t is essential that
animal housing
provides a
comfortable, clean
and dry
environment free
from hazards and health risks.
The design of the building and
specification of the materials used
to construct it play a major role in
achieving these aims and, if done
properly, can lead to healthier,
happier and more productive
animals. This article considers
some of the issues that should be
addressed by building designers
and farmers in order to improve
the well-being of their livestock.
Ventilation
The provision of adequate
ventilation is arguably the most
important consideration when
designing a new building for
animal housing. A distinction
needs to be made between a well
ventilated building and a draughty
I
one. Nobody, human or animal,
wants to live in a draughty building
that lets in cold air whenever the
wind blows, causing discomfort
and potentially ill health. On the
other hand, a regular supply of
fresh air is essential to replenish
oxygen, remove exhaled carbon
dioxide and control temperature
and humidity. Correct ventilation
will reduce relative humidity and
the risk of respiratory infections,
eliminate stagnant air and avoid
unwanted draughts.
Factors to consider when
designing a building for ventilation
include:
• The dimensions of the building
and layout of any internal
partitions
• The proposed occupancy of
the building
• Factors affecting the local wind
speed including building location,
altitude, shelter and proximity of
other buildings.
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