The demand for the housing of animals in a more natural environment with more freedom of movement is growing ever larger. Traditional cubicles restrict cattle in lying down or getting up. Since the 1970’s, the search has been on for an optimum cubicle design, but it’s never been found.

The demand for the increased useful life of cattle has accelerated the development of free-range stables. Along with a number of partners, ID Agro has been focussing it attention on two promising free-range systems.

On the one hand there is the Biobodem™, a climate-controlled compost base. On the other hand, the Koeientuin, a free-range stable which combines a synthetic floor with a natural environment created by adding large amounts of foliage. Take a look at the Courage website.

Aspects which are significant to these design principles are improved animal wellbeing, the creation of aesthetically pleasing structures, improved environmental integration, lower ammonia emissions and economic viability.

Structure

A dry top layer is essential for all free-range stable concepts. It is important that cattle are able to rest in dry areas. Maximum wall- and roof ventilation make it possible to optimally manage this.

ID Agro offers a number of roof ventilation options.

Serrestal® move
Roof ventilation by means of extracting trusses, available in single- and double sided models.

Cross ventilation can remove the hot air from barns, or it can be removed via the trusses. You can choose to have multiple trusses equipped with an automatically operated roof faces. Depending on alignment, you can select extra air extraction or –input.

Options include the column-free covering of the barn floor.

Serrestal® cabrio
Ridge ventilation by which the entire roof can be rolled away. Available in single- and double sided models.

With the Serrestal® cabrio system, the entire roof can be rolled away, meaning that ‘indoors becomes outdoors’ and the maximum amount of ventilation is achieved. Only the steel structure remains visible. Options include the column-free covering of the barn floor.