What is it?
A family farm is understood as a farm that is partially used or fully owned by a farm, which was created on the basis of the law on peasant farming in the country and in full compliance him, as well as where all members of the farm are relatives and take full part in the life of the farm they created. In addition, such a family farm can hire up to 5 workers at a time to provide assistance.
How to organize a family farm?
To properly organize a family household, you will need to take a number of actions and collect a fairly impressive package of documentation. The list of documents that need to be collected will depend on the target direction of the future farm.
For example, family livestock farms, whose activities will be related to the breeding of large cattle and its contents, will require the acquisition of a plot of land (farmland) and obtaining a farmer’s certificate. If the farm’s activities are related to the breeding and keeping of small animals or pigs, then it is not necessary to purchase agricultural land or obtain a farmer’s certificate.
We should not forget: in order to get maximum profit from farming, it is best to grow your own animal feed, rather than purchase it.
In addition to a plot of land, any livestock farm requires spacious, capitally constructed premises. In such premises, animal breeding can be carried out throughout the entire calendar year. Once again we are faced with the question of acquiring land or leasing it. Then we need to go through the procedure for approving the construction of buildings. The construction issue must be coordinated between the architecture and local administration. If our plans include running a fairly extensive business, then it is necessary to register as legal entity, or obtain a farmer's certificate. In addition to the above, we will need to prepare project documentation and a business plan. The main list of documents has been prepared, construction work completed. At the next stage we will need to obtain all kinds of permissions various organs, and this is the regional SES and labor inspectorate, from firefighters. With all the documents and permits, we contact the administration, which issues decisions on opening a family farm. Once you have received the ruling, it’s time to take care of the service personnel. We will need workers who will care for the animals, as well as an accountant, veterinarian, and livestock specialist. If we plan to independently grow animal feed on our agricultural lands, then it would not hurt to have an agronomist on the farm’s staff; without this specialist, it will be very problematic to sow the necessary crops, harvest them in a timely manner, etc.
Family Farm Grant
A family farm can receive a grant, which is currently issued for its establishment and development and amounts to 60 percent of all costs that are indicated in the business plan or in the expenditure plan. However, for one farm this amount cannot exceed 10 million rubles. VAT is not taken into account in this case. In this case, the head of the farm must have at least 40 percent share own funds. The use of credit funds is allowed, but in this case they must be at least 10 percent of own funds, and the remaining 30 percent of credit.
A number of requirements and restrictions are established for all applicants for grants:
- The head of the family farm, as well as relatives, no less than three people, must be citizens of the Russian Federation who jointly carry out production activities, and also take personal part in the work of the farm;
- at the time of submitting an application for participation in the competition, such a farm must have been operating for more than one year;
- an application for participation in the competition is submitted to the subject of the Russian Federation where the family farm is registered;
- neither the head of the farm nor its members had previously received grants for the development of small or medium-sized businesses. This also includes receiving grants for the creation of a peasant farm and its development, as well as for the development of family farms related to livestock breeding; other than that we didn’t receive financial resources in the form of subsidies;
- the head of the household and its members must permanently reside in municipal formation, where the farm is registered and directly located;
- According to Federal laws, such an enterprise must fully comply with the criteria of a small enterprise and microenterprise.
A family farm can use the grant it receives for the following:
- reconstruction or modernization of a livestock farm, as well as services for drawing up project documentation;
- construction, reconstruction of production facilities, their modernization;
- completing facilities related to the processing of livestock products, improving technologies and purchasing new equipment, carrying out installation work with them;
- purchase of farm animals, and these are cattle and goats, sheep and horses, donkeys and hinnies, mules and pigs, rabbits and fur-bearing animals, poultry.
Example of a successful family farm in the following video:
Demand for raw milk in Russia exceeds supply. The profitability of production in the southern regions of the country reaches 37% 3–5 years after the start of the farm operation and repayment of loans.
For a long time, milk production in Russia was considered profitable only for large agricultural complexes. The constant shortage of raw materials forced processors to pay attention to small producers, moreover, they offer goods at competitive prices and more high quality. The dairy farm as a business for small entrepreneurs and peasant farms has become especially attractive after the introduction of state support.
To assess the prospects of investing effort and money in this labor-intensive and difficult production, let’s consider:
- product demand, market trends;
- Feasibility study for opening a dairy farm;
- manufacturer support programs;
- examples of successfully operating peasant farms.
Brief overview: how much milk do you need and where to get it
Milk is included in the list of the Doctrine of National Food Security and is a strategically important product. Its consumption in 2015 was 230 kg per person, which is 2 times less than the recommended norm. According to the Russian Food Market magazine, its sales in 2015 increased by 7%, and in general, dairy products are increasing every year by 2.5%, despite prices.
Almost the only importer today is Belarus, and the total share of imports last year was about 16%. According to Soyuzmoloko, processing production capacities are only 60-70% loaded.
Economists always compare current indicators with the “pre-perestroika” level of 1990. By comparison, milk consumption fell steadily until 2000, when it reached an all-time high of just 51% of the volume consumed per capita in 1990. After that, the trend changed and there is constant growth. If there is enough milk in stores, then the same cannot be said about other products derived from it. Already in 2011, domestic cheese production was 65% of the base year 1990 level, and butter production was only 26%.
The bulk of milk for processing is produced by agricultural organizations. Households receive approximately the same amount of it, where it is consumed, and a small part is sold on the market. The share of peasant farms and small farms is only about 7%, but it is steadily increasing from year to year. In 2015, farmers overtook agricultural enterprises in all indicators: increase in the herd, its productivity, and marketability of products (Fig. 1). The average number of cows is 40 in peasant farms, and about 300 in organizations.
Milk production is very uneven across regions (Fig. 2). The leaders are Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Altai and Krasnodar region, Rostov region. In total, 15 regions of the country provide 50% of production. In 2015, 91.5% of the planned volume in the country was produced, while the deficit is about 30%.
The distribution of commercial milk is very different from the general picture; for example, in the Siberian District it is only half the volume. The distribution of government subsidies depends on this indicator. Who received the most government money in 2015 can be seen from the diagram - these regions are more likely to receive real support (Fig. 3).
How much does a dairy farm cost: financial and economic justification
When organizing a farm, you need to focus on modern technologies for keeping and feeding livestock, and new means of mechanization. Good profitability is shown by farms that use high-quality roughage and succulent feed, robotic installations that provide milk yield accounting, automatic filtration, and cooling. Such devices are equipped with a washing and disinfection system, which allows you to obtain high-quality milk. Here are two investment calculations. They are compiled for completely different regions of the country, however, the main indicators are very similar.
| Basic expenses, rub. | Source of funds, rub. |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchasing cows | 3,000,000 (50 heads) | Loan funds (Rosselkhozbank, 13% for 3 years) | |
| Purchase of milking equipment, mechanization equipment | Subsidy under the Vologda region program | ||
| Construction of premises | Own contribution | ||
| Sales of products | Delivery to processing plant |
||
| Loan repayment | 2,223,800 per year |
||
| Profitability | |||
| Profit after taxes | |||
| Indicators | Expenses, rub. | Attachment source |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase of livestock | 1,600,000 (30 heads) | Grant from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic | |
| Buying a truck for transporting feed | Loan from Rosselkhozbank (14% per annum) | ||
| Construction of a barn using a self-sustaining method | Your funds | ||
| Sales areas | Retail trade: markets, individuals |
||
| Planned revenue per year | |||
| Net profit | |||
| Payback period and profitability | 48 months | ||
The level of investment in dairy production is high, so a well-thought-out business plan is needed. It is required both to receive subsidies and preferential loans. The advantages of small farms are that they produce environmentally friendly products, ensuring relatively low costs due to labor efficiency. Profitability increases many times if the entrepreneur himself is engaged in milk processing.
Support and lending to milk producers
1. Programs of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The main types of assistance are provided under the state subprogram “Development dairy farming».
- Subsidy per liter of commercial milk sold. Provided to all producers; since 2015, only the highest grade is subsidized. It is determined by the processor. Regional authorities can introduce their own conditions: the number of offspring of calves, the percentage of fat and others. To receive a subsidy, you need to apply to the local administration department in charge of agrarian issues.
- Subsidizing interest on loans. Support is provided through accredited banks. The state repays part of the interest in the amount of 100% of the refinancing rate, regional authorities up to 3% of the borrowed amount. Due to this, banks reduce interest rates for agricultural producers, and the loan is cheaper.
- Reimbursement of part of expenses for business projects. The application is submitted through the administration of the district or region. Provides refund for new investment projects, expenses for modernization and re-equipment - up to 40%, for the purchase of highly productive dairy cattle breeds - up to 50%. Money is transferred to the producer’s account no earlier than 2 years after the start of the project, provided that it reaches its designed capacity. When purchasing animals - no earlier than the 5th year.
Three examples of successful work of dairy farms
In 2002, he organized his own farm, took out a loan from Rosselkhozbank, registered a peasant farm in 2012 and received a development grant. Now he keeps 70 cows, cultivates 150 hectares of land, and delivers 150 tons of commercial milk per year for processing. Compared to large farm located next door, the cost of milk is several times lower due to complete autonomy (own feed), labor efficiency (2 people).
Alexander is only 25 years old. He created his own farm in 2012. The farm has 38 dairy cows and 100 hectares of land for rent. Milk is sold fresh through its own retail outlets in the markets of the city of Abakan. He receives 300 liters per month from one cow, and 3,900 in revenue. He dreams of changing the herd, buying a Simmental breed of cows, and dramatically increasing milk yield. He believes that without its own food supply, milk production will be unprofitable.
Founded in 1992, in 2004 there were 50 heads of cattle, now there are 122 cows on the farm. In 2006, the farm was reconstructed, German milking machines and a mini-milk processing plant were purchased. They produce 10 tons of milk per day, pack it on their own equipment, supply it to stores in their city and Yekaterinburg, and supply the plant catering, schools, kindergartens.
Conclusions
There is a demand for milk, it is growing and exceeds supply. Especially considering the policy to increase the production of its cheeses and butter. Accordingly, a dairy farm as a business in the long term looks profitable business.
The risks are also high: crop failure leading to a shortage of feed, rising prices for seeds and breeding animals, seasonality of milk production, delays in the payment of subsidies - these must be taken into account when planning.
Cowshed for 50 heads – optimal solution for a small family farm. For successful business It is necessary to comply with the rules for keeping cattle. Construction of a barn taking into account all requirements and high-quality equipment will help to avoid problems with the health of animals and increase their productivity. A novice farmer faces questions: build a barn with his own hands or resort to the help of professional teams, what materials to use and how much will the project cost?
Requirements for keeping cows
The microclimate in the barn consists of many factors, such as temperature, lighting, humidity, and the concentration of harmful gases. The cow is especially demanding of conditions, and peaks of sensitivity occur at 3 and 7-8 months of pregnancy.
The temperature of the housing affects the heat exchange processes in the body of cows. There is a concept of “thermal neutral zone”. This temperature regime, in which the metabolism in the animal’s body is not disrupted. For various cattle breeds, this zone is located in the range of +4 – +20 °C.
Overheating and hypothermia of animals can also occur due to high humidity in the room. Humidity above 85% at high temperature makes heat transfer difficult and the animal overheats. At low temperatures, high humidity leads to colds.
At the same time, the air should not be allowed to dry out. When humidity is less than 40%, mucous membranes, respiratory tracts, skin, horns, and hooves are affected.
Harmful gases such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide are waste products of cows. Their concentration in the air is regulated by regulations. In case of insufficient natural ventilation, livestock complexes for 50 heads are equipped with forced-type hoods.
When installing the floor yourself, you need to make sure that it is sealed and that slurry does not penetrate into the cracks.
Natural lighting has a beneficial effect on the condition of animals. It prevents the development of rickets and softening of bones, stimulates the metabolic process in the body. To allow sunlight to penetrate, the barn is equipped with windows.
The design of the barn should include artificial lighting with incandescent lamps for raising young animals. For calves, the norm is 50 lux, during the fattening period – 20-30 lux.
A livestock farm for 50 heads of cattle involves the installation of mechanical equipment, the operation of which does not occur silently. With some adaptation to production noise, cows still experience a deterioration in performance under the influence of this irritating factor. According to standards, the noise level in a barn should not exceed 70 decibels.
The installation plan for air conditioners, heaters and other equipment must be thought through at the design stage. The barn must be kept clean. Manure is removed with scrapers, and sawdust flooring is regularly replaced with your own hands.
The dry period in cows is characterized by a high risk of mastitis. During this time, increased attention should be paid to hygiene.
To ensure conditions for keeping cattle, an area of at least 6 m2 is allocated per cow, taking into account the feeder and passage, and at least 10 m2 for a cow with a calf. Based on this, the total area to accommodate 50 heads, taking into account the birth of calves, should be about 500 m2.
The layout of the barn on the site must fit into the overall concept of the farm complex.
Materials for construction are selected depending on the climate and their availability in the region. You can build a barn with your own hands from wood, brick, cinder block or foam block.
When constructing large complexes for housing cows, the frame method and sandwich panels are often used. The simplest and cheapest is frameless technology. Arched hangars are built on a lightweight foundation by building up an arched profile.
Estimated cost of construction and construction time:
- brick – 12,500 RUR/m2 (6-12 months);
- sandwich panels – 7550 RUR/m2 (3-6 months);
- laminated veneer lumber – 8100 RUR/m2 (6-12 months);
- frame building – 3400 RUR/m2 (1-3 months);
- frameless hangar – 1800 RUR/m2 (2-10 days).
When constructing a barn, the following dimensions are observed: wall height - from 2.5 m (with permanent flooring - from 3 m), roof height to ridge - from 3.5 m. Windows are placed at a height inaccessible to cows.
The floor rises above ground level. It is performed with a slope of 2 cm/m for liquid drainage. It is not recommended to make a greater slope, so as not to provoke limb diseases in cows. The best option– plank floor on clay. Boards without clay are impractical: they quickly become unusable, and manure liquid flowing through the cracks will accumulate under them, releasing toxic substances.
The ceiling is made of thick boards. The cracks between them are covered with clay. The ceiling is insulated with sawdust or sand, spread in a layer of 10-15 cm. In cold regions, it is recommended to build a ceiling with double flooring.
Internal structure and equipment
The interior plan of the barn includes the placement of stalls, feeders, and passages. The stall should have the following dimensions: 1.7 x 1.1 m. Sawdust or chopped straw is poured onto the floor in the stalls, providing the animal with a dry place to lie down, or permanent wooden flooring is installed.
A chute is equipped at the rear to drain slurry. Its dimensions are: width – 20x10 cm. The gutter should be built with an inclination towards the liquid collector. To remove the chute from the barn, an opening is made in the wall, which is closed with a valve.
A feeder and drinking bowl are placed in front of the stall. The simplest feeder is a box-trough along the length of the stall, having the following dimensions: width at the top - 70 cm, at the bottom - 40 cm, height of the side facing the cow - 25-30 cm, outer - 70 cm. Such feeders are easy to make it yourself from dry, carefully planed boards.
Modifications of feeders include:
- with folding sides for easy cleaning;
- lifting with height adjustment (used when using high, permanent flooring).
The calf cage is placed on the side of the stall.
The construction of a barn involves many nuances. Without their understanding, it is difficult to build a quality farm with your own hands. In this case, it is better for a novice farmer to contact construction teams, choose a project that takes into account general recommendations for keeping cattle, the climatic features of the region, necessary equipment and order turnkey construction.
In the current difficult socio-economic conditions, creating your own farm is of interest to many. Although everyone has different goals - business, hobbies or the meaning of life - nevertheless, everyone wants to have environmentally friendly products on the table and for their subsidiary farming to also bring profit. There is nothing impossible about this. Today there is such a variety of building materials that you can easily build and equip a barn yourself in any region of the country, despite difficult climatic conditions.
Typical design device
First of all, remember one rule: the comfort of the cows comes first. This is the only way you will receive good quality meat and dairy products and recoup your costs. Regardless of the livestock, a convenient barn consists of the following sectors:
- stalls with feeding trough, drinking bowl and waste disposal;
- food storage room (kitchen);
- maternity area for newborn calves;
- area for walking animals;
- utility room for storing equipment;
- manure collection area;
- compartment for storing milk, as well as containing milk containers;
- boiler room for heating all rooms.
The stalls are arranged in rows depending on the number of heads. In individual farming, there are mainly single-row, two-row or three-row buildings.
There should be enough free space between stalls
The animals should not be crowded, so the passage between the rows is made moderately wide.
Types of barns
The correct choice of barn determines how productive the farm will be. Many factors are taken into account here: separate keeping of different-sex animals, the proportion of young animals, the number of heads, etc.
For small farms with a maximum capacity of 50 heads, as a rule, mini-barns are built - prefabricated frame hangars, well-lit and ventilated, which can be warm or cold. The latter are more suitable for cattle, since cows, calves and steers feel better in cool buildings (with outside temperatures). In such conditions, they get sick less, develop better and produce more milk.
It is more appropriate to build frame hangars in regions with year-round warm weather conditions
Unfortunately, in most regions of our country, harsh weather conditions do not allow keeping animals in cold barns. We have to build insulated barns with a large number windows that are constantly kept open, which provides a suitable microclimate for animals. However, when keeping more than 30 cows, you already need to take care of additional ventilation - install fans or polyurethane ventilation curtains, light aeration ridges or a Frivent DRW ventilation unit (if finances allow).
Additional ventilation helps to avoid excess moisture and regulate temperature conditions
Although there are many types of barns, any of them should be cool, light and cozy.
According to the materials used in the construction of barns, there are:
- in the form of buildings made of metal profiles, with indoor temperatures close to street temperatures;
- like buildings made of thermal insulating building materials;
- type of hangars made of sandwich panels.
According to basic design:
- 2+2-row cattle shed for free housing of animals (loose-stall) with a high trapezoidal roof made of metal profiles with a minimum number of beams, which will ensure good air exchange;
- 3+3-row for the joint housing of dairy cows with calves and a separate milking parlor;
- 3-row barn, where the calf section and milking area are in the same room;
- A 4-row barn makes it possible to fully mechanize all work - milking, water and feed distribution, manure removal.
Video: supply and exhaust ventilation of a barn for 200 heads in the Irkutsk region
Preparing to build a barn
During the preparatory stage of building a barn, you need to solve a number of critical problems in order for your efforts to be crowned with success.
- Choose the direction of farming - do you plan to deal only with milk or meat, will you process the resulting products yourself, or sell the milk to dairies and hand over the cows by live weight. Will the young stock be purchased or produced locally? What is the size of the herd, how automated will labor be?
- Deciding on a site for construction is important not only for the terrain, but also for the groundwater level. The predominant direction of winds, their intensity. Availability of convenient access roads and is it possible to organize pasture nearby.
- Choose a suitable barn design. Or, based on the standard one, do it yourself, taking into account all your desires and capabilities.
Standard standards for animal housing
Premises for keeping animals must meet certain standards:
- Free-stall housing - 6 m² per head of an adult and 4–4.5 m² per calf. If calves will be kept together with cows, the area should be 10 m².
Freestall housing of cows is most often used on farms with large numbers of livestock: animals are kept on a farm without stalls, with the presence of milking parlor, move freely both indoors and on walking areas
- Tethered housing is the construction of individual boxes, the sizes of which depend on the sex and age of the animals. An adult cow is given an area of 1–1.3 x 1.8–2.1 m, a bull is given 1.3 x 1.4 m, a calf will be comfortable in an area of 1 x 1.5 m, a cow with a calf 1.5 x 2 m.
Tethered housing of cows has its advantages - there will be no collisions between animals, this method of housing compared to loose housing increases milk productivity by 15%, and reduces feed costs by 10%
- The average dimensions of a barn are: width 4 m, length 6 m and height 2.5 m. The size of utility rooms depends on the number of heads, and the sizes of stalls and stall equipment depend on the size of the animals.
Table: sizes of stalls and stall equipment depending on the weight and dimensions of the livestock
| Size of cows | Stall dimensions | Restrictor height | Height of the front wall of the feeder, cm | ||||
| live weight, kg | oblique body length, cm | length, cm | width, cm | front, cm | lateral, cm | ||
| up to 450 | 139–143 | 140 | 105 | 118 | 75 | 16 | |
| 451–500 | 142–147 | 145 | 105 | 122 | 75 | 18 | |
| 501–550 | 146–152 | 150 | 110 | 125 | 80 | 20 | |
| 551–600 | 152–160 | 155 | 110 | 127 | 85 | 22 | |
| 601–650 | 157–163 | 160 | 120 | 130 | 90 | 24 | |
| 651–700 | 160–168 | 165 | 120 | 133 | 90 | 26 | |
Typical barn designs
A mini-farm involves keeping from 2 to 10 cows. For such a quantity, it is not difficult to draw up a barn plan yourself. The main thing is to adhere to the area standards for keeping animals.
The main principle of mini farming is to use available resources as rationally as possible.
The average farm includes from 20 to 50 heads of cattle. The barn layout looks quite simple.
It is advisable to entrust the construction of a farm with 100 or more head of cattle to professionals.
If you are just starting to raise cows, it is better to start with keeping fewer heads.
Well, only a team of experienced craftsmen can handle the construction of large farms. It is impossible to do this on your own according to the rules and regulations.
Drawing up a project is not everything. We now need to obtain approval from the relevant authorities. This procedure is troublesome. If possible, consult a lawyer. Perhaps after such a consultation you will change the concept of your farm or select a different site for construction.
Selecting materials for building a barn
To build a farm with your own hands you will need:
- crushed stone;
- baked brick or durable concrete for the foundation;
- waterproofing material (roofing felt is most often used);
- wooden boards for flooring;
- covering material for the roof - slate, for example, or tiles;
- building material for the construction of walls.
Walls and floors are of great importance when building a barn, since barns, as a rule, are not heated even in harsh climatic regions. Well-insulated walls and floors will be sufficient.
Wooden structures have performed well in terms of thermal conductivity, but they are short-lived. Brick barns are widespread, but in the northwestern regions it is recommended to make a two-layer structure, laying insulation between the layers. And this increases the cost of construction. Therefore, barns made of foam blocks and sandwich panels deserve more and more attention - they are easy to assemble, durable and well maintain the required temperature in the room.
But adobe is considered the best building material. It retains heat in the barn, ensures sufficient dryness in the room and is relatively inexpensive. Lay adobe in 1.5 bricks (hollow in one) on a good cement mortar, and line the bottom with ordinary brick. Inside, the walls are plastered, leveled and whitewashed.
The farm floor must be warm, dry, level and waterproof. Custom-fitted timber flooring is ideal for all these requirements. However, due to some properties of wood, it will have to be repaired every 3-4 years. Therefore, fired hollow bricks are more often chosen for the device, laid on edge on top of roofing felt or slag. Such a floor will last at least 14 years in an aggressive environment without repair. True, it is not too warm, which is why in the winter the floor in the barn is covered with a thick layer of bedding or rubber mats are used.
The floor in the barn should help maintain the health of animals and increase their productivity; for this purpose, rubber flooring is used
Video: cow stall equipment
Calculation of materials
The amount of material depends on the area of the barn, which, in turn, is directly related to the number of animals kept. We will show the principle of calculation using the example of constructing walls from adobe, since this option is the most profitable. Moreover, it is quite possible to make adobe yourself from the straw of any cereals, clay and sand.
Adobe for the barn - convenient, cheap building material, which our ancestors used for centuries
Calculation of wall A: wall length 6 m, height 2.2 m, one doorway measuring 1x1.8 m, total area 13.2 m², doorway area 1.8 m², wall area without doorway 11.4 m².
Calculation of wall B: wall length 6 m, height 2.2 m, 5 window openings with dimensions (0.8x0.6 m, 0.6x0.6 m, 0.6x0.6 m, 0.6x0.4 m, 0. 6x0.4 m), total area 13.2 m², area of all window openings 1.68 m², wall area without window openings 11.52 m².
In the barn it would be more practical to install PVC windows, which will be lift-and-section or hinged with colorless polycarbonate filling
Calculation of wall B: wall length 6 m, height 2.2 m, 4 window openings with dimensions (0.6x0.6 m, 0.8x0.6 m, 0.6x0.6 m, 0.6x0.6 m), total area 13.2 m², area of all window openings 1.56 m², wall area without window openings 11.64 m².
Depending on the climatic characteristics of the region, inflatable or roller blinds, as well as lift-and-section windows
Calculation of wall D: wall length 6 m, height 2.2 m, blank wall (without door and window openings), total wall area 13.2 m².
A blank wall without windows will protect cows from strong winds
Determine the amount of adobe to build a barn:
- Let's derive a single formula for calculation. The area of any wall is equal to the total area of the wall (height x length) minus the total area of all openings (windows, doors). The area of each opening is also equal to height x length. So: S total. = (S A + S B + S B + S D) – (S openings A + S openings B + S openings B + S openings D) = (13.2 + 13.2 +13.2 + 13.2) - (1.8 + 1.68 + 1.56) = 47.76 m².
- Find out the area of one adobe brick. S sk = W sk x H sk (usually 0.08 m²). If you make adobe brick yourself, its area may be different, depending on the size of the mold for production.
- We determine the amount of adobe that will be needed to build a barn. K c = S total. : S ck = 47.76: 0.08 = 597 pcs. Round up to 600 pcs.
Table: calculation of adobe blocks for the construction of a barn measuring (6x6x2.2) meters
| Wall | S walls, m² | Doorway, m² | Window opening, m² | Doors for manure removal, m² | Walking doors, m² | S calculated, m² | Adobe brick, pcs. |
| A | 13,2 | 1,8 | - | - | - | 11,4 | 142,5 |
| B | 13,2 | - | 0,72 | 0,48 | 0,48 | 11,52 | 144 |
| IN | 13,2 | - | 0,72 | 0,84 | - | 11,64 | 145,5 |
| G | 13,2 | - | - | - | - | 13,2 | 165 |
| Total | 597 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
To make 600 pieces of adobe blocks you will need:
- clay ≈ 4600 kg (2.8 m³);
- sand ≈ 1500 kg (1 m³);
- straw ≈ 230 kg (4 m³).
Any material is calculated in the same way - brick, sawdust concrete blocks, panels, wooden beams, flooring according to the floor area, roofing material according to the size of the roof, etc.
Tool set
The necessary tools depend on the building materials used, but in any case you will have to use:
- crowbar and shovel;
- building level;
- trowel, spatula and screws;
- rope;
- construction mixer or concrete mixer.
Building a barn with your own hands: step-by-step instructions
Cowsheds are built using two technologies - frame and frameless. The frame method is considered more promising. Its main advantage is the speed of construction and ease of laying communications - ventilation, water supply, manure removal, etc. The construction of a small utility block consists of several stages:
- Laying the foundation. Any - columnar for small wooden outbuildings, strip or monolithic for heavy buildings. Remove the top layer of soil from the area. They usually deepen it to 50–70 cm and fill it with crushed stone. With frame construction, this is where the laying of the foundation ends. To build a brick barn, a solid foundation is made - strip or monolithic. A trench is dug to a depth of 1 m, formwork and reinforcement cage are installed, the bottom is covered with crushed stone and filled with concrete. Roofing felt is laid on top as a waterproofing material.
The foundation of the barn must be strong and able to withstand heavy loads
- Lay out the walls using a trowel and a building level, not forgetting to leave openings. To ensure that the walls retain heat, they provide good thermal insulation.
Since the barns do not need heating, the walls need to be well insulated: the adobe masonry underneath is lined with brick, laying polystyrene foam insulation
- The roof is being installed. Wooden logs are installed at the top of the walls and sheathing is made. Then covered with roofing material. Slate is usually used as it is more accessible and cheaper. The ceiling is usually covered with reed slabs and plastered with clay. It is advisable to have an attic - this is additional insulation; hay and other feed can be stored there. The roof of a barn without an attic must be insulated.
For the slate roof of the barn, a grid is installed with a pitch calculated for the slate sheets
- Install windows and doors.
- Execute interior work. Special attention are given to the floors. The soil is compacted, a layer of roofing felt or slag is made, and the floor is laid with small gaps and a slope so that animal feces flow into the drainage pit. A layer of straw or sawdust is placed on top, to which peat can be added.
Cows will rest comfortably on straw bedding
Cowsheds on large number livestock are built in a similar way, equipping each stall with a feeder 1 m long and 0.65 m high.
Barn ventilation
The simplest diagram of a barn ventilation system: an exhaust pipe made of boards is installed on the roof of the building. One or more, depending on the length of the room, equipped with a fan and a damper in case of bad weather. Fresh air enters the barn through window openings. If there are none, then intake openings with dampers are created to allow air to enter at the bottom of the walls almost at the very foundation. Stale air is removed through an exhaust pipe.
Air exchange occurs by itself: warm air exits through exhaust shafts on the roof of the building, and cold air enters the room through special openings in the walls of the barn
To reduce the penetration of infections from the street, a box of sawdust is placed in front of the entrance, which is periodically moistened with creolin. In barns housing 200 or more animals, additional ventilation is provided in the form of a canopy on the roof.
Manure removal system
- hydraulic wash or self-alloy;
- delta scraper or belt conveyor.
More often, farmers use a self-fusing system for cleaning the premises. To do this, pipes wrapped in slippery material with plugs are laid at an angle across the entire area of the barn, and when opened, manure flows into special tanks.
Lighting in the barn
There are certain requirements for barn lighting that must be adhered to:
- lighting standards - in the stalls 50 lux, in the feeding area - 75, in the entire barn - 200 lux and no more, otherwise production rates will decrease;
- must be used led lamps, since fluorescent lamps emit low-intensity light when the standard temperature drops to 20–25 °C;
- When arranging lighting in the barn, it is important to correctly calculate the duration of daylight hours and gradually change the lighting during this period - from 4.00–4.30 to 8.00–8.30 the illumination is increased, and from 16.00–16.30 to 20.00–20.30 it is gradually reduced.
For the normal development of animals in the barn, it is necessary to provide high-quality lighting - in daylight, cows give more milk, and calves eat better and grow faster
Absolute darkness in the barn is unacceptable to avoid injury to animals. For night lighting, red spectrum lamps with a power of 10 W are used.
A selection of videos: life on the farm - building a barn with your own hands
Start of construction. Preparing and laying out the area for a barn. Welding of frame elements.
Video: building a barn - the beginning
Laying the foundation and erecting the frame. The foundation is made of strip form, formwork is installed, into which previously made frame elements are installed level and secured. The trench is then concreted.
Video: foundation and frame for a barn
Continued construction. Another video report in real time - what we did during the week.
Video: we continue to build a barn
Roof arrangement. The barn design determines the materials that will be used to cover the roof. Inexpensive options are slate and tiles.
Video: barn roof
Laying water pipes. The water supply in the barn begins with a Ø 32 mm riser, to which is connected the main ring main made of Ø 25 mm pipes. Automatic drinking bowls, watering and water taps are installed in the premises.
Video: water supply for a barn
The final stage of setting up the water supply and septic tank. It is necessary to adhere to sanitary standards - when laying water and sewer pipes with a diameter of up to 200 mm in parallel, the distance between them must be at least 1.5 m. It is advisable to lay water pipes in a protective case.
Video: finishing the water supply and septic tank for the barn
It will take more time to build a barn yourself than to install a ready-made structure or build it by a team of professionals. But this is perhaps the only drawback. But mansions for little cows, warm, solid, cozy, made with your own hands, will cost much less. We hope that with the knowledge you have acquired, you will build a barn that will serve you faithfully for many years.
A detailed guide on how to start a farming business. What documents are required and how much money do I need to invest? The answers are here.
Capital investments in peasant farms: from RUB 770,000
Payback period: 9-12 months
This article will discuss how to start a farm from scratch.
For those who are not yet “in the know,” then: a farm (also known as a peasant farm) is an enterprise that produces and sells agricultural products.
In the minds of many people, this definition may evoke associations with hundreds of hectares of fields, large numbers of livestock and other similar pictures.
However, any entrepreneur can organize a mini production. And running it is very profitable.
And an analysis of development trends shows that demand will only grow in the future.
What are the main activities involved in farming as a business?
Farming can be divided into several categories:
- various greens;
- cereals;
- vegetables;
- berries and fruits.
Home farm (breeding).
There are several popular directions:
- Cattle: cows and goats (for dairy and meat products), pigs, sheep (wool), rabbits;
- fish farming (trout, sturgeon, carp);
- birds (chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys).
Additional areas of farming activities.
This is one of strengths farming.
Almost any type of activity allows for additional profit.
This is beneficial, because you use your own raw materials for production, and do not buy:- vegetables, berries, fruits can be frozen and sold;
- dairy products can be used for the production and sale of cottage cheese, sour cream, cheese, fermented baked milk;
- If the farm produces grain, you can make flour or bake bakery products from it.
Plant growing.
A huge range of plants can be planted and sold in the Russian Federation.
But several types are especially popular:
What features does a farming business have?
To open and run a farming business profitably and legally, there are several things to consider: distinctive features from other business options:
- Farming is often a family affair.
After all, only people related by family ties and over 16 years of age can be its members.
But don’t think that you can only open a mini farm with such a small staff.
It is allowed to attract external workers, but no more than 5. - Each member of the farm is obliged to take personal part in production.
- A farm can be called a farm if it produces at least 70% of agricultural products.
- The state strongly supports farming, so entrepreneurs can count on assistance in purchasing equipment and even free receipt piece of land.
How to open a farm: step-by-step instructions for collecting documents
Starting a farm is most often decided by the family.
But this does not mean that you will not need to register with the tax authorities!
Especially if you want to receive benefits or a plot of land from the state.
You can obtain the list of documents and the registration instructions themselves from the law that regulates farming (N 74-FZ of June 11, 2003).
Only after all the paperwork has been completed can you begin to organize the farm itself.
You need to start by finding a suitable piece of land, and then start solving other issues.
Analysis of the current situation in agriculture
Small businesses are now actively developing all over the world, and the Russian Federation is no exception.
We can especially highlight such areas as trade, services and private farming.
The latter demonstrates a high level of profitability and receives full support from the state.
If we evaluate the growth rate of agriculture as a whole, we can say that it is falling.
It has been replaced by technical progress and GMOs.
There are fewer and fewer able-bodied people left in the villages, and young people are not eager to devote themselves to farming.
But it is worth noting that in the wake of the craze for a healthy lifestyle, the boom in vegetarianism and raw food nutrition, the demand for farming began to grow again.
But mainly in mini production of homemade, absolutely environmentally friendly products.
This state of affairs provides excellent prospects for starting a farm.
There is no point in wasting time when competition is at a moderate level and farm demand begins to gradually increase.
How to open your own farm: choosing land for farming
The first thing that is important for an entrepreneur who decides to start a farm from scratch is a suitable plot of land.
It is not necessary to buy it at the start, especially since not everyone has the appropriate starting capital.
First, rent it.
If entrepreneurial activity will be promoted profitably, then it will be possible to return to the issue of purchase in the future.
It is best to look for a farming area outside the city, away from any industrial facilities, major roads, or other farms.
But not at a great distance, so that farm products can be quickly and inexpensively transported to customers.
If you intend to plant plants or raise cattle, environmental friendliness and a safe environment are important.
Also, some features appear depending on the chosen area of farming:
- To raise cattle, the plot of land must be large, have sufficient lawn area for grazing, and a reservoir.
- If the farm is beekeeping, there must be fields with flower stalks next to the apiary.
Otherwise, you will have to plant them yourself. - The presence of a pond is also important if you will be raising domestic waterfowl.
What personnel should you hire for your peasant farm?
Farming is extremely difficult, especially for a novice entrepreneur.
Therefore, even if you have all the knowledge necessary for work, a businessman needs to hire a staff of workers.
For each area of activity, the list of required positions will be different.
But any farming niche related to animals cannot do without a key person - a veterinarian.
He will be involved in preventing or minimizing the main risk - diseases and quarantine of animals.
The veterinarian also allows for childbirth to be carried out at the highest level, that is, to increase the farm's livestock population naturally without purchasing costs. So investing in the best veterinarian is beneficial for an entrepreneur.
The rest of the list of hired people will look like this:
- An ordinary peasant farm mini-farm: butcher, livestock specialist, milkmaid, manager, cleaner.
- Beekeeping: depends on the number of hives, usually there is 1 beekeeper for 10 of them.
- Raising rabbits or poultry: a simple task, just hire 1-2 assistants.
But this is only relevant for mini-farm production.
For a business with a thousand headcount, the number of employees will be tens of times greater.
How to open a farm: points of sale of products
Homemade natural products obtained from farms are in demand by many buyers.For example, the main livestock product - meat - will be bought by restaurants, shops, and private individuals.
There is also a demand for by-products of production - wool, fluff. Although the demand for them, of course, is lower than for meat.
Also, public catering outlets and various trading companies will buy fruits, vegetables, herbs, and grains.
It is worth considering that in this case, sales will occur in wholesale quantities, so the purchasing cost for customers will be lower than the usual retail price.
If for crop farming it is not difficult to trade in large quantities, then collecting sufficient volumes of honey is no longer so easy.
So if you decide to breed bees on the scale of a full-fledged business, a mini apiary will not be suitable for these purposes.
It will be necessary to purchase at least 50 bee colonies to produce the required volume of product.
Therefore, most often beekeeping is organized by the whole family - after all, it is almost impossible to maintain such a large apiary yourself.
But at the same time, farming is very profitable, the profitability level is at least 20-30%.
How much money do you need to start a farm?
An item that must be carefully calculated is the size of the investment.
After all, everyone will have their own list of expenses, and, accordingly, the amount.
Most of it will be spent on renting territory that will be suitable for your agriculture.
Also, if you choose livestock farming, a considerable amount of capital will be spent on purchasing the first batch of animals or insects (beekeeping).
One of the significant advantages is the one-time cost of starting a farm.
Almost any other business requires monthly injections of considerable amounts.
An entrepreneur invests money in a peasant farm once and then works for himself.
An approximate list of expenses for starting a peasant business looks like this:
What risks exist for farming?
Having your own farming business is definitely not the most risky activity, according to many.
However, in this area, in fact, there are many potential troubles that can ruin the economy and lead to losses.
The list for the specific selected area of peasant farming will be different, but in general list includes:
- weather conditions unfavorable for plant growth,
- various natural disasters,
- pest infestations,
- diseases among livestock,
- quarantine areas for animals.
How profitable is it to own a farm?
V real numbers says a working farmer:
How quickly will your peasant farm pay for itself?
The size of investments from scratch will be determined by which industry in agriculture decided to become an entrepreneur.
After all, opening from scratch will require a different list of equipment, number of personnel, type and cost of purchased consumables.
Products obtained in rural production are in demand among all segments of the population.
The fashion for an organic lifestyle that has emerged in recent years has only strengthened the growing demand for natural products.
So if the above step by step instructions How to open a farm is carried out by the entrepreneur point by point and he produces exceptionally high-quality goods, the peasant farm business will flourish!
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