Types of Housing Systems for Dairy Cattle

🔹 1. Single Row Housing

• Suitable for less than 15 animals
• Easy to manage and maintain
• Used mostly in small-scale dairy farms

🔹 2. Double Row Housing

• Suitable for more than 15 animals
• Two main layout systems:
  • (a) Tail-to-Tail System
  • (b) Head-to-Head System

Tail-to-Tail System

➤ Advantages:

1. All animals get fresh air due to open front.
2. Respiratory disease spread is minimal
3. Supervision is easier; About 60% of time is focused on hindquarters (milking, cleaning).

➤ Disadvantages:

1. High risk of disease transmission through digestive and reproductive tracts.
2. Drainage channels are not exposed to sunlight, increasing pathogen survival.
3. Feeding becomes laborious, as the animals face away from the alley.

Head-to-Head System

➤ Advantages:

1. Feeding is easier – animals face the central alley.
2. Better sun exposure to drainage channels
3. Better communication among animals (if social behavior is considered)

➤ Disadvantages:

1. Risk of respiratory disease spread is higher
2. Supervision is harder on the rear end (milking, health checks)
3. Cleaning is more difficult

🔹 Summary Comparison: