Design algorithm for water-saving technical and technological solutions for a dairy cattle farm

Water-saving solutions aimed at reducing anthropogenic pressure on the environment are often overlooked during the design of cattle farms, while the development of appropriate technical and technological solutions (TTS) remains a highly labor-intensive process. This study aimed to develop an algorithm for designing water-saving TTS for dairy cattle farms to facilitate the selection of efficient technologies and equipment. The algorithm was constructed based on a theoretical analysis of existing water-saving approaches, a previously established calculation model for water consumption and wastewater generation, and experimental data obtained from tests of water-saving technical means. The algorithm is designed to evaluate the performance of various technologies and equipment for cattle farms with herd sizes ranging from 50 to 3,000 dairy cows, operating with a single milking parlor and employing the most common types of equipment. The proposed algorithm was validated on a loose-housing dairy farm with a herd of 1,200 heads, including replacements, and an average daily milk yield of 28 kg per cow, milked using a “Carousel”-type milking installation. The lowest-water-consumption TTS variant included washing of drinking bowls, treatment of the resulting wastewater using a special device, and subsequent reuse of the treated water for animal watering. The algorithm also incorporates the use of the following water-saving equipment: a pre-cleaning scraper, a high-pressure washer for milking parlor floor cleaning, a foam-generating unit for hoof treatment, and a scrubber for cleaning teat cups. Calculations indicate that the implementation of the proposed water-saving technology and equipment would reduce total water consumption by 7.0 thousand m³/year (10%), decrease wastewater generation by nearly 7.0 thousand m³/year (64%), and lower CO₂ emissions by 12.3 t/year. Furthermore, capital expenditures would decrease by 14 million rubles, operating costs by 645 thousand rubles/year, and overall reduced costs by more than 2.1 million rubles. The application of the developed algorithm is expected to significantly reduce labor inputs in the design of dairy cattle farms and in the selection of efficient technological solutions and equipment, thereby supporting more sustainable and economically viable farm operations.

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