Feeding management of cattle is crucial to ensure their health, productivity, and profitability, whether they are raised for milk, meat, or draft purposes. Below are key aspects of feeding management:
1. Types of Feed
Cattle require a balanced diet, including the following feed types:
a. Roughages
- Dry roughages: Hay, straw, or stover.
- Green fodder: Grass, legumes (alfalfa, clover), and cultivated green fodder crops (maize, sorghum, napier grass).
- Silage: Fermented green fodder stored for off-season feeding.
b. Concentrates
- Grains (corn, barley, oats, wheat).
- Oilseed meals (soybean, cottonseed, groundnut cake).
- By-products (bran, molasses).
c. Mineral Supplements
- Provide calcium, phosphorus, salt, and trace minerals for bone health, milk production, and immunity.
d. Vitamins
- A, D, and E are essential for cattle growth, fertility, and general health.
e. Water
- Clean and fresh water must be available at all times. Cattle consume 30–50 liters/day, depending on size and milk production.
2. Feeding Schedule
- Dairy Cattle: Feed high-energy concentrates in proportion to milk yield (1 kg of concentrate for every 2.5 liters of milk produced). Offer roughages freely.
- Beef Cattle: Focus on weight gain; feed a mix of roughages and concentrates for faster fattening.
- Young Stock: Provide milk or milk replacers (for calves), followed by calf starter feed and high-quality roughages.
3. Nutritional Requirements
Cattle's requirements vary with age, weight, production stage, and work level. Key stages:
- Maintenance Diet: Meets the animal's basic energy needs without loss of weight.
- Production Diet: Adds nutrients for milk production, growth, pregnancy, or fattening.
- Special Diets: Adjusted for pregnant or lactating cows to ensure calf health and milk yield.
4. Feeding Practices
- Total Mixed Ration (TMR): Mix roughages, concentrates, minerals, and vitamins into a single feed.
- Grazing: Managed grazing in rotational paddocks prevents overgrazing and ensures even nutrient intake.
- Supplementary Feeding: Use concentrates during lactation or in drought conditions.
5. Feed Storage and Quality
- Store feed in clean, dry, and ventilated areas to prevent spoilage.
- Regularly check for mold, pests, or contamination.
6. Monitoring Body Condition
- Regularly assess the body condition score (BCS) to adjust feeding strategies.
7. Avoid Overfeeding and Underfeeding
Overfeeding leads to obesity, while underfeeding reduces productivity and immunity.
Beginner’s Handbook to Raise Beef Cattle: Keep & Breed Cows for organic Milk, Meat & Money! Breeding, Care, Housing, Feeding & Disease Prevention & Much More for Your Herd
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Have you ever dreamed of raising your cattle, producing high-quality organic beef and milk, or even turning your herd into a profitable business? Whether you're looking to start a small homestead farm or scale up to an entire cattle ranch, this book will give you the knowledge and confidence to succeed in cattle farming—no matter your experience level!
Why Raise Your Cattle?
Save money on high-quality, organic meat – Enjoy better-tasting, healthier beef from your farm.
Milk your cows for fresh, unprocessed dairy – Say goodbye to store-bought milk filled with additives.
Turn cattle farming into a business – Learn how to raise and sell cattle for profit with a proven system.
Become self-sufficient – Reduce grocery bills and gain independence in your food supply.
Connect with nature & live a rewarding rural lifestyle – Experience the joys of caring for a herd and managing your ranch.
Raise cattle. Feed your family. Build a business!
Raising cattle isn’t just about having land and animals—it’s about understanding their needs, managing their health,
and maximizing their potential. Whether starting with a small herd for personal use or aiming to build a profitable cattle business, this book covers everything you need to know.
Why This Book?
I started my cattle farming journey with just three cows and a few acres—and turned it into a thriving, sustainable business. Over the past decade, I’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to maximize profits while keeping cattle healthy and happy.
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Here is what you’ll learn at a glance:
- An Introduction to Beef Cattle 101
- Finding the Room for Cows
- Selecting a Breed
- Recognizing a Good Cow
- Where to Purchase Cattle
- Equipment, Housing & Fencing
- Cattle Nutrition 101: What to Feed Your Herd
- Keeping Your Cattle Healthy - Disease Prevention
- Pasture & Herd Management
- Understanding Your Cattle
- Animal Temperament and Tips for Handling Cattle
- The Fundamental Differences: Bull, Steer, Cow or Heifer
- Breeding Plan Factors
- The Lifestyle of a Steer
- Reproduction: Steps to Ensure Healthy Calves
- The Stages of Calving
- 4 Tips for Successful Rebreeding
- Caring for the Newborn
- Calf Health
- The Importance of Weaning
- The Market for Beef Cattle: The Business Potential
- 12 Steps to Managing Your Cattle Business
PLUS a BONUS Glossary of Terms in the Cattle Business
Are You Ready to Start Your Cattle Ranch?
Imagine waking up to the sight of your own cattle grazing in the fields, knowing that you're raising healthy, organic beef and milk for your family—or building a profitable business from your herd.
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