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.
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