|
Nutrient requirement
Nutrients required for maintenance of adult cattle
per head per day
|
Live weight (kg)
|
Dry Matter (kg)
|
Digestible Crude Protein (g)
|
Total Digestible Nutrients (kg)
|
Calcium (g)
|
Phosphorus (g)
|
|
250
|
4-5
|
140
|
2.2
|
25
|
17
|
|
300
|
5-6
|
168
|
2.65
|
25
|
17
|
|
350
|
6-7
|
195
|
3.10
|
25
|
17
|
|
400
|
7-8
|
223
|
3.55
|
28
|
20
|
|
450
|
8-9
|
250
|
4.00
|
31
|
23
|
|
500
|
9-10
|
278
|
4.45
|
31
|
23
|
|
550
|
10-11
|
310
|
4.90
|
31
|
23
|
|
600
|
11-12
|
336
|
5.35
|
31
|
23
|
Nutrient requirements of growing cattle per head
per day
(Growth rate – 550 g/day)
|
Live weight (kg)
|
DM (kg)
|
DCP (g)
|
TDN (kg)
|
Ca (g)
|
P (g)
|
|
70
|
2.10
|
359
|
1.39
|
8
|
5
|
|
80
|
2.33
|
282
|
1.53
|
9
|
6
|
|
100
|
2.78
|
328
|
1.80
|
12
|
9
|
|
120
|
3.23
|
373
|
2.07
|
15
|
11
|
|
140
|
3.67
|
419
|
2.34
|
17
|
12
|
|
150
|
3.90
|
442
|
2.47
|
20
|
13
|
|
160
|
4.12
|
465
|
2.61
|
20
|
13
|
|
180
|
4.57
|
510
|
2.88
|
20
|
13
|
|
200
|
5.02
|
556
|
3.14
|
20
|
13
|
|
220
|
5.47
|
601
|
3.41
|
22
|
15
|
|
240
|
5.97
|
647
|
3.68
|
25
|
17
|
(Source: I.C.A.R., 1985)
Straw can form the roughage in the absence of grasses and in such cases concentrates
should be given for maintenance. For lactating cows, 1kg of concentrate mixture
(compounded feed) (0.14-0.16 kg DCP and 0.70 kg TDN) may be required for every 2.5
– 3.0 kg of milk over and above the maintenance allowance. After parturition,
the cow should be given the same type of feed and the same quantity as before and
the concentrate allowance should be only gradually increased to avoid digestive
troubles like acidosis, indigestion, etc.
In the case of young cross-bred cows below four years of age to meet the needs for
growth, it is desirable to give additional concentrate allowance at the rate of
1kg for animals in first lactation and 0.5kg in the second lactation over and above
the maintenance and production needs.
Milking animals should always have free access to clean fresh drinking water.
Bureau of Indian Standards specification for mineral
mixture for cattle
|
Sl. No
|
Characteristics
|
Type I (with salt)
|
Type II (without salt)
|
|
1.
|
Moisture, percent by mass, Max.
|
5
|
5
|
|
2.
|
Calcium, percent by mass, Min.
|
18
|
23
|
|
3.
|
Phosphorus, percent by mass, Min.
|
9
|
12
|
|
4.
|
Magnesium, percent by mass, Min.
|
5
|
6.5
|
|
5.
|
Salt (Chloride as Sodium Chloride), percent by mass, Min.
|
22
|
-
|
|
6.
|
Iron, percent by mass, Min.
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
|
7.
|
Iodine (as KI), percent by mass.
|
0.02
|
0.026
|
|
8.
|
Copper, percent by mass, Min.
|
0.06
|
0.077
|
|
9.
|
Manganese, percent by mass, Min.
|
0.10
|
0.12
|
|
10.
|
Cobalt, percent by mass, Min.
|
0.009
|
0.012
|
|
11.
|
Fluorine, percent by mass, Max.
|
0.05
|
0.07
|
|
12.
|
Zinc, per cent by mass, Min.
|
0.30
|
0.38
|
|
13.
|
Sulphur, percent by mass, Max.
|
0.40
|
0.50
|
|
14.
|
Acid insoluble ash, percent by mass
|
3.00
|
2.50
|
Tips for feeding dairy cattle
- Concentrate must be fed individually according to production requirements.
-
Good quality roughage saves concentrates. Approximately 20 kg of grasses (guinea,
napier, etc.) or 6-8 kg legume fodder (cowpea, lucerne) can replace 1 kg of concentrate
mixture (0.14-0.16 kg of DCP) in terms of protein content.
- 1 kg straw can replace
4-5 kg of grass on dry matter basis.In this case the deficiency of protein and other
nutrients should be compensated by a suitable concentrate mixture.
- Regularity
in feeding should be followed. Concentrate mixture can be fed at or preferably before
milking – half in the morning and the other half in the evening – before
the two milkings. Half the roughage ration can be fed in the forenoon after watering
and cleaning the animals. The other half is fed in the evening, after milking and
watering. High yielding animals may be fed three times a day (both roughage and
concentrate). Increasing the frequency of concentrate feeding will help maintain
normal rumen motility and optimum milk fat levels.
- Over-feeding concentrates
may result in off feed and indigestion.
- Abrupt change in the feed should be
avoided.
- Grains should be ground to medium degree of fineness before being fed
to cattle.
- Long and thick-stemmed fodders such as Napier may be chopped and
fed.
- Highly moist and tender grasses may be wilted or mixed with straw before
feeding. Legume fodders may be mixed with straw or other grasses to prevent the
occurrence of bloat and indigestion.
- Silage and other feeds, which may impart
flavour to milk, may be fed after milking.
- Concentrate mixture in the form of
mash may be moistened with water and fed immediately. Pellets can be fed as such.
-
All feeds must be stored properly in well-ventilated and dry places. Mouldy or otherwise
damaged feed should not be fed.
- For high yielding animals, the optimum concentrate
roughage ratio on dry matter basis should be 60:40.
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