by-Dr Saroj Thakur, Livestock Consultant, Ranchi
Ration :
It is the allowance of feed given to the animal for a period of 24 hours. Balanced ration : It is a ration which supplies all the essential nutrients to the animal in required proportion, form and quantity for 24 hours.
Desirable characteristics of good ration.——–
i. Ration should be properly balanced with all necessary nutrients.
ii. Ration should include variety of feed stuffs so as to provide better nutrient composition to the body.
iii. Ration should include sufficient green fodders preferably legumes.
iv. Ration should include palatable and digestible feedstuffs so as to ensure optimum feed intake and maximum nutrient availability. as they may reduce the nutrient availability leading to health disorders,
vi. Ration should satisfy the total dry matter requirement of an animal based on weight.
vii. Ration should be fairly bulky as it is required for satisfaction of hunger and expulsion of undigested material due to its laxative action
viii.Ration should be fresh and free from undesirable weeds and dust.
ix. Ration should be properly processed to ensure its desirable intake.
x. Ration should be economical as feed accounts to about 60 – 70 % cost of animal rearing.
Thumb rule for cattle feeding.——————–
Principles of thumb rule
1) The average DM (Dry matter) requirement of desi cow is 2 (dry) to 2.5 (lactating) Kg. / 100 Kg. body weight / day while it is 2.5 (dry) to 3.0 Kg. (lactating) in cross breed cows and buffaloes.
2) The roughage requirement is fulfilled through green and dry fodders, about 2/3 of DM through dry fodder and remaining 1/3 from green fodder
3) The concentrate requirement of animal for maintenance production and pregnancy is as follows :
a) Maintenance requirement of desi cow and crossbred cow / buffalo is 1 and 1.5 Kg. respectively.
b) Lactating animal should be given 1 Kg. additional concentrate for every 2.5 Kg (Buffalo) to 3 Kg. (Cow) milk produced.
c) Pregnant cows. buffaloes should receive 1.5 Kg. per day extra concentrate allowance during advance pregnancy to meet extra need of nutrients for growth of foetus
d) Breeding bulls in service should get 1 Kg. per day extra concentrate. Allowance to maintain good health and sex libido.
4) Mineral mixture and common salt each @ 25-50 gm should be given to fulfill mineral requirement of animal.
Maintenance Ration————–
It is minimum allowance of ration given to the animal for carrying out its essential body processes at optimum rate without gain or loss in body weight. It is usually given to dry non-producing animals. It roughly satisfies the nutrient requirement for maintenance.
Gestation or Pregnancy
Ration It is the allowance of ration given to the pregnant animal in addition to maintenance ration during the last quarter of pregnancy. It is given to satisfy nutrient requirement of pregnant animals. It is required for optimum foetal growth. It helps in proper development of udder for future lactation.
Production ration—————
It is the additional allowance of ration given to the animal over and above the maintenance ration for the purpose of production like milk, meat, wool and work. It is given to meet the nutrient losses through milk. It helps to maintain milk production to optimum level Intext
How to calculate the daily concentrate requirement of a dairy animal?—————
EXAMPLE
One dairy cow is producing 22 litre milk with 3.5% fat. Calculate its daily concentrate requirement?
SOLUTION
FCM(fat corrected milk)
4 % FCM = 0.4 (milk yield) + 15 (fat yield)
= 0.4 (22) + 15 (3.5 x 22)
100
= 8.8 + 11.55
= 20.35 litre
We subtract 3 litres from FCM yield, thus
= 20.35 – 3 = 17.35
= 17.35
2.5
= 6.94 kg concentrate (morning and evening)
For morning, divide it by 2
= 6.94 = 3.47 kg offered one time
2
EXAMPLE 2
One buffalo is producing 14 litre milk with 6 % fat. Calculate its daily concentrate requirement?
SOLUTION
4 % FCM = 0.4 (milk yield) + 15 (fat yield)
= 0.4 (14) + 15 (6 x 14)
100
= 5.6 + 12.6
= 18.2 litre
We subtract 3 litres from FCM yield,(because it can fulfilled by forage) thus
= 18.2 – 3 = 15.2
= 15.2
2.5
= 6.08 kg concentrate (morning and evening)
Tips for concentrate feeding dairy cattle—————-
• Concentrate must be feed 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.
• 1kg 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.
Feeding of lactating cow—————-
Proper feeding of dairy cattle should envisage minimum wastage of nutrients and maximum returns in respect of milk produced.
A concentrate mixture made up of protein supplements such as oil cakes, energy sources such as cereal grains (maize, jowar), tapioca chips and laxative feeds such as brans (rice bran, wheat bran, gram husk) is generally used.
Mineral mixture containing major and all the trace elements should be included at a level of 2 percent. Feeding of lactating cows
Feeding schedule for different classes of adult cows (approximate body weight-250 kg)
When green grass is plenty When paddy straw is the major roughage
Category Concentrate mixture (Kg) Green Grass (kg) Concentrate Mixture (kg) Green Grass (kg) Paddy Straw (kg)
Dry cows – 25 – 30 1.25 5.0 5 – 6
Milking 1 kg for every 2.5 – 3.0 kg of milk 30 1.25 + 1 kg for every 2.5 – 3.0 kg of milk 5.0 5 – 6
Pregnant Production Allowance + 1 to 1.5 kg from 6th month of pregnancy 25 – 30 Maintenance + production + 1 to 1.5 kg from 6th month of pregnancy 5.0 5 – 6
The total dry matter requirement of cattle is around 2-3 % of their body weight though high yielding animals may eat at a rate more than 3%. Such factors as climate, processing of feeds, palatability etc. influence the dry matter consumption. Good quality grasses (Guinea, Napier etc.) with a minimum of 6 % crude protein on dry matter basis alone can form maintenance ration of a cow of average size. But it is possible to maintain milk production of up to 3-4 kg with grass- legume fodder.
Feeding schedules for dairy animals (Quantity in kg.)
S. No. Type of animal Feeding during Green Fodder Dry Fodder Concentrate
(A) CROSS BREED COW
1. 6 to 7 liters milk
per day Lactation days 20 to 25 5 to 6 3.0 to 3.5
Dry days 15 to 20 6 to 7 0.5 to 1.0
2. 8 to 10 liters milk
per day Lactation days 25 to 30 4 to 5 4.0 to 4.5
Dry days 20 to 25 6 to 7 0.5 to 1.0
