A Detailed Guide to Scientific Feeding Methods and Techniques for Improved Cattle

Improved cattle have the characteristics of large body size, fast weight gain and high meat yield. However, although improved cattle have the heredity for fast growth and development, if the feeding conditions cannot keep up, the acquired heredity cannot become dominant, and they may even lack the characteristics of local cattle such as tolerance to roughage and strong adaptability, causing all the improvement work to be wasted. Therefore, improvement and feeding must be given equal importance.

1. Achieve three fixed routines and three checks:

The three fixed routines: first, fix the milk temperature, generally around 37°C; second, fix the amount of feed according to the size of the calf; third, feed at fixed times, so as to create a conditioned reflex in the calf, increase appetite and promote growth.

The three checks: check the calf's mental state, check its appetite and check changes in its feces. Through the three checks, diseases can be detected and treated in time.

Create a good environment and strengthen sanitation management of the cattle shed. The cattle shed should be warm in winter and cool in summer, maintained at 10°C-15°C in winter and 20°C-25°C in summer, and should be clean, sanitary and with plenty of sunlight.

Exercise every day. Exercise can promote blood circulation, increase appetite and speed up growth and development. Calves under 1 month old should exercise for 10-15 minutes every day; calves over 1 month old should exercise for 1-1.5 hours every day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Frequently brush the animal's body and keep the inside and outside of the shed clean.

2. Supplement plant-based feed early:

Calves can be supplemented with forage at 7-15 days of growth. The feed should be diversified, with concentrate, succulent feed and silage appropriately combined. The amount of concentrate should be appropriate, and the feed should be gradually increased as the calf grows older and gains weight. At the same time, supplement minerals, vitamins and salt to ensure the needs of the young animal's growth and development. In addition, sufficient drinking water must be provided. If a calf does not drink enough water, its hair will become scorched and it will be prone to gastrointestinal diseases. However, if it drinks too much water, water intoxication may easily occur, with red urine.

3. Early weaning:

Weaning calves early can save a large amount of fresh milk, reduce the cost of calf rearing and save labor. Supplementing forage early can promote the development of the digestive organs, improve calf quality, promote rumen development, reduce the occurrence of digestive tract diseases and increase the calf survival rate. The weaning period for calves is 2-3 months of age. The key to successful early weaning is to provide calves with nutritionally rich complete milk replacer.