Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Scientific Beef Cattle Farming

I. Beef Cattle Farming and Fattening Methods

Due to differences in natural conditions and feeding methods, the main fattening methods are as follows:

1. Fattening method for 6-month-old calves;

2. Fattening method for young cattle aged 12-14 months;

3. Fattening method for feeder cattle over 4 months old;

4. Relocation fattening method.

II. Beef Cattle Farming and Feeding Techniques

1. Forage and feed should remain relatively stable to prevent sudden changes. During the fattening period of cattle, especially intensive fattening or rapid weight gain, forage and feed need to be relatively stable. A sudden change will inevitably cause changes in the rumen environment, directly affecting the rumen microbial flora and fermentation activity, leading to reduced fermentation and digestion and absorption rates of forage and feed, and may even cause digestive tract diseases. (Standard cattle barn equipment)

2. Pay attention to observing cattle being picky about food and refusing to eat. Sufficient roughage must be provided to improve the palatability of the diet. A small amount of molasses can be added, and more bran, barley, and oats can be fed, or barley flakes can be used to replace powdered feed. If anorexia occurs near the end of the fattening period, timely marketing should be considered.

3. Feed at fixed times, giving less and adding frequently. Feed three times a day, provide drinking water once each in the morning and afternoon, mix forage and feed evenly before feeding, and feed first, then water.

4. Diversify forage and feed and combine them reasonably: The daily ration of cattle generally consists of two parts, rough (green) forage and concentrate. It not only requires an appropriate volume and intake (dry matter), but also needs to satisfy both quality and quantity. As farmers say, “Mixed grass and mixed feed, cattle love to eat it and it is easy for them to gain weight.”

5. Ensure adequate drinking water and keep it clean. During the fattening period, the water intake of cattle has a great relationship with the nature of the feed and climatic conditions. For free-choice feeding during beef cattle fattening, a standing water trough should be provided so they can drink whenever thirsty. For grazing fattening or tethered feeding, water should be provided at fixed times, 2-3 times per day, with the principle of drinking enough; the water needs to be changed frequently and kept clean.

6. The structure of concentrate and roughage in the daily ration should be reasonable. Usually, as the fattening period progresses, the ratio of concentrate to roughage in the daily ration also differs: Early stage: roughage accounts for 70%, concentrate accounts for 30%. Middle stage: roughage accounts for 30%, concentrate accounts for 70%. Final stage: roughage accounts for 10%, concentrate accounts for 90%.

III. Management Measures During the Beef Cattle Fattening Period

After reserve cattle selected for fattening are chosen, they must be quarantined one by one to avoid the spread of disease and economic losses. Before purchase, clean the pens and spray them with phenol soap solution, carbolic acid, or Bordeaux mixture for disinfection. Clean the water troughs and feed troughs thoroughly, and spread new bedding straw or sawdust on the cattle bed. The general management measures during the fattening period are as follows:

1. Group them, number individuals, and establish fattening records;

2. Remove internal and external parasites; external parasites affect the calmness of cattle, are not conducive to feeding and resting, and damage the cattle hide, affecting quality. Internal parasites not only compete for the host's nutrients and cause nutrient consumption, but when parasitic in the lungs, liver, brain, and muscles, they can also cause symptoms and even infect humans. They prevent fattening results. Commonly used broad-spectrum deworming drugs are levamisole hydrochloride, albendazole, ivermectin, etc. Mange is highly contagious. Once found, immediately isolate and treat, and disinfect the cattle barn and contaminated utensils with acaricides. Treat with drugs such as amitraz, deltamethrin, ivermectin, diazinon, dimpylate (mange net), lindane, phoxim, and trichlorfon.

3. Castration: Research results over the past forty years suggest that adult bulls must be castrated half a month before fattening. Young bulls may not be castrated, but they should be grouped early and kept and managed separately, which is beneficial for fattening and can improve carcass quality.

4. Brushing and exercise: Brushing must be done at fixed times, 1-2 times daily, after feeding to fullness, from head to tail, first the back and waist, then the hindquarters and limbs, brushing repeatedly. During the fattening period, feeder cattle may exercise appropriately to promote the development of digestive organs, but exercise must be restricted in the middle and later stages;

5. Adapt to local conditions and carry out group feeding or tethered feeding. Generally, for intensive fattening of feeder cattle, group feeding and pen fattening can be used during free-choice feeding, with 10-20 cattle per group and 4 sq m of cattle bed area per head. Adult cattle (culled old cattle) can be tethered for rapid fattening;

6. Keep the cattle barn warm in cold weather and prevent heatstroke in hot weather, and keep it dry and clean;

7. Weigh regularly: The entire fattening period of 90-120 days is divided into three stages, and live weight should be measured on time in each stage, in the morning on an empty stomach.