Methods and Precautions for Feeding Beef Cattle Fattening Feed

Nowadays, the beef market is getting better and better, with high prices and good profits, which has led many cattle farmers to expand their farming scale. However, quite a few cattle farmers report that their cattle fattening results are not satisfactory, so even under good market conditions they have not obtained very high profits. So what should be noted in feed feeding for cattle fattening? What methods are there? Regarding these questions, what we want to remind the vast number of cattle farmers is that in the process of cattle fattening, feed feeding is very important, especially in autumn and winter.

So what exactly should be noted in feed feeding for cattle fattening?

1. Feed formula.

The concentrate feed formula for feeder cattle weighing more than 40C kg is: corn 65%, soybean cake 5%, cottonseed cake 15%, wheat bran 11.5%, bone meal 1%, salt 1%, baking soda 1%, flavoring agent 0.5%. The feed formula for young cattle weighing more than 250 kg is: corn 60%, soybean cake 10%, cottonseed cake 20%, wheat bran 5.5%, bone meal 1.5%, salt 1%, baking soda 1%, flavoring agent 1%.

Roughage is mainly a combination of silage corn stalks with brewer's grains and white distiller's grains. The silage corn stalks used are mainly green stalks and green leaves of corn stalks after the autumn corn harvest, which are harvested in time for large-scale silage. They are fed throughout the year. In summer they are paired with brewer's grains, and in winter with white distiller's grains.

2. Feed amount.

According to the different ages of cattle, fattening methods can be divided into:

(1) Young cattle fattening. The fattening time is 6 to 8 months.

(2) Feeder cattle fattening. The fattening time is 4 to 5 months.

Generally, it can be divided into three stages of feeding:

The first stage is 7 to 15 days. At this time, newly purchased cattle will experience fatigue and discomfort with the environment due to long-distance transport and stress, so this stage is the recovery period. It is mainly for training the cattle. At the beginning, do not feed concentrate. First feed high-quality green grass, dried green grass, wheat straw, peanut vines, etc., provide clean water, and gradually mix in silage, ammoniated feed, distiller's grains, etc. Let the cattle go hungry for 1 to 2 days before feeding concentrate.

The second stage is 15 to 20 days, which is the transition period. After the recovery period of the previous stage, the cattle have basically adapted to the feeding conditions of the new environment, and at this time the amount of concentrate can be increased. Generally, concentrate is fed at 0.8% of body weight. For cattle weighing 200 kg, 1.6 kg of concentrate is enough. Roughage is not limited, and after continuous feeding for several days, once adapted, the proportion of concentrate is gradually increased. At the end of the transition period, concentrate can account for 40% to 50% of the daily ration.

The third stage is 110 to 120 days, which is the rapid fattening period. During this period, the proportion of concentrate in the daily ration is: 55% to 60% for 1 to 20 days, 65% to 70% for 21 to 50 days, 75% for 51 to 90 days, and 80% to 85% for 90 to 120 days.

3. Feeding method.

For ease of operation and management, a feeding method of 2 times a day is generally adopted: 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. in winter and spring, and 4:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. in summer and autumn. Each feeding usually takes 30 to 40 minutes, and in summer at noon water is given once. Ensure that rumination time is not less than 8 hours. Within 2 to 3 days of changing the daily ration, the feeders should frequently observe the cattle's feed intake and rumination frequency, and once abnormalities are found, they should be dealt with in time. At the same time, concentrate should be added according to the feeding stage. The method for treating forage is: before feeding, soak the concentrate thoroughly with clean water until it forms a ball when held in the hand and scatter when dropped on the ground. First spread the silage corn stalks evenly on a concrete floor to a thickness of about 15 cm, then scatter the soaked concentrate evenly on the surface, then spread distiller's grains 5 cm thick on top, and finally cover with plastic sheeting for fermentation. Generally after 3 hours in summer and 12 hours in winter, it can be mixed evenly and fed. This kind of forage is soft and has a wine aroma, and cattle especially like to eat it, with no residue left, followed by drinking clean water.

What else should be noted in fattening feed in Liaoyang City?

Feed crossbred cattle

Crossbred cattle combine the excellent traits of different breeds and have obvious heterosis, and can produce large quantities of high-quality beef in a short time. If there are no crossbred cattle, local steers aged 3 to 8 years, weighing 250 kg, of medium fat condition, and healthy and disease-free can be selected for short-term fattening.

Feed ammoniated straw

Feeding cattle with straw treated by ammoniation technology can improve nutrient conversion rate, enhance palatability, and reduce production costs. Preparation of ammoniated straw: according to the ratio of 100 kg of straw, 3 kg of urea and 40 kg of water, carry out sealed treatment in an ammoniation chamber. The ammoniated straw should be moved to an open-air site when the weather is clear, turned continuously to release ammonia, and after there is no ammonia smell, piled indoors for later use. Feeding ammoniated straw requires a 7 to 10 day transition period. The normal feed intake of cattle is generally 2% of their body weight, with the principle of eating well without waste, and feeding 3 times a day. In seasons with green grass, graze during the day, and in winter and spring, mix-feed silage.

Supplement mixed feed

Reference formula for mixed feed: corn 60%, rapeseed cake or cottonseed cake 37%, starch 2%, salt 1%. When there is no cake, soybean meal powder can be used to reduce feed cost. Feed is given at a fixed time at 1% of cattle body weight, with supplementary feeding divided into 2 times a day.

Careful feeding and meticulous management

Deworming can be carried out during the transition period of feeding ammoniated straw. Albendazole can be given orally at 30 mg per kg of cattle body weight. After administration, the stomach can also be strengthened. In the fattening stage, graze for 1 to 2 months in seasons with green grass. In the late fattening stage, no less than 1 month of barn feeding is required, and the fattening time using a high-concentrate daily ration is 60 to 90 days. When mixing feed, first mix the feed wet, and after 1 hour, mix it evenly with the straw. In addition, clean water must be provided for drinking, 2 times a day. The cattle pen should be frequently dehumidified and bedded with dry material to keep it dry and clean.

Of course, these are only some of the feed feeding methods and precautions for cattle fattening. Cattle farmers with their own successful experience can feed according to their own actual conditions, and you are also welcome to share and exchange with everyone!