Beef Cattle Farming Feed Formulas and Scientific Preparation Methods

Currently, cattle farming by farming households is increasingly recognized by farmers. Now farming households raising cattle have changed the original purpose of farming. In the past, cattle were raised for plowing fields and doing farm work, but now most farming households raising cattle raise beef cattle breeds, mainly for beef cattle production. So with the change in farming purpose, the methods of raising cattle by farmers must also change. Below is an introduction to the feed formulas and cattle farming techniques for farming households raising beef cattle:

1. Feed Formulas.

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

Roughage mainly consists of silage corn stalks combined with beer distillers' grains and white spirit distillers' grains. The silage corn stalks used are mainly green stalks and green leaves from corn stalks after the autumn corn harvest, which are harvested in time for large-scale silaging. Fed year-round. In summer, beer distillers' grains are added; in winter, white spirit distillers' grains are added.

2. Feed Amounts.

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

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

(2) Feeder cattle fattening. The fattening period 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 maladaptation to the environment due to long-distance transport and stress. This stage is the recovery period. The main task is to train the cattle. Do not feed concentrated feed at the beginning. First feed high-quality green grass, dried green grass, wheat straw, peanut vines, etc., and provide clean water, gradually mixing in silage feed or ammoniated feed, distillers' grains, etc. Let the cattle go hungry for 1 to 2 days before feeding concentrated feed.

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. At this point, the amount of concentrated feed can be increased. Generally, concentrated feed is fed at 0.8% of body weight. For cattle weighing 200 kg, 1.6 kg of concentrated feed is sufficient. Roughage is unlimited. Feed continuously for several days, and after adaptation, gradually increase the proportion of concentrated feed. At the end of the transition period, concentrated feed 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 concentrated feed in the daily ration is: 55% to 60% for days 1 to 20, 65% to 70% for days 21 to 50, 75% for days 51 to 90, and 80% to 85% for days 90 to 120.

3. Feeding Methods.

For ease of operation and management, a feeding method of 2 times a day is generally adopted. In winter and spring, feeding is at 5 AM and 5 PM; in summer and autumn, at 4:30 AM and 5 PM. Each feeding session generally lasts 30 to 40 minutes. In summer, water is provided once at noon. Ensure that rumination time is no less than 8 hours. Within 2 to 3 days of changing the daily ration, the feeder should frequently observe the cattle's feed intake and rumination frequency. Once abnormalities are found, timely measures should be taken. At the same time, concentrated feed should be added according to the feeding stage. The method for processing forage is: before feeding, soak the concentrated feed thoroughly with clean water until it forms a ball when squeezed in the hand and crumbles when dropped. First spread the silage corn stalks evenly on a concrete floor to a thickness of about 15 cm, then evenly scatter the soaked concentrated feed on the surface, then sprinkle 5 cm thick distillers' grains 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 distillers' grain aroma. The cattle particularly love to eat it and leave no residue. Then provide clean water.