Scientific Feeding Methods and Technical Key Points for Improved Cattle

Improved cattle have the characteristics of large body size, fast weight gain, and high meat production rate. However, although improved cattle have the heredity for fast growth and development, if 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, equal importance must be given to both improvement and feeding.

Achieve three fixed and three checks. The three fixed: 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 to create a conditioned reflex in the calf, increase appetite, and promote growth. The three checks: check the calf's mental state, check the appetite condition, and check changes in feces. Through the three checks, diseases can be discovered and treated promptly.

Create a good environment and strengthen sanitation management of the cattle barn. The cattle barn 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 have sufficient sunlight.

Exercise every day. Exercise can promote blood circulation, increase appetite, and accelerate growth and development. Calves under 1 month old should exercise 10-15 minutes every day; calves over 1 month old should exercise 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 barn clean.

Supplement plant-based feed early. Calves can be given supplementary forage at 7-15 days of growth. Feed should be diversified, with proper combinations of concentrate, succulent feed, and silage. The amount of concentrate should be appropriate, gradually increasing the feed as the young cattle age and gain weight. At the same time, supplement minerals, vitamins, and salt to ensure the needs of the young animals' growth and development. In addition, sufficient drinking water must be provided. If a calf does not drink enough water, its hair will be scorched and it will be prone to gastrointestinal diseases. However, if it drinks too much water, water intoxication may easily occur and it will pass red urine.

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. Whether early weaning succeeds depends on providing calves with nutritionally rich complete milk replacer.