Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Cold-Resistant Feeding Techniques for Cattle and Sheep

Cold-resistant feeding techniques for cattle and sheep are mainly used to reduce the adverse effects of disastrous weather such as rainy and freezing conditions and to support recovery after disasters.
Main technical contents:
1. Repair the pens to keep them warm and cold-proof. The windows of the pens should be sealed with plastic film, and holes should be plugged to prevent drafty wind; the window glass should be wiped clean to allow light in; windproof boards should be added. Calves, lambs and giving-birth cattle and sheep can have a fire lit inside the pens for warmth, and farmers with the means can install infrared heating lamps.
2. Appropriately increase feed energy. Under harsh weather conditions, improper feeding of pregnant livestock can easily lead to miscarriage of pregnant females, or even the death of both mother and young. The supply of concentrated feed should be increased. Cows should be supplement-fed 1-2 kg of concentrated feed daily, and the concentrated feed supply for sheep should be increased by 20%. At the same time, more succulent feeds such as silage and carrots can be fed. Farmers with the means can feed mixed concentrated feed and appropriately add some bone meal and salt.
3. Feed warm porridge feed and warm water. Concentrated feed is best made into warm porridge at about 38°C for feeding. This is not only palatable and easy to digest, but can also enhance the body's cold resistance. At the same time, sufficient drinking water at a suitable temperature should be maintained, and the water temperature is best at 37°C.
4. Strengthen feeding management. Frequently add bedding straw, change the straw, clean the pens, and remove manure; maintain a moderate stocking density and keep the air flowing.
5. Appropriate exercise and brushing the cattle's body. When the weather is clear, let the cattle out to bask in the sun, and at the same time brush the cattle's body. This can not only prevent skin diseases and external parasitic diseases, but also promote blood circulation in cattle and improve their ability to resist cold and keep out the chill.