Key Points for Feeding and Management of Breeding Bucks During the Mating Period

During the mating period, breeding bucks should be given additional feed rich in protein, such as soybean cake, soybean residue, soaked soybeans, an appropriate amount of fish meal, meat meal and barley malt, etc. The amount of feed should also be increased accordingly; for example, if mating twice a day, the feed amount must be increased by 25%. In terms of management, the mating frequency of breeding bucks must be properly controlled: young bucks should preferably mate once a day, mating for 2 days and then resting for 1 day; adult bucks can mate twice a day, arranged once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and after mating for 2 consecutive days they should rest for 1 day. Pay attention to the "four no-mating" rules: do not mate when the buck has poor appetite or spirits or is ill, do not mate during the molting period, do not mate in hot weather without cooling equipment, and do not mate right before or after feeding.