What are the causes of poor appetite in beef cattle and what are the solutions
Beef cattle farming has been a relatively popular livestock industry in recent years. Because of high demand and low risk, it has become the first choice in the breeding industry. However, many farmers often encounter poor appetite and low feed intake in beef cattle during the breeding process, which leads to weakened body condition and slow growth in the cattle, causing relatively large losses for farmers. So how should poor appetite in beef cattle be addressed? Let's take a look together.
1. Deworming
When beef cattle show a poor appetite, the first thing to consider is whether parasites are the cause. Parasites that affect beef cattle include tapeworms, roundworms, and nematodes, all of which can cause poor appetite or indigestion in beef cattle. For poor appetite caused by parasites, deworming should be carried out promptly. Deworming drugs combined with specialized drugs should be used for broad-spectrum deworming. You can choose subcutaneous injection of ivermectin plus oral albendazole or levamisole for combined deworming. After the first deworming, deworm again 7-10 days later, which can strengthen the deworming effect. In addition, pay attention to the dosage of the medication during deworming to avoid drug poisoning. After deworming, manure should be properly handled to prevent reinfection with parasitic diseases.
2. Strengthening the stomach and regulating the intestines
Poor appetite in beef cattle may also be caused by the animal's own physical condition, such as indigestion, constipation, or gastrointestinal inflammation. For these situations, farmers should promptly strengthen the stomach and regulate the intestines of the beef cattle. First, feed the beef cattle some traditional Chinese medicines that strengthen the stomach and tonify the middle qi, to improve the digestive capacity of the beef cattle and also promote the recovery of their appetite, while feeding some soft, easily digestible grass and feed. If it is a condition such as gastroenteritis, medications such as gentamicin and mequindox can be used for treatment, and finally feed some probiotic preparations to increase beneficial microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract and achieve enhanced digestive capacity.
3. Reasonable feed formulation
Another cause of poor appetite in beef cattle is the feed itself. For example, feeding dry corn stalks, wheat straw, and rice straw and other feedstuffs, which not only have high crude fiber content but are also hard, have relatively poor palatability for beef cattle, which do not particularly like to eat them, resulting in poor appetite. For another example, moldy feed will also affect the appetite of cattle. Therefore, it is necessary to make reasonable combinations according to the nutritional needs of the cattle and the available feed resources.
The above is an introduction to what to do when beef cattle have a poor appetite. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.