Developing Practical and Economic Ration for Dairy Cattle | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Importance of Economical Milk Production

• Progress in the dairy industry relies on producing milk economically.
• The biggest cost in dairy farming is feed, making up 60-70% of total production expenses.

Economic Milk Production Factors

• Making essential nutrients for milk production available to cows at a low cost is crucial.
• Achieving higher milk production in cows helps keep the cost of milk production low.

Considerations in Ration Planning

• When planning a cow's diet, factors like maintenance and production requirements must be considered.
• Adjustments in the diet are needed based on pregnancy, lactation stage, milk quality, and environmental factors.

Peak Yield Importance

• The peak yield period is crucial for high-yielding cows.
• Even a small reduction in milk yield during this period significantly affects overall milk output.

Feeding During Pre- and Post-Calving

• Proper feeding before and after calving is essential for maintaining peak yield and overall production.
• Early lactation days may have low feed intake, and the cow relies on body reserves to achieve peak yield.

Impact of Nutrition on Milk Composition

• Milk fat and protein content are influenced by the cow's diet.
• Optimal nutrition is vital for maintaining fertility in cows.

Formulating Feeding Programs

• Nutrient requirements can be formulated based on production levels.
• Feeding programs need adjustment based on the types of fodder and feeds available in different regions.

Principle of Rationing

• Rationing divides the animal's diet into maintenance and production parts.
• Maintenance ration sustains essential life processes without weight gain or loss.
• Anything beyond maintenance is available for growth, fattening, reproduction, or work output.

Integration for Economic Dairy Farming

• Nutritional principles, economics, labor, and capital investment should be integrated for an economical and efficient dairy farming program.

Adapting to Regional Resources

Feeding programs need adjustment based on the availability of different kinds of fodder and feeds in various regions.

Balancing a Ration: Nutritional Considerations

• Importance of Dry Matter:
  • Dry matter is crucial for satisfying an animal's appetite and promoting proper digestion.
  • Animals have a limit to how much dry matter they can consume, usually around 0.7 times their body weight.
• Protein Focus:
  • The emphasis is on digestible and critical essential amino acids (especially for non-ruminants and young calves) rather than just total protein content.
• Energy Requirements:
  • Various forms of energy (digestible, metabolizable, net energy, or total digestible nutrients) are considered to meet the animal's energy needs.
• Mineral and Vitamin Considerations:
  • Rations must include adequate calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and other minerals to support overall health.
• Economic Considerations:
  • Feed prices don't always reflect their nutritional value.
  • Opt for feeds that are both cost-effective and nutritionally rich, as some cheaper feeds may offer better nutritive value than pricier alternatives.

Factors Considered in Balanced Ration

• Maintenance and Growth:
  • Computed for energy requirements related to metabolism, activity, climate, and protein needs for growth.
• Production and Lactation:
  • Factors include requirements for reproduction, fetal growth, lactation, and overall milk production.
• Appetite as a Key Factor:
  • Measured by dry matter content in the diet.
  • Cattle typically consume 2.0 to 2.5 kg of dry matter per 100 kg of body weight.

Basic Principles in Cattle Feeding

• Dry Matter Breakdown:
  • Grasses with 25% dry matter; 32-40 kg of green grass provides 10 kg of dry matter.
  • Buffaloes require 25-30 kg of dry matter per 100 kg body weight.
• Feeding Ratios:
  • Typically, 1/3 concentrates and 2/3 roughages (green, silage, or dry).
  • Example for a 400 kg cow: Concentrate (20%), Grass (8-12%), Dry Roughage (45%).
• Legumes for Nutrition:
  • Good legumes can support 7-10 kg of milk with additional supplementation of concentrates.

Balanced Concentrate Mixture

• Composition and Usage:
  • Mixtures designed to support milk yield (1/3 for cattle, 2/5 to 1/2 for buffaloes).
  • Composition includes DCP (Digestible Crude Protein) and TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients).
• Challenges in Mixture Preparation:
  • Difficulty in achieving high TDN content with Indian feeds without increasing costs.
  • Fortified with mineral mixture and salt for essential nutrients.

Examples of Concentrate Mixtures

Sample Combinations:

• Mustard Cake + Wheat Bran + Barley
• Groundnut Cake + Wheat Bran + Maize + Arhar Chuni
• Various combinations based on ingredient cost.

Economic Feeding Schedule for Low Milk Yield

Feeding for 3-4 kg Milk Yield

• Green fodder and low-quality roughage can meet nutritional needs. 
• Examples include green maize, cowpea, oats, desem, and wheat straw combinations.

Animal Feeding without Concentrates

• No Need for Concentrates:
  • Maintenance and production needs can be fulfilled using the mentioned fodder combinations; concentrates are not necessary.
• Nutrient Content in Rations:
  • Each combination provides an average of 5.7 kg of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and about 0.55 kg of Digestible Crude Protein (DCP).
  • Dry matter content in each ration is approximately 10.5 kg.
• Additional Benefits of Green Fodder:
  • Green fodder not only offers DCP and TDN but also provides carotene, converted into vitamin A by animals.
• Supplements:
  • Provide common salt (30g) and mineral mixture (30g) per head daily.
  • This supports overall health and nutritional balance.
• Feeding Schedule for 7-9 kg Milk Yield:
  • High-quality roughage is crucial for cows yielding 7-9 kg of milk.
  • Inclusion of lucerne, berseem, or cowpea hay in the ration meets nutrient requirements and saves on concentrates.
• Quality Forage Combinations:
  • Examples include mixtures of maize, oats, barley, lucerne, cowpea, and berseem, supplying 0.75 kg DCP and around 7.3 kg TDN per ration.
• Supplements for this Category:
  • Include 35g of common salt and 30g of mineral mixture or bone meal to maintain a well-balanced diet.
• Feeding for Cows Yielding 10 kg and Above:
  • High producers require more nutrients than quality forages alone can provide.
  • Introduce 1 kg of concentrate mixture for every additional 2.5 kg of milk produced.

Common Concentrate Mixtures and Feeding for Breeding Bulls

Common Concentrate Mixtures

• Maize-Based Mixture:
  • Maize (30%), Rice Bran (30%), Groundnut Cake (20%), Wheat Bran (20%).
  • Contains 76% Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and 16% Digestible Crude Protein (DCP).
• Mixed Grain Mixture:
  • Maize (25%), Barley (25%), Groundnut Cake (25%), Wheat Bran (25%).
  • Also provides 76% TDN and 16% DCP.
• High Maize Mixture:
  • Maize (40%), Cottonseed Cake (30%), Groundnut Cake (20%), Gram Husk (10%).
  • Maintains 76% TDN and 16% DCP.
• Diverse Grain Mixture:
  • Maize (60%), Cottonseed Cake (20%), Groundnut Cake (20%), Wheat Bran (8%), Coconut Cake (8%), Rice Bran (4%).
  • Contains 76% TDN and 16% DCP.

Feeding of Breeding Bulls

• Nutrient Analysis for Bulls:
  • Nutritional requirements vary based on the weight of breeding bulls.
  • Tables provide detailed nutritional requirements for different weights.
• Feeding without Concentrates:
  • For non-leguminous green forages like oats, rye, and sorghum, no concentrates are needed as the base roughage.
• Example Ration for 600 kg Bull:
  • Green oats at 20% dry matter (40 kg), Wheat Straw (2 kg).
  • Provides 17.3 kg DCP and 80 kg TDN, meeting actual requirements.
• Feeding with Concentrates:
  • When legumes like berseem, lucerne, or clover are used with straw, concentrates are needed.
• Concentrate Mix for Basal Roughage:
  • Example: Concentrate mixture (2.5 kg), Wheat Bran (7.2 kg), Green Grass (4 kg).
  • Satisfies 23 kg TDN and 5.5 kg DCP, meeting the bull's requirements.

Animal Feeding Guidelines

For Bulls

• Avoid Overfeeding:
  • Bulls should not be overfed to prevent health issues.
• Feeding for Work Bulls:
  • When not working, bulls require only maintenance ration.
  • For working bulls, a specific ration is provided, considering energy needs.
  • Extra pulses (10 kg) may be added for heavy work to address protein requirements.
• Basal Roughage Consideration:
  • If wheat straw or paddy straw is the main roughage, a concentrate mixture with 12% DCP and 75% TDN is fed.
  • Different amounts of concentrates are given based on the weight of the bullock and the intensity of the work.
• Green Fodder for Vitamin A:
  • Two to five kg of green fodder is provided to supply necessary vitamin A.

Feeding of Buffaloes

• General Nutritional Considerations:
  • Buffaloes have similar nutritional needs as cattle for growth, maintenance, reproduction, and general work.
  • Specific attention is given to milk production, considering higher fat and SNF content.
• Daily Ration for Growing Buffaloes (50-150 kg):
  • Options for daily rations include molasses, sugarcane tops, urea, cottonseed cake, minerals, and vitamin A supplement.
  • The amounts are provided in simple terms, ensuring the growing animals receive adequate nutrition.