FEEDING TO ENHANCE FEEDING TO ENHANCE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITYLIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY

Prof. Dr. Muhammad AbdullahProf. Dr. Muhammad AbdullahDept. of Livestock ProductionDept. of Livestock Production

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, LahoreUniversity of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahoremabdullah@uvas.edu.pkmabdullah@uvas.edu.pk; 0300-6648200 ; 0300-6648200

Livestock ProductivityLivestock Productivity

Genetics X EnvironmentGenetics X Environment

Adequate feeding levels of a Adequate feeding levels of a highly nutritional diet are vital highly nutritional diet are vital for optimal animal performance for optimal animal performance and well-being.and well-being.

Farm-to-farm variations make it Farm-to-farm variations make it difficult to recommend standard feed difficult to recommend standard feed levels:levels:► Animal geneticsAnimal genetics

► Environmental conditionsEnvironmental conditions

►Management practicesManagement practices

Goal of a Successful Goal of a Successful Feeding ProgrammeFeeding Programme

Optimize milk yieldOptimize milk yield

Feed costs represent largest input cost (60-70%)

Feeding high producing cows Feeding high producing cows –– – a continues a continues challengechallenge

Nutrient RequirementsNutrient Requirements

Maintenance/HealthMaintenance/HealthGrowthGrowthMilk ProductionMilk ProductionReproductionReproduction

Vary with the stage of lactation Vary with the stage of lactation and gestation and gestation

AActivityctivity

Priority of Nutrients in the BodyPriority of Nutrients in the Body

Maintenance

Growth

Lactation

Fetal Growth

Breeding

Body Reserve

Why Balanced Ration ?Why Balanced Ration ?

Selection of Concentrate Selection of Concentrate FeedsFeeds

Availabil i tyAvailabil i tyCostCostNutrient composit ion (Protein, Nutrient composit ion (Protein,

energy, minerals)energy, minerals)

General ConsiderationGeneral Consideration

Oil cakes / MealsOil cakes / Meals 20 – 25 %20 – 25 % GrainsGrains 25 – 30 %25 – 30 % By-productsBy-products 40 – 50 % 40 – 50 % MolassesMolasses ~ - 10 %~ - 10 % Salt/DCP/MMSalt/DCP/MM 1 - 2 %1 - 2 %

FEEDING MANAGEMENT

Feeding Phases Feeding Phases Early lactation—0 to 70 daysEarly lactation—0 to 70 daysPeak DM intake

(Second 10 Weeks Postpartum) Mid- and late lactation—140 to 305 Mid- and late lactation—140 to 305

days (declining milk production)days (declining milk production)Dry period—60 to 14 days before Dry period—60 to 14 days before

the next lactation.the next lactation.Transition or close-up period—14 Transition or close-up period—14

days before to parturition. days before to parturition.

Events During Different Phases of Events During Different Phases of LactationLactation

Nutrients demand Nutrients demand for peak milk yield for peak milk yield is highis high

Can not eat to full Can not eat to full capacity during capacity during early phaseearly phase

Uses body reserves Uses body reserves as energy sourceas energy source

Rapidly looses Rapidly looses body weightbody weight

Increasing Peak Milk Yield Improve Increasing Peak Milk Yield Improve Lactation PerformanceLactation Performance

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44

Weeks of Lactation

Milk

Yie

ld (

lit/d

ay

)

Phase 1 Early Lactation—0 to 70 Phase 1 Early Lactation—0 to 70 Days PostpartumDays Postpartum

Feed Feed top quality foragetop quality forage.. Make sure the diet contains adequate Make sure the diet contains adequate

amounts of amounts of CP, DIP and UIPCP, DIP and UIP.. Increase Increase grain intakegrain intake at a constant at a constant

rate after calving.rate after calving. Consider adding Consider adding fatfat

(0.5 to 0.75 kg /cow/day) to diets.(0.5 to 0.75 kg /cow/day) to diets. Allow Allow constant accessconstant access to feed. to feed. Minimize Minimize stressstress conditions. conditions.

Phase 2 Peak DM intakePhase 2 Peak DM intake(Second 10 Weeks Postpartum)(Second 10 Weeks Postpartum)

Feed forages and grain Feed forages and grain several several timestimes a day. a day.

Feed the highest Feed the highest quality feedsquality feeds available.available.

Continue to minimize Continue to minimize stressstress conditions. conditions.

Phase 3 Mid- to late lactationPhase 3 Mid- to late lactation(140 to 305 days postpartum)(140 to 305 days postpartum)

Easiest to manage Easiest to manage MilkMilk production is production is decliningdeclining The cow is The cow is pregnantpregnant, and , and nutrient nutrient

intakeintake will easily will easily meet or exceedmeet or exceed requirements requirements

GrainGrain feeding should be at a level to feeding should be at a level to meet milk meet milk production requirementsproduction requirements

Lactating cows require less feed to Lactating cows require less feed to replace a pound of body tissue than replace a pound of body tissue than dry cows.dry cows.

Phase 4. Dry periodPhase 4. Dry period(60 to 14 days before parturition)(60 to 14 days before parturition) Observe Observe body conditionbody condition of dry cows of dry cows

and adjust energy feeding as necessary.and adjust energy feeding as necessary. Meet nutrient requirements and Meet nutrient requirements and avoid avoid

excessive feeding.excessive feeding. Change to a transition rationChange to a transition ration starting starting

2 weeks before calving.2 weeks before calving. Avoid excess calciumAvoid excess calcium and phosphorus and phosphorus

intakes.intakes. Limit saltLimit salt to 25-30 g and limit other to 25-30 g and limit other

sodium-based minerals in the dry cow sodium-based minerals in the dry cow ration to reduce udder edema problems. ration to reduce udder edema problems.

Body Condition Scores – Dairy CowsBody Condition Scores – Dairy Cows2 3 4 51

BCS: 3BCS: 2BCS: 1 BCS: 4 BCS: 5

Feeding in Pregnancy Feeding in Pregnancy (Last 2 months)(Last 2 months)

1.1. Rapid growing foetusRapid growing foetus2.2. Develop body reserves for use Develop body reserves for use

in subsequent lactationin subsequent lactationHow;How;

Give rest i f in milk (forced Give rest i f in milk (forced drying)drying)

Feed concentrate 2 kg/day + Feed concentrate 2 kg/day + good quality fodder, restrict good quality fodder, restrict strawstraw

Phase 5. Transition periodPhase 5. Transition period(14 days before to parturition)(14 days before to parturition)

Provide Provide 3 to 5 kg of grain3 to 5 kg of grain Increase proteinIncrease protein in the ration to in the ration to

between 14 and 15 percent of the between 14 and 15 percent of the ration DM ration DM

Limit fatLimit fat in the ration to 100 g. High in the ration to 100 g. High fat feeding will depress DM intake fat feeding will depress DM intake

Maintain Maintain 3 to 5 kg hay3 to 5 kg hay in the ration in the ration to stimulate rumination to stimulate rumination

Remove saltRemove salt from the ration if from the ration if edema is a problem edema is a problem

Feeding Total Mixed RationFeeding Total Mixed RationEach Each bitebite is nutritionally is nutritionally balancebalance ..The The roughage-to-concentrateroughage-to-concentrate can be can be

varied to regulate nutrient intake.varied to regulate nutrient intake.TMR TMR regulates rumen pH regulates rumen pH and and

enhance microbial protein enhance microbial protein synthesis.synthesis.

Minimize feed Minimize feed selectionselection .. Increase Increase feed intakefeed intake ..Less laborLess labor and feeding operations are and feeding operations are

readily mechanized.readily mechanized.

Daily allowance Daily allowance

Fodder @ 10% of body weight ~ 40-Fodder @ 10% of body weight ~ 40-60 kg60 kg

Ration ~ Half of milk productionRation ~ Half of milk production More ration during summer seasonMore ration during summer season Water should be available all the Water should be available all the

timetime Mineral mixture @ 2% in the rationMineral mixture @ 2% in the ration

Flat Rate Concentrate Flat Rate Concentrate FeedingFeeding

Do not starve profit out Do not starve profit out of a good cowof a good cow

Do not feed profit to a Do not feed profit to a poor cowpoor cow

SuggestionsSuggestions Select & mix different ingredients on Select & mix different ingredients on

protein basis for making concentrate protein basis for making concentrate mixture)mixture)

Always add minerals especially take Always add minerals especially take care of Calcium & Phosphorus ratio in care of Calcium & Phosphorus ratio in the rationsthe rations

Plan your feeding program to raise the Plan your feeding program to raise the peak milk yieldpeak milk yield

Never restrict feed & water soon after Never restrict feed & water soon after parturitionparturition

SuggestionsSuggestions

Avoid large fluctuation in green Avoid large fluctuation in green fodder supply through silage makingfodder supply through silage making

Make best use of local feeds with Make best use of local feeds with relevant supplementation & relevant supplementation & conservationconservation

Improve feeding value of straw Improve feeding value of straw through urea treatment for fodder through urea treatment for fodder scarcity periodscarcity period

THANK THANK YOUYOU