For dairy farm and bitch cattle , there is n’t a single formula that provides an idealistic diet . While there are guideline for nutrition you should abide by , the feedstuffs you choose will depend on your farm and what is available .
Dairy Cattle
Successfully manage a dairy cow ’s diet and nutrition by recollect that it will change as her phase of milk product change . About 60 days prior to calving , a dairy moo-cow that is being milked should be dried off . Her inspiration will minify , and the quality of the provender she is consuming can minify as well . Keeping her body experimental condition sexual conquest at a 3.5 ( on a scale of measurement of 1 to 5 ) and feeding the right proportion of vitamins and mineral is important . ( For more about BCS , say “ Why Body circumstance Score Your Bos taurus ? ” ) overawe that freshen adiposis or with wrong vitamin and mineral balances lean to have more issues with dystocia , Milk River fever and ketosis . ( See a inclination of dairy farm language below . )
At break up , most cows require more energy than they can consume and accordingly lose body condition . This means a high - energy provender is require until her Milk River production peak , 45 to 60 days postpartum . Metabolic problem can be deadly during this phase so correct diets and nutrition that include balanced vigour , vitamins and mineral are all important .
See the chart below for a table which outlines nutrient rule of thumb for cows during various stages of suckling . The amounts afford in the board are croak to vary reckon on years , breed and account . Not all expect nutrients are heel ; always consult with a nutritionist or veterinarian about moo-cow diet .
Dairy Definitions
Beef Cattle
There are two stage to raising gripe cattle intended for nutrient : growing and finishing . The rise stage occur after wean and before finishing . The ideal dieting during this time is very simple : Typical growing diet on a small farm consist of a pasturage source and a mineral supplement , which is not the same as a salt block . crucial for nutrition during this stage is protein . Protein should be about 12 pct of the diet , and your grass may contain a upright luck of that . For exemplar , Medicago sativa hay is a undecomposed source of protein . add a mineral supplement is crucial to ensure your cattle are receiving all-important amino acid , vitamins and minerals .
A finishing dieting typically starts 60 to 90 days before you intend to harvest the brute . The diet during this time can vary depending on your farm and your production goals ; it may even be that you keep the growing and finishing diets the same .
The most common way that hobby farmers need to fetch up beef cattle is on pasture . If this is also how you grow your cattle , no dieting change are necessary . Grass - finished Bos taurus produce substance that is leaner , tougher and has a distinct grassy flavor . If you would prefer a more marbled , ship’s boat and less grassy taste , you will want to cease partially with grain . If you only want to finish with a little bit of grain to take off the grassy border , feed at about 10 to 20 percentage of the dieting . More grain in the diet will yield more marbling .
It will take consult with a nutritionist or veterinary and some trial and computer error to total up with the ideal diet for dairy farm and beef cows on your farm . There is never just one proper answer to fauna agriculture , specially when it come to nutrition . In the end , feed healthy , felicitous animals is what matters most .
This tale primitively come along in the May / June 2017 matter of Hobby Farms .
