Fodder – plant crops intended for feeding agricultural animals. Includes cereal grains and legumes, straw, hay, chaff. Previously, forage was used only for horses. Today, the scope of application has expanded: feed is given to cattle and poultry. Forage cows deserve special attention. What kind of animals are these? What are their features and differences?
Forage cow: what does it mean?
On livestock farms, the livestock is divided into subgroups depending on the lactation period. Dry animals, postpartum females and dairy cows are kept separately.The goal is to obtain the correct appropriate diet, since nutrition differs at different stages of life:
- Dried specimens – vitamin mixtures.
- Fresh cows - hay and water, gradual introduction of protein and concentrates.
- Dairy milk – advance nutrition to increase milk yield.
Fresh cows and milking cows are forage animals. They receive additional feeding (fodder). This food is rich in protein, which is of particular value for the animal. The substance supports the normal functioning of the body and increases productivity.
How are grains and legumes processed for feed?
It is important to properly prepare forage. This is necessary for better absorption and maximum effect from its use. The specifics of the preparation process are influenced by the type of additive chosen. Processing methods for grains and legumes are different. Grain varieties include oats, barley, and rye. Processing of grain crops:
- Crushing, crushing or breaking. A mandatory method for destroying the hard shell of grain. In this form, the forage is absorbed faster.
- Flattening or crushing. The procedure allows you to improve the taste of the forage. The resulting product is absorbed in its entirety. The body does not need to spend effort digesting the hard shell of the grain.
- Micronization is a heat treatment process (exposure of forage to infrared rays). As a result, the shell cracks and the feed grain becomes soft.
- Chilling to increase the sugar content of forage.
Legumes are lupine and soybean. Such feed is subjected to heat treatment. Most often, steaming or boiling is carried out.When exposed to heat, the antinutrients contained in the product are destroyed. Ready-made forage has a high content of protein, valuable for milking animals.
Milking control
Determining the milk productivity of forage cows is a mandatory procedure for farms and private households. This allows the productivity of each female to be calculated. Milk yield is calculated for the whole year and for days of lactation. In small farmsteads, milk received from each individual is weighed daily.
In large farms it is possible to calculate only average indicators. To do this, use formulas. First, the overall milk production rate is divided by the number of dairy cows in the herd. To find out how much milk one forage individual gave, the annual or monthly volume is divided by the duration of lactation.
Example of calculation for 1 forage cow:
- Determination of the number of livestock. For example, there are 340 heads in total.
- Monthly milk volume (31 days) – 200,000 liters.
- Dividing the obtained values. Total milk volume per herd size. 200,000/340=588 l. This is the monthly value per 1 forage cow.
- Next is the calculation of the daily volume. 588/31 days = 18.9 liters are produced by a forage cow per day.
To fully evaluate the livestock complex, fat and protein content are also analyzed. The data is recorded in special journals.
Feed consumption accounting
It is carried out according to the number of feeding days. Approximate structure: at the beginning of the month the number of goals is recorded, the data is entered into a journal.Over the next month, all changes are made to the herd: addition of new animals, loss of livestock. In parallel with this, they keep records of consumed feed. At the end of the month, the results are compiled; the formula for calculations is identical to determining the volume of milk yield.
Controlling feed consumption is needed for a number of activities. This is a forecast of feeding days and determining the number of individuals to receive feed additives.
Calculations also allow you to find out how many cows will go to dry land and how many will replenish the dairy group. The data obtained determines how much fodder the females will need for milking.
Nutrition rules
Forage is not the only food for animals. Individuals must visit pastures, where cows independently replenish the missing amount of plant components. The average walking time is 8-10 hours. To prevent feed mixtures from disrupting the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to constantly provide water. At least 5 drinks are required per day.
Features of the diet for each group in the herd:
| View | Nutrition |
| Cash cows | Recently calving was postponed. They are in the process of milking. They require a balanced and complete diet:
1. Herbal mixtures. 2. Legumes. 3. Cereals. |
| Dry (after completion of lactation) | Cows are being prepared for insemination. The purpose of nutrition is the accumulation of useful microelements for the subsequent period of gestation of calves. The diet should be rich in vitamins and useful elements. |
| Novotelnye | Cows after calving. Forage is given to prevent disruptions in milk production. Forage is introduced gradually, increasing the volume daily to normal. |
The use of feed mixtures is an opportunity to increase the average milk yield per cow by 0.5-1 liter. Foraging individuals are capable of producing up to 3,000 liters of milk per year. Therefore, by providing a suitable diet and reasonable maintenance, the farmer receives minimal feed costs and increased productivity. To achieve noticeable results, it is necessary to use only prepared and pre-processed forages.
