Fattening young bulls for meat has its own characteristics. Animals up to 3 months old should be fed only whole milk. Then they are gradually switched to plant foods (hay and grass), and given more grain fodder and root crops. For better weight gain, feed additives are included in the diet. The selection of feed depends on the financial capabilities of the farmer. The better the quality of grass, hay and grain fodder, the faster the bulls recover.
Features of feeding bulls
Fattening bulls for meat begins from the moment they are born. Their weight during this period is 30-45 kg, and by the time of slaughter (at 12 months) the weight should be 500-700 kg or more. Newborn calves up to 3 months of age are fed with mother's milk (initially from nipple drinkers, and in the second week of life - from a bucket).
In the body of young animals, accelerated metabolism occurs, all organs and tissues grow intensively. During this period, the bulls should eat to their heart's content. They are given whole milk (not diluted), increasing the norm from 300 grams to 1-2 liters per feeding. Animals are initially fed 5 times a day, later 3 times a day.
In the first months of life, calves are able to gain 700-900 grams in weight, if you do not skimp on feed. Of course, future productivity indicators depend on a good start (good nutrition, quality fattening). In the first months of life, calves begin to try grass, hay and grain mixtures.
However, it is possible to switch bull calves to plant food, excluding milk, only at 4 months of age.
Until slaughter, cattle are fed grass or hay. This is the main food for ruminants, contributing to the normal functioning of the stomach. As a supplement, bulls can be given vegetables, grain fodder, mixed feed, silage and additives for rapid weight gain.
Types of fattening
Animals are raised (fed) in two ways: pasture-stall and stall-based. Each feeding method has its own advantages.
Fast way
With accelerated fattening, at 3 months, bull calves are switched to grass or hay and are given grain fodder or pulp (mixed feed) daily as feed, increasing the norm each time. Some farmers give their animals boiled potatoes.As a rule, bull calves are accustomed to the feed that is available on the farm. A more effective result is obtained when using feed additives.
In winter, animals are kept indoors and fed hay, grain fodder, and root vegetables three times a day.
Stall
It is possible not to graze the bulls in the meadow, but to keep them in stalls (fattening). True, you will have to feed the calves at least 3 times a day. Animals should eat enough, that is, not be tied up hungry all day. Feed is given depending on the age of the bulls.
Feeding ration for bulls
The diet and feeding standards for bulls depend on the age of the animals. You need to start with milk (colostrum). New food can be introduced only when calves reach a certain age and their stomach is ready to digest roughage.
Up to six months
In the first minutes after birth, calves should receive colostrum containing huge amounts of antibodies. Bulls are born with a weak immune system. It is colostrum that allows you to get immune protection from dangerous diseases and improve the functioning of your stomach. You can feed bulls using a bottle with a nipple. Large farms practice feeding calves colostrum from different cows. This combined product is healthier because it contains more antibodies.
The rate of milk consumption is increasing every day. Initially, calves drink half a liter at a time. By the end of 2 weeks, this figure increases 4 times. A one-month-old bull drinks 1-2 liters of milk per feeding. In total, he is fed three times a day. If there is no natural milk, calves can be given a substitute or skim milk (skimmed milk) in the same volume.
In addition to milk, the bulls are given fresh water (from 1 liter to half a bucket).From the second month of life, for quick fattening, small quantities of oatmeal, mixed feed, and grain begin to be introduced into the diet. Accustoming animals begins with 100 grams of new food. Then the rate of concentrated feed is increased to 1.3 kg (at 3 months) and 1.9 kg (at 6 months) per day.
In the process of raising and fattening bulls (starting from 4 months), special attention is paid to grazing them on pasture. Fresh air and lush grass improve the well-being of calves, promote good appetite and rapid weight gain. You can fatten bulls within the calf barn, that is, keep them in stalls. The main thing is that animals receive the full range of feeds needed for faster weight gain.
The most useful vegetation is legume-cereal hay. At first (at 2 months), calves eat 0.5-1 kg per day, with each week the consumption rates increase. Gradually the animals are transferred to grass. First, they give dried, and later - juicy legumes and cereals. It is recommended to graze young bulls on young grass 10-15 cm high. At 3 months, calves eat 3-4 kg, at 6 months - 15-18 kg of grass per day.
After six months
When calves are 6 months old, they can eat the same food as adult animals. The main food for quick fattening bulls remains grass in summer and hay in winter. The diet should contain vegetables, grain mixtures, mixed feed, vitamin and mineral complexes, chalk and salt.
A goby eats from 20 to 30 kg of grass per day. Grain mixture or mixed feed is given 2-3 kg or more.The norm of grass for an adult cattle is almost 55 kg. In winter, starting from 6 months of age, a calf eats 5-20 kg of hay and 5-15 kg of silage per day. Animals gain weight well if root vegetables are present in the diet (3-7 kg per day). The calf drinks 1-2 buckets of water at a time.
Intensive fattening of bull calves for meat
In order to fatten a calf in a short time, you need to provide high-quality feed and at the same time comply with daily nutritional requirements. The intensity of weight gain depends on the breed of bulls.
For rapid growth and higher productivity, meat-type breeding animals aged from 1 to 3 months are purchased. Bulls can be raised and then sold for meat. The main thing is to feed them often; animals should not starve or remain without food for a long time. At home (on your own farm), with proper fattening (selection of feed), you can achieve good results. A bull or cow before slaughter (up to 12-18 months) can gain 500-800 kg.
Diet for quick fattening of bull calves for meat (table):
| Age (by month) | Daily milk intake | Daily norm of grass | Daily norm of hay | Daily norm of crushed grain fodder (barley and wheat) | Daily intake of probiotic (Actisaf) added to grain fodder | Daily value of vegetables |
| 1 | 6 l | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 | 8-9 l | 100-200 g | 100-300 g | 0.1 kg | — | 100 g |
| 3 | 8-12 l | 500 g | 500 g | 0.3 kg | 0.5 tsp | 300-500 g |
| 4 | 5 l | 1-3 kg | 1-3 kg | 0.7 kg | 1 teaspoon | 1 kg |
| 5 | 2 l | 6-10 kg | 4-5 kg | 1 kg | 1 teaspoon | 2 kg |
| 6 | — | 15 kg | 6 kg | 2 kg | 1 teaspoon | 3 kg |
| 7 | — | 18 kg | 7 kg | 3 kg | 1 tbsp. spoon | 4 kg |
| 8 | — | 20 kg | 8 kg | 4 kg | 1 tbsp. spoon | 5 kg |
| 9 | — | 22 kg | 9 kg | 5 kg | 1 tbsp. spoon | 5.5 kg |
| 10 | — | 25 kg | 10 kg | 6 kg | 1 tbsp. spoon | 6 kg |
| 11 | — | 27 kg | 13 kg | 7 kg | 1 tbsp. spoon | 6.5 kg |
| 12 | — | 30 kg | 15 kg | 9 kg | 1 tbsp. spoon | 7 kg |
What feed additives are there?
To quickly fatten bulls, it is recommended to add various additives to the feed. Such drugs improve digestion and stimulate a good appetite.
Antibiotics
With the help of antibiotics, calves grow and recover faster, with body weight increasing by 14 percent. Bacitracin, Batsilikhin 120, Flavophospholipol, and Flavomycin are prescribed as antibacterial drugs for bulls.
In animals taking antibiotics before 6 months of age, all parts of the stomach become enlarged. The bulls eat more and recover better. However, over time, the reaction to medications weakens. But with this method of fattening, bulls quickly gain weight.
Prebiotics
To improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines, it is recommended to give prebiotics and probiotics to bulls. These supplements improve food digestion and strengthen the animal's immune system.
Probiotics (yeast or based on spore-forming bacteria) are live beneficial microorganisms that normalize the composition of the microflora of the digestive organs.
Prebiotics are food additives that are found in food products, unrefined cereals, fruits, vegetables, bran, and in pharmaceutical preparations (dietary supplements). They produce a special prebiotic “Prestarter” for cattle, made from cellulose with the addition of vitamins and minerals. The supplement begins to be given at one month of age.
Cereals
For faster fattening, bull calves are given cereal and legume feed additives. Grain feed allows bulls to gain weight faster. Such complexes are completely ready for feeding animals and contain useful vitamins and minerals.
Biostimulants
The introduction of growth stimulants into the diet of calves (Supermix, Krezacin, Ivan Ovsinsky Korm) will help to achieve rapid fattening. Each type of biological product has its own consumption rate (depending on the age of the animal).Growth stimulants are given starting from 2 months of life until the slaughter of bulls.
