Model rations for cows and buffaloes with the available fodder and concentrates

 MODEL RATIONS FOR  COWS AND BUFFALOES  WITH AVAILABLE FODDER AND CONCENTRATES
  • Two alternatives could be easily considered depending on the availability of green fodder.
  • If green leguminous fodder like berseem, lucerne or soobabul is available, a combination of about 6 to 8 kg of leguminous green fodder and 4 to 5 kg of paddy straw can easily meet the maintenance requirement of animals.
  • The other alternative is to feed 1 kg of balanced concentrate mixture.

leguminous fodder-Fodder cow pea  Sorghum fodder

Ration for maintenance of a cow

Option
Feed
Quantity (kg)
1
Green legume
Cereal straw
6 – 8
4 -5
2
Concentrate mixture
Cereal straw
1
5

Ration for growing crossbred dairy heifers weighing 200 kg

Option
Feed
Quantity (kg)
1
Green legume
Cereal straw
8 -10
2 -4
2
Concentrate mixture
Cereal straw
2.5
4 -5
 
Ration for cow weighing about 400 kg and producing 5 kg of milk
  • Depending on the fodder availability, two options could be followed.
Option
Feed
Quantity (kg)
1
Green legume
Green cereals
Cereal straw
10
20
4
2
Concentrate mixture
Cereal straw
3.5
7.0

Motor operated chaff cutter to chop grren and dry fodder

Ration for cow weighing about 400 kg and producing 10 kg of milk

  • During the kharif season, it is possible in most areas, to get green fodder with crops like maize, cowpea and subabul.
  • Azolla can be fed as a source of protein.It contains approximately 25% crude protien on dry matter basis.

Azolla is an water plant containing 25% crude protein on DMB   Azolla is grown in one feet depth pits lined with plastic sheets  Azolla is mixed with concentrate feed and fed as a source of protein

  • For cows producing 10 kg of milk, the following rations could be followed.

option
Feed
Quantity (kg)
1
Green legume
Green cereals
Cereal straw
Concentrate mixture
15
25
2
1
2
Concentrate mixture
7.5

Ration for cows weighing about 350 kg and producing 20 kg of milk with 4.5% fat

  • Oat/Maize/Sorghum fodder – 22 kg
  • Berseem or Lucerne – 5 kg
  • Concentrate mixture – 4.5 kg

Ration for cows weighing about 400 kg and producing 25 kg of milk with 4.5% fat

  • Oat/Maize/Sorghum fodder – 25 kg
  • Berseem or Lucerne – 6 -8 kg
  • Concentrate mixture – 9.0 kg

Thumb rule for feeding concentrates in cattle and buffaloes

  • In case of cattle, for every 1 kg of milk production, 0.4 kg of concentrates should be given.
  • In case of buffaloes, for every 1 kg of milk production, 0.5 kg of concentrates should be given.
Last modified: Saturday, 31 March 2012, 6:55 AM