VGO 511: Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques (1+1)

FEEDING OF BULLS

• To keep the bulls healthy and to maintain good sexual desire/libido scientific feeding should be done for bulls.
• The feeding formula should be worked out with the feeds and fodders available in that area in different seasons.
• The feeding schedule should be formulated based on the requirement of bulls
• The bull upto the age of 5 years should be provided with growth promoting ration with sufficient protein (because bulls grow upto the age of 5 years).

• After 5 years they should be provided maintenance requirements depends on frequency of semen collection.
  • Good quality hay is fed to the bull at the rate of 1-11/2 pounds for 100 pound body weight.
  • Green fodder should be fed to keep up the carotene content of the diet.
  • Vitamin A deficiency will occur in if green fodder is not sufficient which will leads to impairment of semen production.
  • The concentrate ration should contain adequate protein and it is recommended that the nitrogenous ratio of the concentrate mixture should be 1:3 to 1:4.
  • Mineral mixture supplement – 2% of concentrate feeding
  • In morning feed half of the concentrate with half hay ration
  • In afternoon feed remaining concentrate, green fodders and silage etc
  • Later afternoon provide remaining green fodder and remaining hay
  • By this way the rumen of the bull can be kept without over loading.