How much feed does he eat? How much feed does a rabbit usually eat per day?
Of course, any cow, including a high-yielding one, must receive a certain amount of basic feed every day. In summer it is pasture meadow grass and hay, in winter it is silage and hay. The amount of such food is calculated depending on the weight of the animal. So, on average they give 3-3.5 kg per 100 kilograms of weight. That is, if your cow weighs 500 kg, then, therefore, she should receive at least 15 kilograms of hay per day.
But do not forget that in addition to hay, the animal also eats succulent feed, grain, bran, mash, etc. Therefore, this norm can be reduced to 2 kilograms per 100 kg of weight if the diet contains more than 5 kg of juicy root vegetables, straw, and bran.
How much feed should I give?
The amount of concentrated feed, which is the main indicator of milk yield, depends precisely on the productivity of the animal. For every liter of milk, it is recommended to give high-yielding cows 200-300 grams of feed. If the cow has average milk production, then you should not take more than 200 grams into the calculation. This may have the opposite effect, when the cow becomes fatter and her milk yield decreases.
The daily diet of a healthy home thrush should not contain less than 0.9 and more than 3 kilograms of concentrates. It is very important to remember salt, which helps absorb nutrients obtained from grains. On average, you need to give 5-7 grams of salt per 100 kg of animal weight.
Since you did not indicate the weight and milk yield of your cow, I suggest an average rate based on 500 kilograms and 15 liters of milk: 10 kg of hay, 25-30 kg of succulent feed, 40 grams of salt and 2.5 kg of feed per day. I also suggest you watch a useful training video. I hope that our recommendations will help you.
Video “Feeding lactating cows”
An experienced specialist will tell you in detail about feeding standards and also present a complete daily diet plan.
Domestic chickens are enough active species birds. Laying hens are the fastest and fussiest. At first glance, it seems that they are always hungry, looking for something, and at the slightest deviation in their diet, the chicken immediately stops laying eggs properly. So, how much feed does a laying chicken’s body require per day? This is a complex question and there is no clear answer to it. The dose and composition of the mixture required for a young laying hen will differ from the diet adult due to differences in their physiology.
How much feed does a domestic laying hen require per day?
The diet of chickens raised at home is also very different from the diet of industrial chickens.
Crosses of egg breeds on industrial enterprises They put quite a lot of stress on them and give them strictly limited nutritional norms. Synthetic products and cheap, highly concentrated feed are added to the diet, so they reduce the cost of feeding the birds, but maintain their productivity in laying eggs. IN household chickens are fed differently.
Although the farm tries to feed the chickens with natural products and selected grains, and also provides all conditions for walking, the owners are often faced with the problem of a lack of eggs in the birds.
The main thing in this case is moderate nutrition, because if it is excessive, then all the energy in the laying hen’s body will be directed to the formation of adipose tissue, and not to eggs. However, it is also impossible to leave chickens hungry, because this way the bird will become tired and will definitely stop laying eggs.
Experts recommend feeding chickens several times a day, calculating about 120–150 grams of food per individual. Experienced chicken owners time it by giving a large amount of food and removing it after 30–40 minutes. In winter, the amount of food should be increased by 15–20%, as the chicken requires extra energy to maintain heat.
The dosage of feed given to a chicken depends on its age.. For cross breeds with high productivity, the following standards are adopted:
- Up to two months, domestic chickens undergo the most rapid development, so chickens require the most high-calorie nutrition (about 290 kcal per 100 g). During this growth period, the chicken must eat 20% crude protein, 4% fiber, as well as various microelements that will affect on the egg production of an individual in the future. These microelements include calcium, sodium and phosphorus.
- In the period up to 4 months of age, the rapid formation of bones in a chicken begins, weight increases, and future productive qualities are laid. The calorie content of the feed at this time should be reduced to 260 kcal per 100 g. Protein should be consumed in an amount of 15%. Fiber is given at 5% from 4 months until the death of the bird. Also, the bird's diet should contain enough calcium, sodium and phosphorus. The dose of these substances remains the same throughout the life of the bird.
- The stage of formation of egg production occurs before the chicken is five months old. Laying hens require 270 kcal per day, as well as 16% protein. At this time, you should especially carefully monitor the level of calcium in the bird’s body.
- The end of the formation of the entire organism occurs at 11 months of age of the bird. At this time, the hen receives feed with the same energy value, and the protein increases to 17%.
- After 1 year, the diet of laying hens changes slightly. The calorie content of the feed is reduced to 260 kcal, dry protein makes up 16% of the diet. Phosphorus and calcium are required a little more. Excessive caloric content of food will cause digestive problems in the hen, cause obesity and a drop in her egg production.
The composition of the feed and its dosage should be adjusted to each breed of laying hen, which is bred in the household. Domestic chickens entail much more costs than chickens in enterprises, so the diet will need to be tailored individually for each individual.
Basically, all feed in the diet of birds is based on the given feeding standards. So, various types combined feeds are formulated based on the maximum mineral value per 100g. Compound feed includes corn, oats, wheat, soy, sunflower cake, meat and bone or fish meal, as well as other components and additives.
The quality of feed varies, so you will have to carefully select the right food, which will include the maximum number of useful microelements.
It is quite difficult to choose the necessary feed components on your own, because even in one type of grain, for example, oats, the energy value and amount of microelements are different. There are special recipes for this that you can prepare yourself at home.
You can determine whether the correct feed is selected for the bird by its productivity and external data. If the chicken gets all the vitamins it needs, then it will lay eggs without problems, and its feathers will have shine. In general, the behavior of the bird should not be sluggish, but active and cheerful.
Diet for laying hens
IN main part laying hen nutrition should include concentrated feed: whole or crushed grain, mixed feed and grain additives. Feeding poultry can only be based on these feeds, provided that they contain all the additives and microelements the bird needs, as well as amino acids and minerals. However, if you add succulent feed, green grass, vegetables and mash to your chicken’s diet, you can achieve truly delicious homemade eggs.
Recipe for feeding adult laying hens:
Wheat (12), corn (45), sunflower meal, cake, barley (7), legumes (8), grass meal, yeast (5), salt (0.3), chalk or limestone (7) - all this is in proportion to the total mass of products.
When raised at home, chickens receive food several times a day. In the breaks between feedings, laying hens should be given access to succulent feed, because their calorie content is very low, and a multicomponent complex of vitamins will provide the hens with good immunity and health.
In winter, when the temperature drops sharply, laying hens should be given mash. They are usually made from potatoes and grated root vegetables. The mash should be given in the morning or afternoon, and mixed feed is used in the evening.
Products that are prohibited for laying hens:
- Raw meat. Infection with worms or other infectious diseases may occur.
- Citrus fruit.
- Beets, as they have a laxative effect. You can give it and beet tops, but under strict restrictions.
- Bitter, spicy or salty foods.
- Raw, green and sprouted potatoes. It can lead to poisoning of the laying hen.
- Solanaceae, wormwood, tops and ragweed.
Productive indicators of large cattle depend on proper nutrition. The norms and types of necessary feed are determined by the scientific departments of agricultural holdings. Every farmer should know how to feed cattle taking into account accepted standards. How, when compiling a diet, to adjust it to the characteristics of the livestock and the goals set, we will discuss in this review.
What types of food are there?
When preparing a diet, several important parameters are usually taken into account. These include the type of feeding, breed, productivity, and physical condition of the animals. Yes, in the summer great value have green feed, and in winter their function is taken over by roughage and concentrates. The main diet of cattle includes the following types of feed:
- coarse – hay;
- juicy – root vegetables;
- concentrates;
- green - herbs.
Concentrated
Concentrated feeds are substances that contain a dry mixture of nutrients. Their task is to improve the nutritional value of the diet and ensure high productive performance. Any mixture (compound feed) is enriched with vitamin and mineral supplements. The elemental composition and how to properly give them to animals are indicated on the packaging.
Did you know?Cows have 1 stomach with 4 different digestive compartments.
Concentrates are usually made in the form of granules. They are very nutritious, so their amount in the diet does not exceed 50 g. This category includes feed and premixes.
Compound feed
It is a mixture of grains with a high content of nutrients. The peculiarity of compound feed is that it can completely replace the entire diet, and then we are talking about a complete replacement of all other feeds. If it only supplements the main diet, then it is a concentrate. The third group includes various feed additives: yeast, protein-vitamin complexes. 
The composition of feed depends on the purpose of raising animals: to produce meat, milk (or both at the same time). Complete feed allows you to increase productivity indicators by 10-15%. If it is added to the main diet, then with the same increase, feed consumption will be higher.
The feed includes:
- cereals – wheat, oats, barley, corn;
- legumes – broad beans;
- Pancake week crops – sunflower.
- vitamins A, C, E, K, D, group of vitamins B;
- microelements – iron, copper, manganese, iodine, zinc, cobalt;
- meal and cake;
- table salt.
Premixes
The premix is a mixture of biologically active elements (vitamins and minerals). This is a powdery mass that is added to wet mash, enriching their composition.
Typical premix composition:
- set of vitamins A, B, C, D, E;
- minerals: magnesium, iodine, selenium, calcium, zinc, copper, sulfur, iron;
- filler.
Rough
The roughage contains:
- hay;
- straw;
- young tree branches.
The microelement composition of roughage depends on what kind of grass or branches are included in it. Hay is harvested in the summer and included in the winter diet. Straw is obtained from the stalks of cereals after threshing. It is not as nutritious as hay, but is essential for maintaining healthy intestinal flora. When grazing, cows often eat tree branches, so they are also taken into account in their diet. The branches of coniferous trees are processed into flour and added to mash in winter.
Did you know?Cows spend 8 hours a day eating, 8 hours chewing cud, and 8 hours sleeping.
Daily norm of hay
The hay rate is calculated per 100 kg of live weight. You need about 30 kg of hay per day at a ratio of 2-6 kg of hay per 100 kg of weight. Hay is involved in regulating the process of milk formation. So, during the dry period, hay makes up 50% of the diet, and during lactation - only 25%.
Why don't they eat hay?
Hay has varying nutritional values. Spring harvest, mowed in the budding phase, contains the maximum amount of useful substances. By autumn, the grass will lose most of its nutrients. This type of hay is called "poor" hay, and cows may refuse to eat it (especially if there are more palatable components in their diet). 
To prevent hay from being purchased and the animals refusing to eat it, pay attention to appearance goods. If there are no flower stalks, a lot of stems and not enough leafy greens, then this is “poor hay”, and your animals will definitely refuse to eat it.
Juicy
Juicy feeds include:
- silage;
- haylage;
- root crops, tubers and melons.
Did you know?The average cow consumes about 45 kg of feed per day.
Silage is prepared from green mass by fermentation in special silo pits. Thanks to its nutritional properties, it improves digestion and promotes the absorption of other feed. Cuttings of grass are also used to make haylage. They are dried and after 2-3 days, when the degree of drying reaches 50%, they are rolled up.
Greens
Green forages are grasses that grow in the grazing area. These can be meadow grasses, garden weeds - almost any type of plant. 
There is no need to worry that cows will eat a poisonous plant. Ruminants are considered experts in the quality of vegetation. If they avoid some grass while grazing, it means it is toxic to the body.
Feeding depending on the season
When determining what cattle are fed in a given period of the year, they take into account the lack green feed in winter. The winter diet should be more nutritious than the summer diet, since the animal needs not only to gain weight, but also to maintain body temperature. Therefore, cereals and concentrates are a must.
In winter
In winter, food should contain sufficient energy and protein, as well as mineral and vitamin supplements. In very cold weather, additional food is provided for feeding, which maintains body condition and allows weight gain. Animals are fed twice a day - morning and evening.
A cow in excellent condition should receive (per day per 100 kg of live weight):
- 3-4 kg of grass (hay);
- 7-8 kg of silage;
- 5 kg of straw;
- 45 g concentrates.
For thin cows, the diet is changed:
- 5 kg of grass (hay);
- 9 kg silage;
- 2.3 kg of oat or barley straw;
- 1.8 kg of cereals (barley).
Did you know?The term "cattle" comes from the Old French "chattel" (« like in a cage») . In many regions of the world, cattle remain an indicator of economic wealth.
Feeding in summer
The objectives of the summer diet are aimed at the daily supply of the required amount of feed units, as well as at maintaining the digestion process. Cows also require more water in the summer. One animal needs at least 200 liters of water in hot weather. 
Composition of the summer diet:
- grass and green food – 45 kg;
- hay –1 kg;
- salt – 50 g.
Diet depending on destination
For dairy cows, succulent feed is introduced into the diet to maintain lactation. For cattle meat direction choose the optimal type of feeding, fattening scheme and be sure to add concentrates rich in protein and energy to increase muscle mass.
Dairy
To enhance lactation, dairy cows need to consume plenty of vegetables, fresh herbs and root vegetables. Water also has milk-conducing properties - you need at least 40 liters of it. 
Daily rate:
- fodder beet – 5 kg;
- carrots – 7 kg;
- melons – 8 kg;
- greens – 30 kg;
- hay – 1 kg.
Important!To produce more milk, a cow needs to lie down a lot. At this time, blood rushes to the udder, which enhances lactation.
Meat
Beef cows can be fed using several technologies. The entire diet is based on:
- complete feed;
- summer grazing of cows;
- stall housing.
Fattening cows must be grazed in the summer. Grazing time is at least 13 hours a day. At the same time, cattle eat as much food as necessary. Daily weight gain is 1-2 kg. You definitely need access to water at the rate of 30 liters per day. Additionally, animals need to be provided with mineral supplements of 12-15 g: - calcium;
- phosphorus;
- salt.
- green mass – 60%;
- concentrates – 40%.
Did you know?Cows are descendants of wild bulls. They were first domesticated in southeastern Turkey about 10,500 years ago.
Meat and dairy
Meat and dairy cows should be provided with root vegetables, silage, succulent feed to support lactation and additives for building muscle mass, incl. proteins. Protein is necessary for both lactation and growth. On average, a dairy cow will need 2.8-3.2 kg of dry feed per 100 kg of live weight. The value of 1 kg of dry matter will be 0.85 energy feed units, each of which must contain at least 80% proteins. 
Feeding depending on period
In feeding cows there are:
- rest period - dead wood;
- milk;
- lactation;
- launch.
The milking period will continue for the next 100 days in order to achieve maximum milk yield in the subsequent lactation period. Milk production and lactation
The first 3 months after calving are called milking period. During this period, the cow produces the maximum amount of milk. It is necessary to increase the amount of feed gradually, by 2 energy feed units per day, until optimal indicators are achieved. To do this, feed is added to the diet.
The dry matter norm at the beginning of the period is 15 kg. The ratio will be:
- bulk feed – 60%;
- concentrates – 40%.
For cows with a milk yield of 8-10 kg of milk per day, the following is required (feed):
- coarse – 14 kg (hay and straw);
- juicy – 4 kg;
- green – 5 kg;
- concentrates – 1 kg;
- minerals – 45 g.
Start-up and dead wood
Stopping milking before the next calving is called starting. It will last for a week - for cows with average milk yield, or two - for highly productive animals. During this time, the cow stops milking and is transferred to a state of rest - dead wood.
Important!If lactation was stopped with medication, then you cannot drink the milk of this cow for 48 hours.
At this time, the animal receives roughage with a low nutrient content. The amount of silage should not exceed 8 kg per day. Hay is given according to the animal's needs. It is very important to exclude succulent foods and calcium from the diet. Water is limited to 1 bucket per day.
Three weeks before calving, you will need to start preparatory feeding, including feed for 25 energy units. Every day the nutritional value of the diet is increased by 2 energy units. 
When composing a cattle diet, always take into account the direction of productivity, the condition of the cow and those parameters (goals) that you would like to achieve. Keep track of indicators, and then you can create effective scheme feeding your animals, changing the ratio of parts of the diet.
The health and productivity of animals depends on the living conditions. How to properly organize feeding cows? What can you eat? How much of what to give? What are the features of feeding highly productive cows? These questions are often asked by new breeders. To avoid problems, we will look at the nutritional features of domestic cows and ways to optimize diets for domestic farms.
The health of cows depends on proper feeding
What types of food are there?
For dairy and beef cows to be healthy and productive, it is not enough to simply eat grass or chew hay. To get a lot of high-quality milk, you need to provide a complete, varied diet with the necessary mineral supplements. Feed is usually divided into types:
- vegetable;
- feed;
- animal origin;
- vitamins;
Feeds are not equivalent as sources of energy, so they are divided into bulk and concentrated.
Cows need a varied diet
Vegetable
The basis of the cattle menu on the farm is feed plant origin. They have several varieties:
- coarse (hay, straw, chaff);
- juicy (root crops, melons, silage, grass);
- concentrates (cereals, waste).
How much hay does a cow eat? During the day, animals are fed approximately ten kilograms per head. Based on this, the annual need for this type of feed can be calculated. The place of hay in the diet is the main one, especially in winter. Monitor the quality of food, because... it will become the main supplier of proteins and sugar.
Straw and chaff require pre-treatment - they are steamed and crushed before adding. They are less nutritious than hay. The daily requirement per head is five kilograms. In the absence of pasture on the farm, animals of meat breeds feed on this type of food.
Root vegetables are dietary foods containing a lot of liquid, the basis of winter nutrition. You can feed them along with rough types of food.
The daily feeding rate is five to ten kilograms. Based on this, the annual requirement is calculated. Carrots help increase milk production in cows. Remember: you cannot feed freshly picked vegetables, otherwise the animals will get an upset stomach. Before use, they must rest for several weeks.
Carrots stimulate milk production
Root vegetables must be washed and peeled. Otherwise, debris accumulates in the tract, and the animal’s teeth are ground down. Vegetables must be chopped before consumption to avoid clogging the esophagus. Feeding raw potatoes to cows significantly increases the quality and quantity of milk. Fodder watermelons, pumpkin, zucchini are added to concentrates and roughage. Don't forget to cut the fruits in advance.
Silage is a complete succulent diet. Production technology involves the use of grass, sunflower, corn, root crops and tops. It contains many useful substances needed to produce tasty milk. During the day, one animal can be given fifteen kilograms. Procurement for the winter will provide the farm with cheap feed.
IN summer period the animal eats food in the pastures. One cow eats a hundredweight of greens per day. Livestock breeders note that this feeding improves the health of the livestock, increases productivity, and increases the weight of meat breeds.
In one day on pasture, a cow eats up to 100 kg of fresh grass.
Concentrated
Concentrates are given to cattle to enrich the menu with proteins and sugar both in winter and summer. To ensure that the food is well digested, it is crushed or flattened using a special technology. Forage varieties (barley, oats, wheat) contain the maximum amount of energy, therefore they are preferable for feeding in winter. Add to porridge or in dry form - animals eat everything with pleasure.
Make sure there is no mold in the grain. This will lead to disease in the herd.
The source of fat and protein are meals and cakes. Due to the high calorie content, the daily norm per head is no more than four kilograms. Grain production waste (flour dust, bran) is a source of fiber and minerals for animals. No more than five kilograms are fed during the day.
When feeding with compound feeds, remember that they are a source of high carbohydrate content. Excess of this substance causes stomach upset. If the animal has eaten too much concentrates, then you need to call a veterinarian. Do not self-medicate, entrust it to a specialist. This is especially important with advanced nutrition.
Excessive consumption of mixed feed can cause stomach upset
Animal origin
This type of feed includes waste from the dairy, meat, and fishing industries:
- meat and bone meal;
- feed fat;
- serum;
- collected milk powder.
Such food contains many complete proteins, vitamins and minerals. It is added to the plant diet of animals, thereby optimizing feed. Cattle productivity increases and weight gain increases.
Vitamins
Cows need vitamin and mineral supplements. This is especially true for highly productive dairy breeds. The daily requirement for full development cannot be obtained from food, so animals begin to use up their internal reserves. The result may be the transformation of dairy cattle into spring cattle.
With advance nutrition and pasture management, minerals are necessarily added to the diet. Optimize the menu so that salt is always available to animals.
Cows enjoy licking salt
Feeding by season
Due to physiological needs, feeding cows differs depending on the season. When forming a diet, you need to take into account the natural needs of livestock in different weather conditions.
Summer feeding technology is associated with pasture walking. Fresh grass gives the milk a pleasant aroma. However, a green diet will not be able to provide the cow with adequate nutrition. Therefore, concentrates are additionally included.
For pasture maintenance, herds of 100-200 animals, close in age, are formed. Grazing occurs over a period of 4-5 months.
To improve nutrition, mineral compounds are added to the diet. Clean water will keep your animals healthy. Don't forget to drink.
In winter, the lack of pastures switches the animal's nutrition to succulent and roughage types of feed. The most important are root crops, silage and haylage. Therefore, the farmer needs to worry about harvesting in advance:
- hay;
- straw;
- haylage;
- root vegetables;
- spring cereals;
- legumes.
Compound feed occupies an important place in animal feeding technology. Remember: in winter, cows need food with a high energy content. Optimizing diets with rapeseed cake will enrich them with protein, therefore increasing the milk production of cows.
Rapeseed cake will help improve cow productivity
The transition from summer to winter feeding and vice versa should be gradual. The animal eats its usual food, receiving unusual food in small portions. In this case, you will avoid stomach upset.
Dry cow diet
Preparing for calving involves optimizing feeding both in summer and winter. A balanced menu will ensure normal development of the calf and high lactation after birth. During this period, the animal’s body needs proteins, calcium, phosphorus and carotene. You need to use only quality products. Rotten or affected feed will cause miscarriage. The animal eats:
- silage;
- straw;
- several varieties of high-quality hay;
- sunflower cake;
- bran;
- pine flour.
Optimizing the menu with minerals will enrich the body with all the necessary elements. Animals are very vulnerable before giving birth. Not only her health, but that of her unborn baby depends on what the cow eats.
Pine flour in granules is a good addition to the cow’s diet before calving
Diet of fresh animals
After calving, it is necessary to provide cows with a balanced diet in order to increase the fat content of milk. On the first day, you can give hay and warm water. In the next couple of days, add bran and oatmeal drink to the menu.
From the third to the seventh days after calving, gradually add succulent types of feed to the diet. After a week, the animal eats its usual food.
After calving, advanced feeding is practiced. That is, if an animal gives 10 liters of milk per day, then count on 15 liters of milk per day. During this period, it is important to comply with the conditions of detention. For the advance to work, continue this diet for a week and a half. Then calculate the menu as usual.
Oat bran should be given to the cow after calving.
Diet for high milk yields
Features of feeding highly productive cows include optimization of nutrition and living conditions. The need for nutrients is determined by the characteristics:
- age;
- fatness;
- fat content of milk;
- daily milk yield.
Animals must receive all the necessary nutrients with food; the type of feeding is concentrate. Pulp and bulk types of feed are not included due to their low nutritional value. Daily requirement per head.
| Milk yield, kg/day | Feed. units | Exchange. energy, MJ | Hay, kg | Haylage, kg | Silage, kg | Root fruits, kg | Concentrates, kg | Table salt, g |
| 12-15 | 10,6-12,5 | 135-160 | 4,5-4,9 | 6 | 18 | 6-8 | 2,5-4,7 | 73-88 |
| 16-19 | 12,6-14,5 | 161-192 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9-17 | 4,8-5,5 | 89-104 |
| 20 | 14,6 | 193 | 4 | 6,5 | 10 | 18 | 5,6 | 105 |
In summer, the cow’s diet should contain at least 60 kg of fresh grass
In the summer you should receive (in kg):
- several types of hay – 4;
- greens – 60;
- compound feed – 10-12
To ensure better absorption of food, it can be given four times a day. Additionally, minerals should be given: yeast, proteins, premixes.
Menu for meat breeds
To calculate the diet for meat breeds, you need to know how much feed is needed to increase live weight. There are special fattening technologies that provide a menu depending on age, weight, living conditions (summer, winter).
- young meat breeds are fattened for 12 months up to 500 kg;
- intensive fattening from birth to 1.5 years;
- separate diet for rejected animals.
In conditions farm the first method is used. It is beneficial for reducing the cost of maintenance, as it involves the use of cheap types of feed: food and corn waste.
With pasture grazing, you can get cheap, environmentally friendly meat.
At proper organization weight gain reaches one kilogram per day.
With a properly designed menu, beef cows can gain 1 kg per day
Drink
What does a cow drink and how much does it need? Water plays an important role in the functioning of an animal’s body:
- affects the amount of milk;
- saliva is secreted to chew food;
- controls body temperature.
Therefore, the cow needs to drink a lot. Compensate for every kilogram of milk milked with liquid. Drink in small portions throughout the day. The daily norm for one head is at least 60 liters, and for record-breaking cows – from 100 to 130 liters. Farmers drink water after milking or while eating. The drier the food, the more water you will drink.
In hot weather, water consumption increases, in winter it decreases.
Therefore, think about the location of water troughs in pens. They can be individual or group. Some farms optimize watering with automatic drinkers. It all depends on the size of your herd. Pregnant cows need to be given personal water to control the amount of fluid entering the body.
When grazing, you need to provide cows with access to water
What does the cow drink? Clean water is the key to animal health. It is preferable to give the liquid at room temperature. Be sure to wash containers before use.
When keeping pastures, it is necessary to provide a watering place - at least 4 times a day. Also, do not forget about lick salt - this is a necessary element for the vital functions of the body of cattle.
Feeding the cow is not a big problem. We looked at the main problems that a beginner faces when optimizing a farm. Pasture walking in the summer will provide meat breeds excellent weight gain. With advanced feeding, ensure high milk yield. Harvesting hay and root crops for the winter will save you from unnecessary financial costs during this period.
Compound feed is a mixture of several grain components, various vitamins and mineral supplements for feeding animals. Such nutrition is used for pigs of all ages and breeds, as a result of which their productivity significantly increases. Today we will tell you how much feed a pig eats per day and how much food needs to be given so that the animal maintains productivity and gains weight, and we will also talk about the types of feed, the method of production and the feeding regime for pigs.
Pigs have a single-chamber type of stomach, which means that for normal growth of their body, a carefully planned diet is required. Feeding with compound feed allows you to gain body weight correctly. In this case, the pig requires a large amount of liquid to digest food.
It is important to correctly calculate the daily requirement of feed mixtures. In case of erroneous calculations, animals have problems with the digestive system. High-quality compound feed allows you to replace various food additives for fattening livestock.
Types of feed
Complete and concentrated feeds are produced to feed animals. The complete mixture is a basic nutrition and does not require the addition of any components.
The concentrate is an additive that is used in the preparation of feed. It contains a high percentage of vitamins and minerals. Such feed is necessary to ensure the active development of pigs.
The following types of combined mixtures are distinguished:
- granules;
- chit;
- cereal;
- scattering
The finished mixture may contain more than 35 different components, depending on the purpose of the feed. And also for the rapid growth of livestock, premixes are added to the feed. These mixtures contain vitamins, salt, and antibacterial drugs. Thanks to this nutrition, the need for basic feed is significantly reduced.
Feed granulator prices
Feed granulator
Table 1. Percentage ratio of feed components depending on the weight of the animal
| Feed, % | 5-10 kg | 11-22 kg | 23-45 kg | Above 46 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 32 | 32 | 34 | 42 |
| Barley | 24 | 24 | 22 | 36 |
| Corn | 13 | 18 | 20 | 11 |
| Peas | 12 | 11 | 12 | 4 |
| Cake | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| Fish meal | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Amino acids | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0 |
You should not feed pigs food with a high content of oats - such food is difficult to digest in the body
Ready-made combined mixtures for pigs usually contain about 10-12 different components, the main part being grain. For such purposes, corn grits, barley, oats and wheat are used. It also contains fats, fishmeal, salt, yeast, and cake.
Daily feed requirement
Pigs should be weighed periodically, usually every 30-40 days, because the feed rate is calculated based on the body weight and age of the animal. Feeding too nutritiously can lead to rapid obesity of the pig and a decrease in the quality of meat.
Table 2. Feed rates by stages of maturation
Pregnant sows require about 3-3.5 kg of feed per day, and during the feeding period the norm is doubled. For piglets, the permissible norm is divided into 5 feedings. Adults are fed 2 times a day. It is recommended to give the pig the amount of food that it is able to consume at one time. Remnants of dried food should not accumulate in the feeder.
Even the highest quality varieties of feed may not be suitable for some piglets, so when feeding young animals, any new food will need to be introduced gradually. The slaughter weight of a pig is 100-110 kg. A pig will need to eat about 350 kg of feed over 6 months to achieve this weight.
Feeding mode
The exact amount of feed will depend on the selected feeding regimen:
- Normalized. Animals with this diet receive food in large portions up to 4 times a day. Usually piglets and suckling sows are fed in this way.
- Limited. Pigs are given less feed to produce dietary meat. Pregnant pigs are often fed this way to prevent excessive obesity.
- Free. The food troughs are constantly filled with food. They will need to be cleaned of food debris at least 2 times a week. Such feeding contributes to the rapid gain of fat mass, so it is rarely used for fattening adults.
If the pig is sick and various antibacterial drugs are used to treat it, then the number of feedings should be increased. This will avoid problems with the digestive system.
Types of pig fattening
The type of feeding for pigs is determined by the farmer individually. However, regardless of the consistency of the feed, it must contain all the additives necessary for the animal’s life.
Main types of fattening:
- Dry feeding. Animals on industrial farms are fed this way. Because it is most convenient for the owner. For the normal digestion process, it is important to provide the animal with access to water.
- Wet feeding. With this type of nutrition, greens, boiled potatoes, and various food waste are added to the dry feed. This food should be mixed before each feeding because it turns sour quickly.
- Liquid feeding. The main feed is mixed with liquid dairy products and table waste. The process of preparing such food takes time. Therefore, it is only suitable if you have a small farm.
It is recommended to introduce fermented milk products into the diet of animals along with feed. early age. It is strictly forbidden to give sour food waste to adult pigs and piglets.
Do you want to know everything about the rules for creating diets for fattening pigs? on our portal.
Prices for grain grinder
Chopper for crushing all types of feed grains and seeds
Nutrition of Vietnamese pigs
Russian farmers quite often began to breed Vietnamese pigs. The main purpose of their cultivation is to produce bacon.
Individuals are distinguished by their unpretentiousness to food. Their main diet consists of green food and grains. Adult pigs are allowed to feed no more than 2 times a day to prevent excessive obesity.
How to prepare compound feed?
Buying ready-made feed is a rather expensive undertaking. Sometimes farmers prefer to prepare their own mixtures for fattening their livestock. You will need to purchase all individual components in advance.
Making feed yourself is easy
The main purpose of fattening adult pigs is to obtain meat and lard. Therefore, grain feed should be present in the diet. Compound feed is prepared for pregnant pigs based on one ground cereal. To prepare the feed mixture you will need the following components:
- oats – 250 g;
- barley – 350 g;
- fish meal – 130 g;
- alfalfa flour – 115 g;
- sunflower cake – 75 g;
- table salt – 8 g;
- chalk – 8 g.
This food is suitable for fattening livestock for 12 months. From such components you can prepare a liquid porridge or make granules.
Growing piglets only need ground feed or granules. It is advisable to give liquid feed to young animals, because such nutrition is better absorbed by the body. The temperature of the porridge should be about 35-36 degrees.
Preparation of mixture for piglets includes the following components:
- barley – 800 g;
- yeast – 85 g;
- fat (feed) – 85 g;
- chalk – 12 g;
- salt – 4 g.
The cereal should be thoroughly ground in a crusher. And then add the remaining ingredients to the food and mix. To increase the energy value, boiled potato tubers and bread are added to the composition.
Table 3. Independent preparation of feed
Illustration Description Step one: create a diet depending on the daily needs of the pig. And then pour the components into the crusher one by one. Step two: grind all ingredients in the desired sequence. Step three: mix all the crushed cereals. Step four: the resulting mixture can be granulated. This method of preparing mixed feed is suitable for farmers if they have necessary equipment. You will need to follow a sequence of steps.
To stimulate active growth, special ready-made complexes should be added to the feed. They do not contain any hormones. It is advisable to choose supplements based on antimicrobial components that allow food to be absorbed faster by the body.
Video - Method of preparing mixed feed
How to properly store feed?
For long-term storage, experts recommend purchasing or producing granulated feed. The average shelf life of such mixtures is 4-6 months, depending on the composition. Such feed can be quickly transported and does not take up a large area in storage. Bulk products are stored for no more than 3 months.
Do not forget that food has such a shelf life only if all storage conditions are met. Compound feed quickly becomes unusable at high humidity and air temperature.
Large volumes of feed are stored in silos. Bags are often folded into basements, however, they need to be ventilated periodically. Ready-made food spoils faster than grain. Therefore, if you have equipment on the farm, you should not immediately prepare a large amount of feed. It is recommended to increase reserves according to needs.
Feed price
The cost of feed will vary depending on its purpose. A bag of starting mixture weighing 40 kg will cost 1100-1200 rubles. Combined mixtures for fattening growing individuals will cost 800-900 rubles.
There is no need to add any vitamin or mineral components to the finished mixture. The diet is completely balanced and does not cause disturbances in the digestive process.
Let's sum it up
Proper fattening of a pig allows you to get high-quality meat products. Therefore, it is important to carefully plan your diet to prevent exhaustion or obesity.
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