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Key points of feeding technology for lactating cows

Key points of feeding technology for lactating cows

Posted on  December 2, 2019, Edited by Victoria, Category  

From 120 days after calving, the milk yield of dairy cows accounted for 60-65% of the total milk production during the whole lactation period. In practice, Because the milk production level and nutritional requirement of dairy cows at each stage are different, it is impossible to feed cows at different lactation stages on the same diet. At present, it is advocated at home and abroad to adopt the feeding method of three stages: the early stage of lactation, the middle stage of lactation and the late stage of lactation.

Key points of feeding technology for lactating cows
Key points of feeding technology for lactating cows

I. Early lactation
From calving to 70 days of postpartum, dry matter intake and appetite of dairy cows are not completely restored and about 15% lower than that of late lactation. During this period, cows generally lose 35-50 kg of body weight, with an average daily loss of 0.5-0.7 kg, and in some cases, with an average daily loss of 2-2.5 kg per day. At the early stage of lactation, the proportion of concentrate to roughage, calculated by dry matter, is about 55-60% : 45-40%.

There are two feeding methods as follows:
1. Our traditional feeding method:
After calving, cows are allowed to freely feed on high-quality hay and try to avoid feeding too much corn silage. After feeding concentrate, observe the eating situation on that day. If there is no concentrate left, and a large amount of hay is eaten, the spirit, excrement, and rumination are normal, milk volume is also increasing, you can feed 0.5-1 kg concentrate every day, otherwise, you can not feed. The concentrated feed is fed three times a day, usually no more than 3 kg per feed, and should be mixed with roughage before feeding.

2. Complete ration feeding method: 
First, the nutritional components needed by dairy cows are calculated according to the factors such as milk yield, milk fat rate, body weight and weight loss at the initial stage of lactation, then the corresponding dietary nutritional level and the total amount of preparation are calculated, and the feed formula is determined. Then, the shorter roughage, concentrate, dregs feed, buffer, mineral elements, vitamins, and other additives are mixed evenly with a special mixer (or artificial) for cows to feed freely. This will not cause digestive dysfunction, rumen acidosis, overeating, and other problems, and the amount of food intake, nutrition will be balanced, then the milk production increased rapidly.

Key points of feeding technology for lactating cows
Key points of feeding technology for lactating cows

II. Mid-lactation
The peak lactation period of cows just passed 71-140 days after delivery, but dry material intake entered the peak period and body weight began to recover. At this stage, the nutrients obtained by cows not only meet the needs of maintenance and milk production but also need to be used to restore postpartum lost weight. If the superfluous nutrients obtained by cows are well-balanced and the uterus returns to normal, they can have normal estrus and breed and conceive 90-110 days after delivery. It is very important to feed complete ration in the mid-lactation period. The main points of feeding techniques are as follows.

1. Complete ration diets can be fed according to the need to maintain milk production, regardless of weight change.

2. Buffers should be added to high-yielding dairy cows whose daily milk yield is higher than 35 kg, whether in an ordinary day or summer. Potassium chloride or fat powder should be added in summer to help high-yielding dairy cows resist heat stress (in southern areas such as Yulin, non-high-yielding dairy cows should also prevent heat stress).

3. In summer, to prevent the effect of heat on the appetite of cows, they can be fed once before sunrise at 3-5 a.m. and the lowest temperature to increase their food intake and prevent and reduce the use of body fat to produce milk in cows with high lactation in this season

Ⅲ. Late lactation
141-305 days after calving is the late lactation period. Cows have entered the middle and late pregnancy. The nutritional requirements include maintenance, lactation, repair tissue, fat growth and nutrient deposition during pregnancy. Therefore, the nutrient requirements of cows increase. The main points of feeding techniques in this period are as follows:

1. Daily ration supply should be based on the milk production level and actual fatness of cows. As long as the cows are medium fat (ribs exposed obviously), the cows at different milk production levels should be supplied with different nutritional levels of diets, and special attention should be paid to preventing cows from over fattening.

2. A rectal examination should be performed before the anticipated cessation of milk to determine whether the cow is pregnant, to stop milking in time. A single cow may be pregnant with twins. The cow should raise its feeding level reasonably during the dry milk period.

3. Forbid feeding frozen or moldy fodder, pay attention to cow fetal protection to prevent mechanical abortion.

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