Content
- 1 What is this concept of a “dry cow”?
- 2 Features of keeping dry cows
- 3 Rules for feeding dry cows and heifers
- 4 Features of feeding dry cows in different periods
- 5 Norms and rations for feeding dry cows
- 6 Feeding pregnant dry cows and heifers before calving
- 7 What not to feed dry cows and heifers
- 8 Conclusion
Feeding dry cows is an important point in preparing the uterus for calving. It is necessary not only to meet the launch deadlines, but also to provide the animal with all the necessary nutrients. At the same time, the cow's needs during the dry period change very quickly. And for each stage the diet must be calculated separately.
What is this concept of a “dry cow”?
A common abbreviation for the phrase “pregnant cow during the dry period.” The optimal duration of the dry period is 2 months. It cannot be reduced, otherwise the calf will be born with congenital diseases. The queens are not milked at all at this time.To the point where the cows' milk burns out. That’s why they are called dead: it is impossible to obtain products from an animal at this time.
The dry period is preceded by a “launch”. Low-yield cattle have a short lactation period, and they are able to go into the “launch” on their own. It’s worse with high-yielding individuals. You must be able to run the cow so that she does not get mastitis.
But the method is quite simple. The “launch” begins about a month earlier than the start of the dry period. The cow's diet is cut by 70-80%. They completely remove it from succulent feed and concentrates, leaving only hay. It is better to provide free access to water so as not to cause dehydration. They continue to milk the milk, but they no longer try to milk every last drop.
The frequency of milking is gradually reduced. With a reduced “dry” diet, milk will begin to disappear quite quickly. After milk yield has decreased by ¾, milking can be stopped completely.
The dry period usually occurs in winter
Features of keeping dry cows
The technology of keeping and feeding dry cows includes not only calculating the diet. Since these are pregnant animals, it is also necessary to take into account the conditions of their keeping.
Methods:
- tethered;
- free-stall with deep litter;
- free-stall box.
Each method requires a certain sanitary area for one cow. Since the dry period involves deep pregnancy, dry queens and heifers should have at least 4 m² if the cattle are kept without a tether on deep litter. Box size: 1.9x2 m. When using the tethered method, stalls are used, the size of which is 1.2x1.7 m.
The content system can be:
- stall-pasture: use of pasture and farm buildings;
- stall and walking: pens for walking are adjacent to the farm, used in the absence of pastures, cows are kept in pens even in summer, providing them with freshly cut grass;
- camp-pasture: livestock are transferred to camps on pastures for the summer, the main premises are sanitized and repaired at this time;
- camp-stall: in the absence of grazing, cows are kept in pens around the clock, green feed is delivered daily.
Large farms use a flow-shop milk production system. With this method, cows calve year-round so that the conveyor is not interrupted. It is for continuous production that it is very important that even in summer there are dry cows on the pasture, which will calve after 2-3 months. For a private owner with one animal, this situation is unprofitable. He is better off raising a calf on free grass rather than feeding it expensive concentrates and hay in the winter.
Flow technology for keeping dry, pregnant and dairy cows involves dividing animals into groups depending on their physiological state. These groups are formed by workshops:
- milk production;
- milking and insemination;
- calving;
- dry cows.
The first workshop is the largest in terms of the number of livestock and the duration of keeping animals in it. It is allocated 50% of the total livestock and 200 days to stay in this department. Accordingly, for the calving workshop – 11% and 25 days; for milking and insemination – 25% and 100 days; for dry cows – 14% and 50 days.
But if the types of housing are not of particular importance for a private owner, then the system of standardized feeding of dry pregnant cows and heifers can well be applied on a personal farmstead.
To replenish the mineral needs of dry cows, lick salt with appropriate additives is used.
The importance of having the right diet
Inadequate feeding often causes complications during and after calving, the birth of weak calves, poor development of offspring and low milk yields in the subsequent period. Due to the fact that the main problems with calves “set in” in the last two months, special attention is paid to feeding cows during the dry period. At this time, the calf grows very intensively, and the weight of the uterus of average fatness increases by 10-15% during the dry period. If the cow's fatness is below average, then the weight gain is even greater.
Rules for feeding dry cows and heifers
The nutrient requirement for adult dry cows is 1.5-2 feeds. units per 100 kg live weight. The norm is calculated based on average fatness. If the uterus is underweight, the norm is increased.
Exceeding feeding norms leads to animal obesity, which is the main cause of severe calving and postpartum complications. Diets for heifers and dry cows do not differ in structure, that is, the animals receive the same feed. But there are serious differences in the rationing and percentage of feed.
Feeding standards for heifers
A cow grows up to 5 years old, and she is covered in a year or two. Accordingly, a heifer gives birth to her first calf when she is no more than 3 years old. At this time, nutrients for growth are needed not only by her offspring, but also by the heifer herself.Because of this, the diets of heifers and dry cows differ from each other: the former require more feed units per 100 kg of live weight. Moreover, the diet is calculated based on the level of expected productivity and pregnancy period.
In total, young cows have 5 pregnancy periods, which take into account not only the stage of embryo development, but also the weight gain of the animal itself. The average daily weight gain of heifers should be at least 0.5 kg.
During the first pregnancy, the heifer is only 70% the size of an adult cow
In the first period
The initial stage of pregnancy is 1-3 months. At this time, the heifer’s weight is 350-380 kg. At the first stage, the diet of heifers is the same as that of young bulls or calving animals. At the first stage of pregnancy, animals do not yet need specific feeding. In total, the heifer should receive 6-6.2 feed. units per day. The preferred food is hay + root vegetables or grass.
In the second period
The second stage begins with the 4th month and ends with the 6th. By the beginning of the second trimester, the heifer should weigh 395-425 kg. But feeding rates are increasing slowly. At this stage, the young animal receives 6.3-6.5 feed. units per day.
Last trimester of pregnancy in a heifer
Over the last 3 months, the heifer begins to quickly gain weight: 440-455-470 kg. She needs more food. She is given 0.5 feed every month. units: 7.0-7.5-8.0.
During the entire pregnancy period, in addition to the nutritional value of the feed, other elements are correspondingly increased:
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- sulfur;
- potassium;
- copper;
- other necessary micro- and macroelements.
The need for vitamins D and E also increases.More detailed data on the needs of heifers during pregnancy can be found in the table:
Nutrient standards for heifers per 1 individual per day
There is no need to cut their diet in the first ten days of the eighth month of pregnancy.
Feeding standards for pregnant dry cows
The dry period takes only 2 months, but calculating the diet is quite complicated, since it is done every ten days:
- I – the overall feeding level is 80% of the required, this is the “start-up” time;
- II – feeding rates are raised to 100%;
- III-IV – the norm is 120% of the usual diet;
- V – reduce the rate again to 80%;
- VI – give 60-70% of the norm.
Feeding rates are calculated in feed units. But this is not the only important thing. It is necessary that the uterus receives the required amount of protein. At the same time, it is not enough to simply calculate how much crude protein the animal will receive. You also need to understand how much protein will be absorbed by the cow’s body. Lack of protein leads to dystrophy in the newborn calf.
Imbalance of sugar-protein balance causes physiological immaturity and dyspepsia in calves. Normally, sugar should be in a ratio of 0.8:1.0 to protein. A lack of carotene causes a decrease in the quality of colostrum, miscarriages and the birth of weak calves. With a lack of minerals and vitamin D, osteodystrophic diseases may occur in calves.
Nutrient standards for feeding dry cows are given in the table below. Calculation for 1 head per day.
All standards are calculated for full-aged cows of average fatness
Young queens under the age of 5 years are given 5 feeds. units and 0.5 kg of digestible protein for every kilogram of live weight gain.
Features of feeding dry cows in different periods
Since, due to continuous milk production, dry queens are found on large farms even in summer, diets for them are developed depending on the time of year. The only general rule for dry cattle and heifers is to feed 2-3 times a day. But we are not talking about free grazing on pastures, but about feed rationing. They especially strictly monitor the amount of concentrates, since they can lead to obesity.
Feeding dry cows in winter
The diet of cattle in winter consists of three parts: roughage, root-tuberous fruits, and concentrates. The quantity is calculated not by weight, but based on feed units:
- hay/straw – 50%;
- succulent feed – 25%;
- concentrates – 25%.
The volume of concentrates will be the least. On average, their weight accounts for only 1.5-2.0 kg.
Feeding dry cows during the stall period
Stall and winter periods are usually equivalent concepts. In the summer, they try to keep livestock on free grazing. Animals are placed indoors only after the pastures have completely lost grass. But there are situations when a farmer does not have extra land. In this case, the stall period continues year-round.
The difference is that in winter the cattle are given only hay, and in the summer a significant part of the dry roughage is replaced with fresh grass. During summer feeding when kept in stalls, cows are given:
- hay – 2-3 kg;
- silage – 2-2.5 kg;
- haylage –1-1.5 kg;
- root vegetables – 1 kg;
- grass – 8-10 kg.
All data is based on 100 kg of weight. That is, before calculating the diet and feeding standards, you need to find out the weight of the dry queen or heifer.The amount of concentrates is calculated not per live weight, but per 1 head: 1.5-2 kg per day. The frequency of feeding is the same as in winter: three times a day.
In the absence of special lick salt, premixes are added to the feed mixture before distribution
Feeding dry cows during the grazing period
The transition from winter stall housing to summer grazing is made gradually. A sharp change from dry, but fiber-rich hay to young, juicy grass causes intestinal dysfunction. The microflora does not have time to rebuild. Gastrointestinal diseases lead to disruption of the normal course of pregnancy.
At first, heifers and dry dams are fed morning feeding with hay, but not with concentrates, before going out to pasture. Well-fed cows do not grab young, fiber-poor grass so greedily. Grains are contraindicated before grazing, as in combination with plant juice they can cause fermentation in the rumen. The duration of grazing is also increased gradually.
When grazing on a pasture, it is impossible to accurately control the amount of grass eaten by livestock. A cow can eat up to 100 kg of plants per day. Feeding during grazing is carried out only when cattle are housed on the farm overnight. At this time, add hay and concentrates.
In the pasture, the chemical composition of the soil is monitored, since plants have nowhere to take various elements except from the ground. Control is necessary in order to know which baits are important for pregnant animals.
Grazing natural and cultivated pastures has its pros and cons. The natural composition of plants is richer.This allows the cow to choose what she wants. During sowing, it is easier for the owner to control the nutritional value and chemical composition of the grass.
The table shows the most common forage grasses and their basic chemical composition.
The balance of a cow's nutrition is an important element of the harmonious course of all periods of pregnancy.
Norms and rations for feeding dry cows
Dietary standards are calculated individually for each region, since the nutritional value and chemical composition of herbs directly depends on the soil. In one region, it is necessary to add iodine to livestock feed; in another, this will cause diseases due to an overabundance of the element. There are areas poor in sulfur or zinc. Therefore, when preparing a diet, feed samples must be submitted for chemical analysis.
The nutritional value of hay also depends on the type of grass and the time of mowing. Hay cut too early or too late has a lower nutritional value than if harvested on time. Hay exposed to rain means minus 50% of the predicted nutritional value and amount of vitamins.
“Hospital average” nutritional value of basic feed used in animal husbandry
Can be taken as a starting point, but should not be taken as an axiom.
Feed requirements
Feed for dry pregnant cows and heifers, first of all, should not cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract. This means high quality requirements. Hay that has been exposed to rain is given very carefully. It may turn out to be moldy.
Silage intended for pregnant cattle should have a pleasant sauerkraut smell. It’s also better not to feed the rest of the cattle sour, of course. Concentrates should not have a musty or “mushroom” odor. Frozen succulent food is also not fed.
When calculating feed units, be especially careful with grain concentrates. For 1 feed units 1 kg of oats is accepted. But most grain and legume livestock feeds have higher nutritional values:
- wheat – 1.06;
- barley – 1.13;
- peas – 1.14;
- soybeans and corn – 1.34.
The same applies to additives, such as cake and meal.
With succulent feeds, due to the large amount of water, the nutritional value usually does not reach even 0.5 feeds. units The nutritional value of hay and straw depends on the type of cut plants, drying conditions and harvesting time.
Feeding pregnant dry cows and heifers before calving
Immediately before calving, in the last ten days of pregnancy, feeding rates are reduced by 30-40% to avoid mastitis. Just at this time, the udders of the queens begin to swell and colostrum is produced. Cows are transferred to feeding only hay, completely excluding concentrates and succulent feed.
What not to feed dry cows and heifers
It’s probably easier to say than possible: good quality food. Everyone else can't. Dry pregnant cows and heifers are not fed:
- frozen roots and tubers;
- frozen silage;
- rotten and moldy feed.
It is not just impossible, but prohibited, to feed heifers and dry cows urea (urea) and other non-protein additives containing nitrogen.
Spoiled potatoes should never be given to livestock.
Conclusion
Proper feeding of dry cows lays the foundation for future queen productivity and produces a quality calf. Attempts to save on feed or milk a cow longer than possible lead to serious postpartum complications for both the uterus and her offspring.
