Content
A cow does not eat hay well for a number of reasons, including the presence of certain diseases. Hay is a necessary component in the diet of cattle throughout their lives. Its consumption is especially important in winter. The cow’s immune system, its reproductive function and milk efficiency depend on the quality and quantity of the product. Therefore, if a cow eats hay poorly, it is necessary to find the cause and eliminate it as quickly as possible.
How much hay should a cow eat?
High-quality hay is an ideal feed during the cold season. It is divided into several types: cereal, legume, mixed and feed grain with straw. Good hay is obtained from grain crops if it is harvested before the seeds appear. However, this type must be tested for the presence of nitrates. The legume consists of alfalfa, vetch, soybean, commonweed and cowpea. This type contains a higher percentage of vitamin A, calcium, and protein than a cereal product.
Nutritional value depends on the type of leaves. Cereal hay contains more useful substances - it is absorbed faster by the cow's body while the plant is young, but is more saturated with fiber when it matures. Legume leaves have a constant composition and do not depend on the phases of plant development.On average, 1 kg of high-quality hay contains about 70 g of protein, 40-50 mg of vitamin A, as well as vitamins B, E, and minerals. When consuming good hay, a cow satisfies the need for protein by 40-45%, microelements by 50%, and completely in carotene. That is why farms pay special attention to the preparation of products for livestock.
The amount of hay required for a cow depends on the breed of the animal, the direction of productivity, and the physiological state. During lactation, hay should not exceed 25% of the total feed, and it is better if it is represented mainly by legumes. During the dry period, the dacha is increased by half. In the meat direction of cattle breeding, a cow eats up to 30 kg of hay daily. Based on the accepted standards for feeding cows, an animal needs 40-50 centners of product for the winter.
Why does a cow eat hay poorly?
Many owners are faced with the fact that the cow does not eat hay. Possible reasons are as follows:
- Disorders of the digestive tract (gas formation, swelling of the proventriculus, decreased contractile activity of the rumen). This can be caused by feed that provokes fermentation, uncontrolled grazing, irregular feeding, lack of exercise, poor-quality feed, and dirty water. The pathology is accompanied by anxiety, increased body temperature, lack of chewing gum, an enlarged abdomen on the left side, changes in feces, and decreased productivity.
- Mastitis. Often this pathology affects a change in the cow’s taste preferences, including a refusal to eat hay. The disease is complex; it is caused by pathogenic microorganisms that penetrate the mammary gland of the cow. Causes of the disease: poor milk yield, poor quality udder care, complicated calving, damage to the mammary gland. With this disease, the following symptoms are observed: compactions in the udder, admixtures of pus, blood, flakes in milk, increased body temperature, decreased productivity, depressed state of the cow.
- Ketosis. The disease occurs when metabolic processes in the animal’s body are disrupted, resulting in the accumulation of ketone bodies, and the cow may refuse to eat hay or completely lose appetite. The causes of the pathology are oversaturation of food with proteins, lack of exercise, excess concentrates, roughage, succulent feed. At the same time, the cow experiences increased sweating, especially in the morning, excitability of the nervous system, agalactia, grinding of teeth, muscle tremors, the smell of acetone from the individual, as well as from milk and urine.
- Foreign bodies entering the cow's digestive tract. The animal behaves restlessly, the body temperature may rise, the pulse quickens, there is no appetite or food preferences change, milk yield decreases, and the pulsation of the rumen stops.
- Helminthiasis. Parasites are often the reason why a cow refuses to eat grass or loses her appetite completely. The animal experiences coughing, sweating, weight loss, decreased milk production, alternating diarrhea and constipation.
- Paresis. Hay consumption is affected by pre- and post-calving complications. Paresis occurs as a result of metabolic disorders in the cow's body.The disease manifests itself in paralysis of the limbs, tongue, larynx, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, loss of coordination when moving, and increased body temperature.
Other reasons for refusing hay may include poisoning with chemicals, poisonous plants, constant overfeeding, unsanitary conditions for keeping livestock, irregularities in the diet, and poor-quality feed.
If a small calf eats grass poorly, congenital diseases (paratyphoid, pneumonia, gastrointestinal dysfunction, hernia) should be excluded. It is quite possible that the cause is a cold in the baby. In any case, the calf should be taken to a veterinarian to determine the cause.
What to do if a cow does not eat hay well
First of all, you need to check the quality of the feed. If a cow has a problem with digestion, it will be necessary to eliminate inflammation, stop fermentation, and remove gases using a probe. For other diseases that cause loss of appetite, you should treat them, and then try to stimulate the feeling of hunger. In addition to these measures, the owner should establish a clear schedule for feeding, milking, exercise, and clean the barn daily.
Conclusion
A cow eats hay poorly only for certain reasons that need to be identified and eliminated as quickly as possible. An attentive attitude towards the cow and a veterinarian will help you do this. You also need to carefully approach the process of preparing hay or purchasing it, since it is the basis of the diet.
