What points should be paid attention to in calf feeding management

Calves refer to calves from birth to weaning. The lactation period of beef cattle is usually 6 months. Calf feeding management should pay attention to the following links. (i) Feeding of calves

1, early feeding colostrum. Colostrum contains higher protein, fat, vitamins and other nutrients than normal milk, but also contains a lot of immunoglobulin and lysozyme, can kill and inhibit bacteria. Therefore, as early as possible to let calves eat colostrum. Because the immune globulin absorption of colostrum is strongest at 4-6 hours after birth, colostrum is fed to calves about 1 hour after birth, and the second feeding is 6-9 hours, and the feeding amount is 2 kg. Gradually increase later, lasting 5-7 days, feeding no more than 5% of body weight.

2. Breastfeeding. After 5-7 days, calves should be transferred to the calf house to feed normal milk 3 times a day at a temperature of 35--38℃.

3. Timely supplement concentrated feed. Calves were trained to eat concentrate feed 1 week after birth to supplement nutrition and promote gastrointestinal development. Feed concentrate 10-20 grams a day for the first few days, and gradually increase to 80-100 grams later. At 30 days of age, the daily feeding amount is 200- 300g, and at 60 days of age, it increases to 600- 1000g.

4. Feed high-quality roughage. To promote early gastrointestinal development, roughage is fed before the digestive tract is fully functional. Calves born 1 week, in the trough can put a small amount of high-quality green hay ad libitum. After 2 weeks, put a small amount of chopped carrots, pumpkins and other green juicy feed in the trough for its intake, 60 days later can increase to more than 2 kg. Calves can be sprinkled with a small amount of silage in the trough at 20-30 days of birth. After 2 months, it can be fed 100-150 grams per day;3 months can be fed to 1.5-2 kg;4-6 months old to 4-5 kg.

5. Drink good water for calves. Calves 15 days before drinking water should be disinfected drinking water, and pay attention to the same temperature and milk temperature. After 15 days, switch to clean warm water, and after 30 days switch to tap water, but be careful not to feed ice water and unsanitary water.

6. Early weaning. Healthy calves can be weaned early at 60 days of age by increasing concentrate and coarse feed and reducing milk intake about half a month before weaning. The number of feedings per day was changed from 3 to 2, and the number of feedings was changed from 2 to 1 at the time of weaning, and then milk feeding was stopped. Milk can also be mixed with water, gradually reducing the amount of milk, and finally changed to full water supply. It is generally believed that the amount of concentrate used at weaning is about 1 kg per day. Concentrate increases to 1.5-2 kg at 3 months of age, during which coarse feed can be supplied in large quantities. Before 2 months of birth, let them eat high-quality coarse feed freely, and the coarse feed should be about 1.7 kg per day; after 2 months, they can feed general coarse feed, controlled at 2 kg per day.

?? (ii) Management of calves

1. Newborn calves breathe smoothly. After birth, the mucus in the mouth and nose should be removed first. The method is to lower the calf's head below the rest of the body, or to lift it upside down for a few seconds to let the mucus flow out, and then tickle the calf's nostrils with hay to stimulate breathing.

2. Disinfect the navel. After the calf umbilical cord is cut off, squeeze the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and smear it on the umbilical cord with iodine to disinfect it to prevent infection.

3. Pay attention to the environmental conditions. The optimum external temperature for newborn calves is 15℃. Therefore, attention should be paid to keep the calf bed warm, ventilated, dry and hygienic.

4. Brush calves 1-2 times a day to promote blood circulation, keep skin clean and reduce parasite breeding.

5. Prevent licking addiction. Calves should be raised in a single pen, calf feeding each time, the calf should be wiped off the nose milk residue.

6. After 1 week of exercise and training, calves can move freely in the pen, and after 10 days, they can move 1-2 times in a short time on the sports field, half an hour each time. With the increase of age, the exercise time can be appropriately increased. In order to make the calf develop good feeding habits and achieve compatibility with human cattle, the feeder should consciously approach it, touch it and brush it. When approaching, be careful to approach from the front and do not treat calves rudely.

7. Weighing Weigh calves at birth, 3 months old, 6 months old, 12 months old and weaning respectively, and make records so as to master the growth and development of calves and adjust diets.

8, dehorning 5-7 days after birth, dehorning, in order to reduce cattle fighting caused abortion, harm to the human body and damage to facilities.

9. Castration. Bulls used for fattening and do not need to be castrated.