Forage must not be planted at will, many cattle farmers have stumbled!

Cattle need to consume a lot of coarse feed resources, which generally come mainly from crop straw or wild weeds, but the former quality is generally poor and the latter has certain conditions, so many cattle farmers think of artificial planting grass. Planting grass and raising cattle is not as simple as we think. There are many varieties of herbage with different characteristics. We must choose the grass suitable for local planting in order to succeed!

1. Huangzhu Grass

Pennisetum chinense is a perennial grass, named for its long leaves, high stems and bamboo stems. It is suitable for planting in most areas of South China. In recent years, some areas in North China (such as Shandong, Henan, Beijing and Hebei) have been successfully planted, but overwintering is still a big obstacle, so it has not been widely popularized. The best planting period is from March to June, and about 2000~3000 plants are planted per mu. The harvest period of Huangzhu grass is generally from March to December. Under the condition of proper water and fertilizer management, it can be green cut once in 40~60 days, and it can be green cut 5~7 times in the whole year. The fresh grass per mu can produce about 15~20 tons.

Similar to the grass species, there are sweet elephant grass, red elephant grass and giant fungus grass, which are not introduced here.

2. ryegrass

Ryegrass is a kind of grass similar to wheat, including winter grazing 70, annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and multi-flowered ryegrass, which can be planted in most areas of China. Ryegrass uses seeds for propagation, which can be divided into autumn sowing (September to October) and spring sowing (March to April). Generally, autumn sowing is the best. Ryegrass has strong frost resistance, many cattle farmers agree that ryegrass can grow normally in winter, in fact, otherwise, when the temperature drops below 10℃, the growth will be blocked, and when the temperature drops below 5℃, it will stop growing. It is suggested that friends who plan to raise cattle with ryegrass in winter must give up this idea as soon as possible. Generally, early autumn sowing can harvest once before winter, 2~3 times before midsummer, and the yield per mu can reach 8000~10000 kg; spring sowing can harvest 1~2 times, and the yield per mu can reach 2000~4000 kg.

3. Mexican corn grass

Zea mexicana is an annual grass similar to maize. Its plant height is 3~4 meters, and its tillering ability is strong. There are 30~60 branches in each cluster. It can be planted in most areas of China. Mexican corn is propagated by seeds, usually sown in February to April, and grows for 180 to 240 days. Generally, under the condition of proper water and fertilizer, it can be harvested 7~8 times, and the yield per mu can reach 5~10 tons.

4. Sudan grass

Sudan grass is a kind of annual grass similar to sorghum, similar to Gaodan grass, sweet sorghum (Hercules), etc., which can be planted in most areas of China. This kind of grass mainly uses seeds for reproduction, generally sown in February to April, harvested 3 to 4 times a year, and the yield per mu can reach 5 to 10 tons. However, this kind of grass seedlings contain a large amount of hydrocyanic acid, which is easy to cause poisoning after cattle ingest, so it is best to harvest them when they grow to more than 1 meter.

5. Pennisetum

Pennisetum is perennial grass, with drought, humidity, shade, cold and trampling resistance characteristics, suitable for most areas of China to plant, generally need grazing mountains, hills planting best. Pennisetum mainly uses seeds for reproduction. Generally, it is sown in April to June. It can be harvested for grazing or harvesting. It can be harvested 3 to 4 times a year and the yield per mu can reach 4 to 7 tons.

6. alfalfa

Alfalfa is a perennial legume grass, rich in protein and vitamins, so it is also known as the "king of grass", suitable for planting in most areas of China, including Inner Mongolia, Northwest and other areas planted more area. Alfalfa is propagated by seeds, which can be divided into autumn sowing (August ~ September) and spring sowing (March ~ May). It can be harvested 3~4 times a year. The fresh grass yield is 4000~8000 kg/mu or hay yield is 1200~2400 kg/mu, among which the first crop grass has the highest nutritional value.

Pasture matching

Pasture planting should consider environment and yield first, and then consider nutritional value and nutritional diversity on this basis. In the south, it is suggested to plant some ryegrass and Mexican corn in combination; in the north, it is suggested to plant some ryegrass and Sudanese grass in combination; in the northeast and northwest, it is suggested to plant some alfalfa and Mexican corn in combination; in the mountainous or hilly areas where grazing is required, it is suggested to plant some grass varieties resistant to trampling, such as pennisetum, clover and Leymus chinensis.

In winter, in order to prevent the harm of low temperature freezing disaster to livestock production, farmers should take the following five measures to ensure the safety of winter livestock.

A winter grass reserve. Organize expert groups to go deep into farms (districts) and farmers in each township of the county to guide them to carry out forage deep processing, timely reserve forage, improve forage utilization rate and ensure forage supply.

Second, pay attention to the warm work of livestock shed. Organize farmers to adopt thick straw, barn shelter wind and other ways to improve the ability of livestock to resist cold weather.

Third, we should pay attention to the prevention and control of livestock diseases. In accordance with the requirements of "no leakage of townships in counties, villages in townships, households in villages, livestock and poultry in households and needles in livestock and poultry", we will actively carry out livestock immunization and disinfection to eliminate sources to ensure that no epidemic situation will occur.

Fourth, animal epidemic monitoring. Formulate emergency plan, keep abreast of animal epidemic situation and animal monitoring dynamics after low temperature freezing disaster, and ensure that once epidemic (disaster) situation is found, it shall be handled in time according to the method of "early, fast, strict and small".

Fifth, we should pay attention to the work of slaughtering livestock. On the premise of not reducing the proportion of high-quality female livestock, timely guide farmers, seize the meat consumption season of Spring Festival, eliminate sick and weak livestock, reduce the pressure of forage and reduce disaster losses.

In winter, due to lack of grass and cold, it is often easy to cause cattle to be weak and their resistance to death. In order to ensure the safe winter of cattle, farmers should take the following four protective measures:

One is to repair the cowshed, pay attention to ventilation and keep warm. To farm cattle shed maintenance, do not leak rain, side ventilation, not wet, grass mat to play a role in cold and warm. To avoid the wind blowing, timely remove cattle manure urine, frequently change the mat grass, keep the pen clean and dry, and ensure that the temperature of the barn is above 10℃. Attention should be paid to the daily lighting of cattle. One to two 60 watt or 100 watt light bulbs can be installed in the barn to increase the lighting of cattle in the morning and evening. Open the window properly at noon in sunny weather to ventilate and keep the air fresh in the house.

Second, we should skillfully supplement concentrate and pay attention to balanced nutrition. Because winter forage grass dry brown, cattle grazing often eat not enough, therefore, in addition to feeding straw and other coarse feed, but also feed enough concentrate, plus bran rice porridge, root feed and mineral feed. Generally, each adult cow is fed with 1.5 ~ 2kg concentrate, 10~ 20g bone meal and 10~ 15g salt every day. For thin cattle, often feed some distiller's grains to increase energy. Feed warm water 2~3 times a day to ensure that cattle digest coarse feed and water required for circulation in the body.

Third, we should look for opportunities to graze and pay attention to insisting on the movement of cattle. In winter, at noon in sunny and warm weather, grazing should be carried out in the leeward and sunny place, so that the cattle can feed while basking in the sun, increase the amount of exercise, can emit moisture, dissipate fire, promote blood circulation and metabolism, enhance the ability to keep warm, and enhance the physique of the cattle.

Fourth, we should attach importance to disinfection and pay attention to preventing and curing diseases. Cattle houses and utensils should be regularly disinfected by spraying 10% quicklime water or 30% plant ash water. Insecticides should be timely carried out before winter. Insecticides should be combined with benzethiazole. This group of drugs can drive away parasites in and out of cattle at the same time, and the effect of fat preservation and fat increase is remarkable. In order to prevent the foot and mouth disease of cattle, each cow should be inoculated with 3 ml of bivalent inactivated vaccine of foot and mouth disease type O-Asia type I to improve the resistance of cattle. Usually more observation, found cattle disease timely diagnosis and treatment.

(Liu Xiaowu, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of Gucheng County, Hubei Province Postcode: 441700)