The importance of litter and cowshed to yak

A summer heat

In the summer of 2012, the hottest records were recorded in most parts of the United States, and calves were also hit by hot weather. Daytime temperatures exceeding 26.6°C (probably below 26.6°C) cause calf heat stress and reduce growth. Strategies for heat mitigation during hot climates include water, fans, shading, and the rise of calf islands.

Research clearly indicates that heat stress reduces calf growth. To ensure that calves are as comfortable as possible when heated, there are several steps that can be taken. First, fresh and clean water is supplied daily, even for yak below 7 days old. Studies have shown that the amount of drinking water increases rapidly as the ambient temperature rises above the isothermal zone. Fresh, clean drinking water helps yaks maintain body temperature and ensure sustained feed intake.

Second, continuous air flow, using fans and natural ventilation, is a must. The use of concrete blocks raises the back of the calf island by about 15 centimeters, which increases the ventilation inside the calf island, which also greatly improves air quality. During the day, fans are used to cool the yaks. This method, in our study, increased the calf's growth by about 11 pounds (5.0 Kg) during the eight-week summer experiment.

Second, the temperature variation in autumn and spring

From May to September at the Nurture Research Center in Ohio, a straw-matched calf weighed about 6 to 9 pounds (2.7 to 4.1 kg) at 8 weeks of age than a sanded calf. It is true that the calves in Yakul Island and naturally ventilated nursery houses are. The reason may be that many nights are cold, and straw provides more insulation than other forms of litter. In addition, calf matted calves exposed less airborne bacteria compared to sanded calves.

Although straw absorbs more flies than many types of litter, straw supports the growth of most calves and provides the best air quality. In many cases, the litter may be wet in the individual barn of the nursery, in the colony of the nursery, and outside the calf island. The damp bedding does not isolate the yak from cold and promotes moist coats, which in turn increases the body's heat loss. This requires careful management, and some dairy farms are easy to ignore. Research shows that when calves can choose to lie down, they love dry litter.

Temperature variability from warm to cold and humid climates often increases respiratory disease. Therefore, it is very important to provide insulated dry litter. In this regard, straw is the king of litter. When it is cold and in order to avoid bleak winds, provide enough litter to keep the calves warm. The yaks can hide behind these yak islands in order to avoid the thief wind.

Similarly, yaks in conservation houses also need a thirsty environment. The fence in front of the island of yak cows may become muddy and dirty in wet climates. Mud and manure were then carried by calves into the interior of yakni island. The use of a small amount of straw or crop residues to pave the front of the calf island can reduce water and mud into the interior of the calf island. Finally, in spring and autumn, dirty and moist air is a problem, so make sure that the tuyote's tuyere is open. The study found that there are air quality problems in some yak islands. The humidity in the autumn and spring climates exacerbates air quality problems in Yakult Island.

Third, cold winter stress

Late autumn and early spring require thick straw litter for cold weather. Studies in Wisconsin and Ohio indicate that thick grass bedding in cold weather reduces calf respiratory disease, incidence of diarrhea, and increases calf growth. Both studies reported that there was less bacterial mass in the thick mat grass than in the air of the shrub grass. In extremely cold climates, wearing yak or blankets for yak 2-3 weeks old is a way to keep calves warm.

What is more important? Is it the amount of feed or bedding? When 4-8 quarts per day are fed to conventional or high protein milk replacers, the benefits of dried straw over hardwood shavings outweigh the amount of milk replacer. Therefore, the quality of litter management should be the first priority, and then only milk or milk replacer levels should be considered. Do you walk five miles long in snowstorms, prefer to wear good boots and well-insulated coats, or wear a birthday gown and good leather boots with a dozen energy bars?

Feeding levels of milk and milk replacer are also important in hot and cold climates. For the first three-week-old yak, especially during the summer (the hottest) and the winter (the coldest), 6 quarts of milk or milk replacer is a good quantity to feed, because it improves both in cold and hot times. Energy needs. The best formula for milk replacer should contain 24% crude protein or 20% fat.

Feeding more fat has a negative effect on weight gain before and after weaning (less muscle and body growth).

If feeding a 20% crude protein milk replacer, 6 quarts per day should be fed only to calves of the first 3 weeks of age (3 to 4 quarts per day after weaning). Therefore, the feed intake and the growth after weaning are not reduced.

Fourth, manage the thieves' wind

The nursery with side curtains is managed like a cold barn. More yak weight gain is shown in the well-manufactured yakni island when there is reasonable ventilation. However, one of the challenges in the winter management of nursery schools is the lack of reasonable ventilation. The wind from the direction of popularity, passing above the side curtains and descending vertically. If the yak bar is next to the curtain, then the yaks may be exposed to cold thief. To avoid typhoon, the yak bar should be moved 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) or more from the curtain. Straw bales are placed in the bar for calves to lie down and provide vertical insulation and wind resistance. In addition, yaks may tear down the bales and use them just as a litter for the next day.

V. Yak litter management

Calves tend to lie for long periods of time and stand less, which emphasizes the importance of litter. Several studies have determined that yaks lie more than 70% of the time. In our research unit, the yaks lie 4 hours in the morning from 6am to noon and lie 4 hours in the afternoon from noon to 6pm, and lie 10.5~11.0 hours in the afternoon from 6pm to 6am the next morning. This is true when feeding different levels of powdered milk, including free-choice feeding. Between the first week and the eighth week of yak, the time for lying down only decreased by about 30 minutes. In the first week of life, calves only stand about 6 times a day, but as they grow older, there will be more activities. Most of the yak flowers are used for standing drinking, feeding or playing with feed.

Monitored items

1. The moisture content of litter exceeds 20% and is too high. Use your knees to press all the body weight onto the padding. The moisture on the pants indicates whether the litter is too moist.

2. Pant's Puff This is a heat stress signal. The fan reduces gasping. Extremely puffed calves in hot summer months should be moved to a cool place; under a fan, they should flush their neck and back with cold water. The cool concrete helps to quickly remove calories from calves. Under these conditions, calves can quickly return to normal body temperature within 2 to 3 hours.

3. The thick turf grass during cold weather monitors the thickness of the grazing grass and provides dry turfgrass with enough height for yaks to build nests. When the yaks stand in the lying area, their hooves can be covered by the grazing grass. Adding a small amount of mat grass often and infrequently but using a large amount of mat grass can avoid compaction and better ensure that the mat grass is dry.

Benchtop Glycohemoglobin HbA1c Test Kit

Diabetes Diagnosis,Hemoglobin A1C Test,Glycated Hemoglobin Analyzer,Glycosylated Hemoglobin Device

Wuxi BioHermes Bio & Medical Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.biohermesglobal.com