How to Feed Dry Dairy Cows

In order to maintain good milking cows, dry dairy cows are generally divided into two stages: pre-dry milk and dry milk. The entire period from the beginning of dry milk until 15 days before calving is called the pre-drying period, and the 2 weeks before calving to delivery is often called the late dry period (also called the pre-period).

In the early stage of dry milk, the cows are generally given a medium nutrient feed, and the quality of hay is 4 kg -5 kg ​​and about 10 kg of formulated concentrate; body condition is 3.8 -4.2 points, and the body is plump and shiny. For the lean, dry cows to increase nutrition, based on the nutritional needs of pregnancy, plus 5 kg -10 kilograms of nutritional needs of milk production, so that the cows within 20 days of recovery to 3.5 to 4.0 points. During a week of dry milk, the condition of the breast should be observed. If there is a lump, the cow is uneasy and needs to be treated quickly. After the condition is improved, dry the milk again.

The diets in this stage should be based on roughage, with appropriate concentrates, the amount of concentrates generally accounts for 0.6%-0.9% of body weight, ie 3.5kg-5kg, dry matter ratio of refined coarse material is 30:70-20: 80. The crude fiber content of the diet is not less than 18%. For young cows giving birth for the first time, a 10%-18% feed ration should be added to prevent the negative metabolic balance of the cattle after the calving. The diet of dry cows must be made of good quality, easily digestible feeds. It is not possible to use feeds with spoilage and deterioration, and the amount of low nutrient concentrations of roughage and juicy feed should be limited so as not to oppress the fetus and cause premature birth. In addition, clean drinking water should be given. In summer, the water temperature should be controlled at about 10°C, and about 15°C in winter. Avoid drinking ice water.

During the late period of dry milk, the superior nutritional level of the cows should be maintained so that the calf's calf during calving is close to 4.5 points. Based on the body condition, appetite, type of feces and expected milk production at that time, it is determined that the amount of concentrate should be increased. In general, concentrates should be increased to 1 kg to 1.5 kg per 100 kg of body weight, but the rations must be guaranteed. The ratio is controlled between 30:70 and 40:60, and the crude fiber level is not less than 17%. Of course, there is a time gradient for the increase of the concentrate level, which is generally increased by 0.3 kg per day. When the cow has anorexia, no more concentrate can be added. Only after the cow eliminates this phenomenon can it be considered to add a little more concentrate. For cows with excessive breast swelling or edema that occurred a few days before delivery, appropriate concentrates should be reduced, juicy feeds should be stopped, and the amount of salt should be reduced. If it is fed with wet concentrate, the concentrate at this stage must not be too wet. During the 20 days to 30 days before labor, low calcium diets should be fed to reduce the calcium content of dry matter in the diet to 0.2%, and to reduce the amount of salt. In the 2 days to 3 days before delivery, an anionic salt feed can be fed to prevent milk fever in dairy cows.

At the same time, in order to prevent constipation, the amount of bran-dried feed such as bran should be properly increased in concentrates, which can account for 15%-23% of concentrates. The condition of breasts must be carefully checked during the late period of dry milk, and if there is inflammation of the udder, it is immediately treated. .

In addition, during the whole dry period, the cows should be allowed to exercise freely in order to reduce dystocia and prevent crowding. Strengthen the miscarriage, do not feed deteriorating feeds, do not drink ice water, do not wash cows with cold water, and do not allow cattle to fall or slip.

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