Management of work bullocks
- Management of work animals is in many ways like taking care of motor vehicle –put in adequate fuel (feeds and water), do not over burden the engine (physiological mechanism) and strict to rigid maintenance (care and management).
- Then only they can be used for ploughing, harrowing, threshing, harvesting, for lifting water, transporting people and agricultural produce.
- The average speed of a pair of bullocks pulling a carts around 4-5km\ha .If not over driven they can travel 25 to 30km or even 40 km daily under favorable
- It is considered for all operation including carting they can be used for 5 acre holding .
Care and feeding of bullocks
- During busy season, they have to be fed extra concentrates.
- Grooming specially legs and quarters is essential before and after work.
- During summer working hours must be restricted to 5-10 in the morning and 16-19 during evening.
- Bullocks should not be put to overwork lest they lose weight.
- Traditional Feeding: In Nepal paddy straw is the exclusive source of roughage except during rainy season. Rice bran, wheat bran, wheat/maize flour are given along with some salt while providing drinking water. In some part of the country, “Bhusa” is offered consisting chopped paddy straw, some green grass and bran/flour soaked or sprinkled with water.
Urea Supplementation
- Supplementation of urea in the concentrate mixture at the level of 1% is recommended as ruminants have capability to convert NPN into microbial nitrogen. However, for using urea in field condition the following points must be considered.
- Level should not exceed 1% of the concentrate mixture and should be thoroughly mixed
- Readily available sources of energy such as cereal grains or molasses must be incorporated.
- It should be done only when there is deficiency in protein content in the diet.
- N:S should be maintained 10:1 to 15:1
- Avoid soaking of concentrate containing urea and it should not be given to pre-ruminant calves.
- In case of urea toxicity, exhibited by heavy breathing, excessive salivation, tremors and discomfort, dilute solution of vinegar should be drenched.