Managing feeding practices of cattle & buffalo

1. Animal must be provided an ideal ration consisting of the following qualities

• Adequate amount of different nutrients.
• Quite appetizing.
• Produces desirable flavor to milk.
• Contains varieties of feed in it.
• Consists of plenty of succulent and green feeds.
• Economical
• Possibly balanced.
• Providing such ration that has good effect on health.
• Providing a laxative ration to keep normal digestion.
• Feeding a ration that is bulky ration to keep normal tone of peristaltic movement of the alimentary canal.
• Providing the ration that is not toxic
• Dairy animal must be fed liberally.
• As far as possible animals must be fed individually.
• Feeding rations at regular scheduled interval daily.
• Avoid sudden changes in rations of dairy animals.
• To ensure maximum consumption of dry matter the green must be sufficiently provided.

1. Fodder like silage that has smell must be fed after milking so that off flavor may not be imparted to milk.
2. Dairy animal can consume total dry matter 2 to 3 % of their live body weight; hence total need of dry matter be accordingly determined.
3. Maximum quantity of green fodder that can be given to cow varies from 35 to 40 kg/day depending upon feed quality, palatability and demand of animal.
4. Green fodder especially the improved varieties and legumes such as Lucerne berseem, cowpea could be fed to dairy animals to replace concentrates @ 1 kg concentrate for 12 kg of greens.
5. Leguminous green fodder like berseem, Lucerne, cowpea etc. must not be fed on empty stomach to dairy animals as this may upset the digestion and cause bloat. Always either the dry fodder like wheat straw, rice straw, mixed or fed first then greens.
6. Animals should not be over fed with concentrate for it would not be an economic policy. High forage and low concentrate is an economic policy.