USE BALANCED RATION FOR DAIRY ANIMALS: EXPERTS

LUDHIANA, JULY 28:-----



Dairy industry is growing fast in Punjab and commercial units having hi-tech and mechanized facilities are being developed in the state. The feeding alone involves up to 65-70% of the recurring expenditure in these farms. For being successful, the dairy farmer must be aware about the economical and balanced ration formulation, emphasized PAU scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Sangrur, Bathinda and Ropar. The scientists suggested useful tips for the preparation of domestic ration for dairy cattle and buffaloes, feeding schedule for dairy heifers and rations for lactating animals, dry cows/buffaloes and for pregnant cows/buffaloes.



Educating the dairy farmers, Mr Bharat Singh from KVK Sangrur, told that water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins are well organized feed nutrients. He added that they are to be ingested by the animals mainly for providing necessary elements for repair/maintenance of the body, raw materials for the synthesis of the body tissues in growth and for generating heat necessary for maintaining body temperature. Besides, they also serve as source of energy for vital processes in the body like growth, work, production, etc., and as a raw material for the production of milk. Mr Singh highlighted that the feeding of balanced ration achieves optimum growth rate, milk, production and reproductive efficiency of the animal. The animal can also have a sound health, free from nutritional deficiencies and related disorders, when fed with balanced ration.



Dr APS Dhaliwal, from KVK, Bathinda said "Dairy animals with a potential for milk production need to be fed judiciously with a balanced ration consisting of dry roughage, green fodder and concentrate." Accordingly, in cows for every 2.5 kg of milk produced one kg of concentrate has to be fed, said he, telling that for buffaloes, because of higher fat content in milk, for every two kg of milk produced, one kg of concentrate has to be fed. Laying emphasis on feeding of dairy animals, Dr Dhaliwal impressed upon the diary farmers to maintain regularity in feeding the animals with the balanced ration. Asking the farming community to be kind and liberal in feeding the animals, the scientist told them to feed the green fodder throughout the year and the food should contain straw, concentrates and greens for balanced feeding.



Elaborating further, Ms Aparna Gupta from KVK, Ropar, suggested the dairy farmers, "Avoid any sudden change in ration as it upsets the digestion and intake of animals, provide laxative ration to keep normal digestion and fodder having off-smell must be fed after milking so that the off flavour may not be imparted to the milk." As the dairy animals can consume dry matter 2.5 to 3.0 % of their body weight, the total need of dry matter may be calculated and 66% of it may be supplied through roughages and the rest by concentrates, said she and advised the dairy farmers to make clean and fresh drinking water accessible to cows/buffaloes in summer, to clean the feeding manger before giving fresh feed to the animals and told that leguminous green fodder not be fed on empty stomach to dairy animals as it may upset the digestion and cause bloat. The PAU scientist also emphasized that concentrate provided to dairy cow must have 15-17% CP and 70% TDN.



Asking the dairy farmers to take precautionary measures, the PAU scientists told them to remove grains and fodder always from the manger before new feed is given, make all changes in the diet gradually and give the largest feed of the day when the animal is resting. Suggesting the farmers to give coarse fodder and roots chopped so that they may be utilized efficiently, they also asked them to feed concentrate according to the requirements and do not overfeed the animals. All these efforts are helpful to dairy farmer to achieve enhanced output and lowers down the investment on feeding, said they.
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