FEED REQUIREMENTS FOR DAIRY ANIMAL

Feed requirements for dairy animal

1. Feeding a growing heifer

• Up to six months, a heifer can be raised on pastures as long as it is good quality pasture
• At 6 – 12 months, if concentrates are available, provide 1- 2 kgs daily to ensure sufficient nutrient intake for normal growth.

2. Feeding a pregnant cow/heifer

• 2 months before calving the cow/heifer should be steamed up with high quality concentrates
• A pregnant cow should be given concentrates for maintainace + production + extra 1 to 1.5 kgs per day.

3. Feeding a Lactating cow

• During the first three days after calving feed cow moderate amounts of dairy mash or concentrates plus high quality roughages available all the time
• High protein concentrate should be fed to high milk producers at the rate of 1kg concentrate for every 2.5 kgs of milk produced
• If the forage is of poor quality then a higher protein concentrate should be fed
• Provide plenty of cool and clean drinking water all the time.

4. Feeding dry cow

• If a dry cow is in good condition it can maintain its health on good quality forage only
• Dry cow in poor condition should be given supplementation of a concentrate of 2kgs daily during the early dry period until 2 weeks before calving down time
• Two weeks before calving, the amount should be reduced to 1kg/day.

5. Feeding a herd bull

The bull should be put on good quality roughage plus 2 -4 kgs of a concentrate daily.