How to feed a cow properly – what do they feed cows on farms?

Agribusiness, Farming

In livestock farming, it's important to adhere to cattle nutrition standards. Feed directly impacts the quality and quantity of milk and meat. Therefore, to achieve good results, it's important to know how to feed cows.

Types of feed

Feeding only hay and grass isn't enough for cows' health. Cattle diets should include a variety of feeds. These can be divided into two groups:

Dry feed (dry matter) – this is what cows are typically fed at home. This group includes pasture grass, hay, straw, silage, vegetables or their tops, and root vegetables. This diet provides the body with protein, essential vitamins, and fiber. On farms, cattle obtain some of their dry matter during the summer by grazing. In winter, the dry matter requirement must be fully met, regardless of the type of housing.
Concentrated and combined feeds are a mixture of different types of crushed grains with added salt, sugar, and oilcake. Tricalcium phosphate can be added as a beneficial supplement. Mixtures with oilcake, bran, crushed cereals, and grains provide protein and carbohydrates. Tricalcium phosphate supplementation provides calcium and phosphorus, which support animal growth.

A monotonous diet will lead to digestive upset in animals. Therefore, their food should be combined and balanced. A comprehensive diet will provide animals with all the necessary nutrients.

How to properly feed cattle

When choosing what to feed cattle, it's important to consider the nutritional needs of the breed. The diet of beef breeds differs from that of dairy breeds. Cows raised for meat are fed more.

Dairy breeds require more feed containing calcium, phosphorus, and protein. These nutrients stimulate and increase milk production. Their nutrition also depends on their milk yield. The higher the milk yield, the more protein and minerals the cow should receive.

Dairy and beef breeds should be fed separately; for this purpose, it is more convenient to divide the livestock into different stalls.

Feeding standards

It's not always possible to formulate a precise feeding ration for cows on a farm. However, it's important to adhere to the basic requirements that are appropriate for general cattle management.

It is recommended to adhere to the following feeding standards:

Up to 50 liters of water are required per day. If the cow is a dairy cow, the larger she is, the more milk she will produce.
The average calculation of hay based on the weight of the animal is 2-3 kg of hay per 100 kg.
Calculation of silage, succulent feed - 3-4 kg of silage is required per 100 kg of animal weight.

Proper nutrition is essential for raising cattle. By analyzing what cows are fed on a farm, you can organize your livestock raising accordingly. The first requirements are feeding standards, a balanced diet, and separate feeding according to the breed. Creating suitable conditions is easier with livestock farm equipment.