How much hay does a cow need for the winter: ways to calculate the amount for a year and a day
The productivity of cattle depends on the amount of feed they receive. Norms and types of products are different for each season. In summer, animals mainly feed on fresh vegetation. But in the cold season, the diet is being reviewed. Farmers must ensure an adequate supply of food. Therefore, it is important to correctly calculate how much hay a cow needs for the winter.
Calculation of daily hay consumption
The average indicator, which is guided by when harvesting hay, is about 3 kilograms per 1 centner of a cow's weight. Not every farm, especially a small one, has the ability to determine the weight of an animal. Zootechnical formulas are used for calculations.
Trukhanovsky's formula
To calculate how many tons the livestock weighs, the owner needs to determine 2 indicators. Using a tape measure, measure the girth of the chest of the animal (A). To find out the length of the body (B), one end of a straight stick is applied to the shoulder, the other to the pelvic bone. A cow or a bull is fixed in such a way that the legs are vertical and the head is at the level of the back.
The data obtained is inserted into the formula:
| For dairy direction | For meat direction |
| AB/100 2 | AB/100 2.5 |
The most accurate results show measurements in the morning, even before the first feeding session.
Calculation by regression equations
For the second method, it is enough to determine only one indicator - A. The mass, depending on the width of the sternum, is determined by the formula:
| Weight | |
| 5 ,3A - 507 | |
| 5.3A - 486 | |
| 5.3А - 465 |
Methods for determining the body weight of an animal give an error of about 20 kilograms. This must be taken into account when determining the rate of hay that a cow eats.
Hay consumption per head of cattle
Different factors affect the amount of feed:
- The more milk a cow gives, the more food she should get.
- Depending on weight, the diet changes within 10%.
The amount of dry food also depends on the season. At different periods, vegetables, fresh herbs or concentrates are added to food. Accordingly, the hay rate changes.
For the day
Knowing the weight of the animal, it is easy to determine that a cow weighing 5 centners eats up to 20 kilograms of hay per day.During lactation, the main emphasis is on succulent food, and the proportion of dry food is reduced to a quarter of the total amount of food. During the period of cessation of milk production, hay consumption increases by 2 times. Young growth and heifers eat from 8 to 12 kilograms of harvested grass per day. The meat direction of cattle receives up to 30 kilograms. The proportion of dry food in the diet of bulls producers varies from 10 to 15 kilograms per day per bull.
Newborn calves first taste this food at 3 months of age. The initial daily norm of young animals does not exceed 4 kilograms. Gradually, the indicator is brought to 10 kilograms.
For the winter
The amount of hay that needs to be prepared for the cold season depends on the region. In the south of the country, cattle have the opportunity to feast on fresh grass longer than the northern livestock. Dry grass in warm regions is not stored as much as in regions where frosts last for a long time.
If we take average values as a basis, then the period of stay of animals in the stall will last from October to April - 210 days. For an individual weighing about 500 kilograms, over 3 tons of hay will be required.
Farmers are advised to harvest more hay than calculated. Late beginning of spring, spoilage of some of the feed leads to a greater consumption of products. It is almost impossible to make up for losses at the end of the season. Therefore, not 3, but 4 tons of hay per animal are stored for the winter.
For a year
Hay is the staple food for animals. In summer, dry food is required less than in winter. The livestock has access to juicy and tasty grass in pastures. For a cow that produces up to 3 tons of milk per year, the share of hay in the diet is 12%.Taking into account all the factors for 365 days, cattle require at least 3.5 tons of dry grass. For meat breeds, the norm is almost doubled and brought up to 6 tons.
Mowed vegetation is conveniently kept in bales of 35 kilograms. Then a dairy cow has 100, and a beef cow has 150 bales of hay.
The weight of grass in rolls depends on the size of this storage unit. A standard package holds up to 240 kilograms of dry food. For 1 animal, 15 or 25 rolls are prepared.
Frequency of cow feeding with hay
The meal schedule for ruminants is very important. Cows are advised to feed at least 3 times a day. Violation of the regimen affects the state of the digestive tract and affects the volume of milk production.
The following routine is generally accepted in animal husbandry:
- First feeding at 6 am.
- Daytime - at 13 o'clock.
- Closing at 8 pm
The bulk of the daily allowance is given to livestock in the evening. This distribution is associated with the characteristics of the digestive system of cattle. Easy-to-digest foods that enter the body in the morning and at lunchtime contribute to the production of gastric juice. It is also important that hay is digested for a long time. Therefore, the cow will not feel hungry all night.
Grass suitable for making hay
Different varieties of plants are suitable for making hay. Traditional types of dry food:
- Clover, pea or alfalfa form the basis of the legume variety. The high protein content contributes to rapid weight gain. But the amount of such food should not be excessive, so as not to provoke digestive problems.
- Cereals are less nutritious, but sweet clover or wheatgrass is much easier to store.
- The most versatile is hay collected from different herbs. Clover and alfalfa go well with timothy, and oats go well with vetch. These plants have all the benefits of other types of dry food.
Cutted plants are often left to dry out in the open, exposed to sunlight and wind. This method does not require additional costs. Correct calculations will help to create a balanced diet for feeding livestock. Cows must receive enough food throughout the year. The immunity and productivity of the livestock depend on this.
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