Granulated feed for calves: from what age to give, types and composition

Organization of nutrition using compound feed is an important part in breeding cattle. When rearing young animals with individually selected feed mixtures, it is possible to increase the weight gain of animals. Vitamins and minerals in feed additives help to strengthen the immunity of animals. There are different types of compound feed for calves: granulated, briquetted, loose. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

What is compound feed and what is its composition

Mixed feed - a universal balanced mixture of vegetable, grain and animal components.Combined feeds are selected according to age and orientation of cattle - dairy, meat and mixed. Special mixtures are produced for dairy cows, bull-producers. The content of minerals and vitamins in them is selected taking into account age needs

The task of the starter, or compound feed for calves, is to increase weight, strengthen the immunity of animals. Therefore, it contains proteins. Fiber helps to absorb nutrients and normalizes bowel function. The product is enriched with minerals necessary for growth: magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper. Starter feed contains the following vitamins and minerals:

• sulfur;
• manganese;
• cob alt;
• carotene;
• iodine;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• starch;
• retinol;
• calciferol;
• tocopherol.

Approximate composition of feed for calves under six months and the proportion of components in the mixture are shown in the table:

PercentageWheat27 Wheat Bran Corn 34Barley 30-37 15 1 17 6 4 4 Feed fat3 Calcium phosphate Chalk1Premix1Sunflower meal25

Component
24
	Oats
	S alt
	Soybean meal
	Ethyl yeast (eprin)
	Molasses (molasses)
	Herbal meal
	2
Feed yeast	7

The set of components and nutritional value may vary depending on the manufacturer. The metabolizable energy from feed ranges from 9.8 to 12.2 megajoules.

Varieties

Starting mixtures are distinguished by the form of release and purpose. Different types of starters have advantages and disadvantages.

According to the release form

Compound feed is produced in granules, briquettes and in loose form. Types differ in price and ease of use. Calves are more sensitive to feed than adult animals. Therefore, it is important to choose a feed mixture that is harmless to the digestion of animals.

Loose

The components are ground into homogeneous cereals. Loose starter is distinguished by grinding: fine, medium and coarse.

Pros and conseasy to prepare;cheap;just chewed up.crumbles when eaten;enters the respiratory tract;difficulties in transportation;the ingredients are not evenly spaced.

Particles of the same components are grouped together. When applying, the mass is obtained heterogeneous. Some substances are more than others, so calves eat unbalanced food. They can also eat away a component that is tastier, and refuse the rest. Loose starter should be stirred before being poured into feeders. It is suitable for feeding calves in private homes. But the room in which the animals are kept needs to be ventilated or installed hoods so that small grains of food do not float in the air with dust.

Granulated feed

The components are pressed into solid cylindrical lumps. Their diameter is designed for animals of different ages - 5-19 millimeters. The granule starter is suitable for the automatic feeding system of farms and manual feeding of livestock in small farms.

Pros and consconvenient to store, transport;the mixture is always homogeneous;granules crumble a little when eaten;better absorbed.high price;comes across low quality products;heat treatment destroys some of the vitamins;quickly consumed.

During the production process, the components are subjected to heat treatment, so infection with bacteria through granular feed is excluded. Quality granulated starter has a high price and is not cheaper than loose feed.

Despite its shortcomings, pellet feed helps calf growth and is the most convenient to use.

Briquetted

The raw materials are pressed into rectangular briquettes. In this form, roughage is better preserved - straw and hay. To hold the ingredients together, fodder molasses is added to the mixture.

American and Canadian producers use cane molasses, while domestic producers use processed sugar beet molasses. Molasses speeds up the metabolism. Therefore, calves on pelleted feed gain weight faster.

Pros and consdo not crumble if the package is damaged;convenient for transportation and storage.high price;must be crushed before serving.

Compound feed in briquettes is widely used on large meat and dairy farms.

Compound feed for the intended purpose

Starters replace a complete diet for calves. Farmers also use top dressings and food additives. The purpose of the feed is determined by the label - capital letters on the package.

Full (PC)

The product includes all types of food necessary for he althy development, does not require additional vitamin supplements. The composition of the product includes cereals - oats, barley, wheat. A complete feed is a pre-starter diet for calves from one to three months old.

Depending on the age group of young animals, rations with different percentages of components are produced.

In order for maturing calves to receive the necessary nutrients in each phase of development, it is necessary to change the complete feed in accordance with the age group. This feeding pattern improves the performance of the animals.

Pros and consreduces the cost of hay, silage and grain concentrates;more effective and more nutritious than a self-assembled feed set.sometimes calves do not perceive compound feed as food;can interfere with digestion at an early age.

Complete feeds are introduced into the animal menu gradually.

Concentrated (K)

Concentrates are higher in protein, fiber and minerals. They are added to the main, self-selected diet. According to the composition, two types of concentrated feed are distinguished:

• carbohydrate - corn, millet, wheat and barley increase the carbohydrate content in the product up to 75 percent;
• protein - 25 percent protein thanks to legumes.

Pros and consready to eat or softened with water, so the product is convenient to give to calves of different ages;enhances immunity, accelerates the growth of animals.exceeding the allowable norm of concentrates in nutrition adversely affects the quality of meat and dairy products in the future;possible indigestion.

Concentrated compound feed is given in winter with silage, hay, vegetables and grain, but its share should be less than half of the daily ration.

Feed mixes

Composed of protein or carbohydrate concentrates and herbal flour. To combine the ingredients, molasses or urea is added, from which the calves get nitrogen.

Pros and consenvironmentally friendly product;you can cook by yourself.when self-mixing, it is important to strictly adhere to the proportions;ready-made feeds with urea are not suitable for young animals weighing less than 250 kilograms.

In the intestines of small calves, the microflora is not sufficiently developed, so it is difficult for them to digest ammonia.

Additives (BVD)

The feed additive contains a complex of vitamins, proteins and mineral s alts, which ensure the normal growth and development of calves. With the help of BVD, self-prepared feed mixture is enriched. The norm of the content of the additive in the daily diet is 25 percent.

Pros and consfills the need for vitamins;improves appearance and performance;increases the viability of calves;contributes to the production of marbled meat.you need to select the dosage;high price.

Using a protein supplement allows animals to be fed low protein cereals.

BVD in its pure form or in excess dose cause poisoning, so they must be thoroughly mixed in the main food.

Premixes (P)

Premix - a type of food supplement, which consists of wheat, wheat bran, soybean meal and rapeseed cake. The allowable proportion of premixes in the diet of young animals is 1 percent.

Pros and consstrengthens the immune system and promotes he althy growth of young animals;helps to assimilate nutrients from homemade feed mixtures;accelerates weight gain.constant excess of the allowable proportion of the premix can harm the he alth of animals, reduce the quality of meat;fat-containing additives spoil quickly.

When storing premixes, you must follow the instructions and prevent the increase in humidity in the storage.

From what age can I give

Farmers recommend starting formula feeding of calves from the first week after birth. Pre-starter feeds can be given from the third day. For three months, the young must feed on mother's milk. But fattening calves need to be fed ready-mixed feed from an early age.

There are two types of start:

• for small calves up to one month old;
• for feeding animals from the first to the third month.

Young animals at 2.5 months weighing 70 kilograms are gradually weaned from milk. By the age of three months, the animals are given 1.5 kilograms of concentrate per day.

How to train a calf to feed

Starter feed develops and expands the stomach of calves. Cows and bulls fed from an early age feed more food and gain better weight.

How to feed calves:

• compound feed is diluted with water to a mushy mass;
• give a handful a day;
• not eaten food is removed, the next morning a new portion is poured;
• offer to eat from the palm of your hand.

Calves need to put a drinker and change the water every day.Drinking plenty of water promotes the development of the rumen and the absorption of dry food. To prevent food from getting into the water, the dishes with water are placed in the opposite part of the stall. On the seventh day the calves are offered hay, on the twenty-first day they are offered chalk and s alt. Also on the menu are carrots, beets and apples. The vegetables are crushed and a vitamin premix is added. On the thirty-second day, bran can be given.

To start complementary foods, boiled potatoes, whole and skimmed milk, as well as complete feeds for the appropriate age group are suitable.

Young bulls are given as much food as they can eat without harm to digestion. Gradually, the amount eaten increases. In the fourth month, a starter full-fledged feed can be introduced into the diet. When the amount of the mixture eaten reaches one and a half kilograms per day, grain concentrates or adult compound feed are added to it.

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