Cattle fattening: 2 types and what kind of food is needed, how to choose calves

Fattening for cattle meat is a system of complex measures used in large livestock farms, which are aimed at a rapid increase, gain in live weight of agricultural animals, bringing livestock to the desired weight standards before slaughter. Replacement young animals, culled adults of meat, dairy, dairy and meat breeds are put on fattening.

Goals and technology

The main goals of cattle fattening are to obtain in the shortest possible time a large amount of the highest quality meat (beef, veal) with good taste properties at minimal feed costs, an increase in the growth of economic indicators of industrial livestock complexes.It is equally important to achieve a reduction in the share of imports of beef, veal from other countries, to stabilize prices for meat products by reducing the cost of final products.

Cattle fattening targets:

• increase in fatness of farm animals in a short period of time;
• Change in the biochemical parameters of the carcass for the better;
• reduction in the final product of the amount of water, protein compounds in tissues;
• decrease in fat deposits in the subcutaneous tissue, muscle tissue, internal organs;
• increasing the slaughter weight of cattle, improving the taste parameters of all parts of the carcass (meat, offal);
• minimizing the percentage of waste.

The main criterion for growing cattle for meat is the live weight indicator. It is estimated at six months, one and a half years of age. In 12-13-month-old calves, the weight should increase by 7-8 times compared to birth weight, and by 17-18 months of age - by 11-13 times.

Intensive livestock rearing in our country in specialized farms is carried out according to different methods. The technologies for fattening cattle are based on the observance of the feeding regime, proper selection of feed, gradual change in diets, the use of a high-quality feed base, and the proper organization of feedlots.

Important! When breeding, intensive rearing of cattle livestock in each specific complex, schemes developed by veterinarians and livestock specialists are used. Technologies used in livestock fattening are aimed at increasing the nutritional value of rations.

When fattening farm animals on an industrial scale, different diets are used (succulent feed, silage, compound feed, grain).

The diet is supplemented with mineral supplements. The increase in nutritional value occurs due to the addition of concentrated, corn silage, high-quality hay to the main feed (grain, succulent).The daily nutrition of cattle should fully cover the energy costs of the body, contain in full the necessary nutrients, minerals, vitamins. When fattening livestock, high quality feed is used.

Important! The structure of diets can change with the course of fattening, to prevent obesity of young animals, adults.

The fattening technology implies stall (indoors without walking), stall-pasture, open keeping of cattle on feedlots. Animals are divided into age groups, condition, initial weight, breeds. According to the intensity, speed of cultivation, technologies are classified into:

• extensive, with a long production cycle;
• moderately extensive. The average daily gain is 420-800g;
• intensive technology, in which the weight gain of young animals is 900-1000 g.

The choice of comprehensive measures for the maintenance of cattle livestock depends on the climatic conditions of the region, the specialization of livestock complexes, the economic tasks set for enterprises, and the availability of forage.

How to choose fattening calves

For intensive rearing, young meat, meat and dairy domestic, foreign breeds are most suitable. A good increase in live weight is noted in calves of the Kazakh, Kalmyk, Simmental, Aberdeen-Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Kian, Galloway breeds. They also use cattle of hybrid breeds of zebu-like origin (Brahman, Santa Gertrude).

Staging bulls for fattening begins immediately after the end of the milk period, weaning calves from lactating cows. Weaning of young animals is carried out in autumn or at the age of 6-8 months.

Before applying, choosing technologies for intensive rearing, young animals must adapt to new conditions of detention, get used to new fattening rations. On average, this period takes three to five weeks. The fattening period includes two main stages:

• set of live weight, 400-420 kg;
• weight increase to 650-700 kg.

Important! Gobies of meat, combined breeds gain weight faster than heifers. At the age of one year, their weight can reach up to 400-450 kg. Early castration of animals (1-3 months) leads to developmental delay, reduced daily weight gain, early obesity.

In order for calves to have a stable daily increase in live weight, when purchasing or from the general herd, clinically he althy, strong individuals with a normal condition for their age are selected. Young animals must have a good gene pool, he althy parents, all necessary vaccinations. The best period for acquiring young animals is the middle to the end of spring.

Cattle fattening varieties

There are two types of fattening of young animals, adults:

1. Stall (standard). Suitable for all breeds, age groups. It differs in the type of food, diets, depending on the availability of certain feeds, the availability of food supply, the time of year.
2. Intense. Aimed at the rapid build-up of muscle mass, achieving high average daily growth rates.

The success of fattening, the choice of activities for intensive rearing of cattle depends on:

• animal gender;
• conditions, conditions of cows;
• frequency, intensity of feeding, type of feed;
• method of content;
• organize the necessary activities for the maintenance of livestock;
• age;
• genetics, physiological characteristics;
• he alth conditions;
• growing conditions.

The duration of fattening, regardless of the species, is affected by the presence of systematic veterinary control, compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards in barns, a competent approach to formulating diets, and the use of high-quality forage.

Important! Daily weighing of cattle will help to understand how effective one or another technology is used when choosing a technology for intensive fattening at the enterprise.

It takes 1.2-2 months on average to fatten adults. Young animals with well-organized fattening show stable daily weight gains.

Intensive fattening

Quick, or intensive, fattening of cattle is used to quickly obtain live weight gains in young animals.The method is suitable for rearing bulls, heifers of meat, dairy, meat and dairy replacement breeds, as well as calves from the first calving, which appeared by crossing dairy cows and beef bulls. At the output, meat products have excellent taste indicators, high nutritional value. The meat is juicy, tender and low in fat.

Fattening of calves begins after the end of the milk period, the cessation of lactation of cows or after the completion of artificial feeding of newborn animals. The diet consists mainly of hay, cereals, concentrated feed, corn silage. Young animals are given probiotics, mineral premixes, vitamins.

Stall fattening

Applied on farms when fattening cattle of any age, breeds. Includes three steps:

1. Initial, lasting one month.
2. Intermediate - 40 days.
3. Finish - 20 days.

The choice of feed in the preparation of diets is selected separately for each stage of fattening.

Important! Changing diets requires adaptation. The transition of cows to new feeds is carried out gradually.

At the initial stage, it is permissible to use any feed. At the finish, the main part of the nutrition is concentrated feed. The daily volume of food is divided into three to four doses. But at the same time, cows must have constant access to drinking water.

What food do you need?

The diet of fattening cattle should be balanced, contain the components necessary for a rapid increase in live weight. According to the composition of the feed, they are basic, mineral, concentrated.

Main

The entire diet of animals is based on the main feed for fattening cattle. Must meet the following parameters:

• have at least 30-35% dry matter;
• contain crude fiber (200g/kg), crude protein (73-90g/kg);
• have sufficient energy value for metabolic processes above 10.5 MJ/kg.

Important! Basic feeds should be assimilated by the animal's body by 70-73%, contain biologically active substances necessary for stable gains in live weight.

When compiling diets, the nutritional value and quality of feed are taken into account. If necessary, one feed can be replaced by another. For example, corn silage can be replaced with cereal silage.

Concentrated

Concentrated feeds are designed to supplement the basic diets of cattle. They have energy and nutritional value. Contains proteins, vitamins, minerals. Promote satiety. Favorably affect metabolism.Compound feeds include: legumes (peas, fodder beans), sunflower, rapeseed, soybean meal; wheat grain, oats, barley and dry beet pulp.

The daily menu should contain at least 2-3 kg of concentrated feed. When compiling the diet, the period and stage of fattening of cattle are taken into account. So, if the weight of young animals does not exceed 400-410 kg, compound feeds occupy 40% of the total volume of dry food. With an increase in body weight, their content gradually decreases.

Mineral

Mineral supplements supplement the daily diet of cattle. They stimulate weight gain, have a positive effect on the growth and development of young animals, increase resistance, and the body's immune defenses. Minerals accelerate metabolism, stimulate the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract.

Important! The body of calves needs calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium.

Mineral supplements are supplemented with special vitamin complexes. Daily rate - 60-80 g.

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