1. FEEDING TO ENHANCE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah
Dept. of Livestock Production
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore

2. Livestock Productivity
Genetics X Environment

3. Adequate feeding levels of a highly nutritional diet are vital for optimal animal performance and well-being.

4. Farm-to-farm variations make it difficult to recommend standard feed levels:
Animal genetics
Environmental conditions
Management practices

5. Goal of a Successful Feeding Programme
Optimize milk yield
Feed costs represent largest input cost (60-70%)
Feeding high producing cows
– a continues challenge

6. Nutrient Requirements
Maintenance/Health
Growth
Milk Production
Reproduction
Vary with the stage of lactation and gestation
Activity

7. Priority of Nutrients in the Body
HIGHEST PRIORITY
Maintenance
Growth
Lactation
Fetal Growth
Breeding
Body Reserve
LOWEST PRIORITY

8. Why Balanced Ration ?

9. Selection of Concentrate Feeds
Availability
Cost
Nutrient composition (Protein, energy, minerals)

10. General Consideration
Oil cakes / Meals 20 – 25 %
Grains – 30 %
By-products 40 – 50 %
Molasses ~ %
Salt/DCP/MM %

11. FEEDING MANAGEMENT

12. Feeding Phases Early lactation—0 to 70 days
Peak DM intake (Second 10 Weeks Postpartum)
Mid- and late lactation—140 to 305 days (declining milk production)
Dry period—60 to 14 days before the next lactation.
Transition or close-up period—14 days before to parturition.

14. Events During Different Phases of Lactation
Nutrients demand for peak milk yield is high
Can not eat to full capacity during early phase
Uses body reserves as energy source
Rapidly looses body weight

15. Increasing Peak Milk Yield Improve Lactation Performance

16. Phase 1 Early Lactation—0 to 70 Days Postpartum
Feed top quality forage.
Make sure the diet contains adequate amounts of CP, DIP and UIP.
Increase grain intake at a constant rate after calving.
Consider adding fat (0.5 to 0.75 kg /cow/day) to diets.
Allow constant access to feed.
Minimize stress conditions.

17. Phase 2 Peak DM intake (Second 10 Weeks Postpartum)
Feed forages and grain several times a day.
Feed the highest quality feeds available.
Continue to minimize stress conditions.

18. Phase 3 Mid- to late lactation (140 to 305 days postpartum)
Easiest to manage
Milk production is declining
The cow is pregnant, and nutrient intake will easily meet or exceed requirements
Grain feeding should be at a level to meet milk production requirements
Lactating cows require less feed to replace a pound of body tissue than dry cows.

19. Phase 4. Dry period (60 to 14 days before parturition)
Observe body condition of dry cows and adjust energy feeding as necessary.
Meet nutrient requirements and avoid excessive feeding.
Change to a transition ration starting 2 weeks before calving.
Avoid excess calcium and phosphorus intakes.
Limit salt to g and limit other sodium-based minerals in the dry cow ration to reduce udder edema problems.

20. Body Condition Scores – Dairy Cows1 2 3 4 5
BCS: 4
BCS: 5
BCS: 1
BCS: 2
BCS: 3

21. Feeding in Pregnancy (Last 2 months)
Rapid growing foetus
Develop body reserves for use in subsequent lactation
How;
Give rest if in milk (forced drying)
Feed concentrate 2 kg/day + good quality fodder, restrict straw

22. Phase 5. Transition period (14 days before to parturition)
Provide 3 to 5 kg of grain
Increase protein in the ration to between 14 and 15 percent of the ration DM
Limit fat in the ration to 100 g. High fat feeding will depress DM intake
Maintain 3 to 5 kg hay in the ration to stimulate rumination
Remove salt from the ration if edema is a problem

23. Feeding Total Mixed Ration
Each bite is nutritionally balance.
The roughage-to-concentrate can be varied to regulate nutrient intake.
TMR regulates rumen pH and enhance microbial protein synthesis.
Minimize feed selection.
Increase feed intake.
Less labor and feeding operations are readily mechanized.

24. Daily allowance Fodder @ 10% of body weight ~ 40-60 kg
Ration ~ Half of milk production
More ration during summer season
Water should be available all the time
Mineral 2% in the ration

25. Flat Rate Concentrate Feeding
Do not starve profit out of a good cow
Do not feed profit to a poor cow

26. Suggestions
Select & mix different ingredients on protein basis for making concentrate mixture)
Always add minerals especially take care of Calcium & Phosphorus ratio in the rations
Plan your feeding program to raise the peak milk yield
Never restrict feed & water soon after parturition

27. Suggestions
Avoid large fluctuation in green fodder supply through silage making
Make best use of local feeds with relevant supplementation & conservation
Improve feeding value of straw through urea treatment for fodder scarcity period

28. THANK YOU