As we know 70% of the cost of the production of milk in dairy farming is contributed by feed therefore smart feeding in scientific way is the key to successful dairying.
- Energy Requirements in dry animals for maintenance is 122Kcal of ME/W⁰˙⁷⁵ for cattle and buffaloes (W⁰˙⁷⁵ means metabolic body weight; depend on the amount of metabolically active tissue in the body, rather than total body weight; body weight0.75 is generally used to calculate the weight of active tissue.)
- Protein requirements are 2.84 g/ W⁰˙⁷⁵ for maintenance
Using these 2 principles maintenance requirement were calculated for cattle and buffalo by Scientists.
It should be kept in mind that in India feeding of Dairy animals done on the basis of TDN (total Digestible Nutrients) and DCP (Digestible Crude Protein). For practical feeding you not need to complicate the things, we just give you the knowledge of nutrient requirement of dairy animals so you can calculate the ration yourself.
| Dry Matter (kg) | DCP (g) | TDN (kg) | ME (Mcal) | Calcium (g) | Phosphorus (g) | Carotene (mg) | Vitamin A (1000 IU) |
| 3.5 | 150 | 1.7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 9 |
With this table you can calculate your cattle/buffalo nutrition requirement according to its body weight!
When body weight increases by 50kg the items given in above table will increase according to following table:
| Dry Matter (kg) | DCP (g) | TDN (kg) | ME (Mcal) | Calcium (g) | Phosphorus (g) | Carotene (mg) | Vitamin A (1000 IU) |
| 0.5 | 20-30 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Dry Matter (kg) | DCP (g) | TDN (kg) | ME (Mcal) | Calcium (g) | Phosphorus (g) | Carotene (mg) | Vitamin A (1000 IU) |
| 3.5 + 0.5×3= 5kg | 150 +30×3= 240g | 1.7 + 0.3×3 =2.6kg | 6 +1.2×3 = 9.6 | 8 + 2×3 = 14 | 7+ 2×3 =13 | 21 +5×3 = 36 | 9 + 2×3= 15 |
These are approximation from ICAR nutrient requirements Table (1998). You can apply this calculation up to 800kg animal for maintenance.
If animal is pregnant extra feeding is required in last two months: maintenance+ additional ration according following figures (here only additional figures are given which should add in maintenance ration figures present in above table)
| Dry Matter (kg) | DCP (g) | TDN (kg) | ME (Mcal) | Calcium (g) | Phosphorus (g) | Carotene (mg) | Vitamin A (1000 IU) |
| 1.2 | 100 | 1 | 4.5 | 5-6 | 3 | 25 | 10 |
| Dry Matter (kg) | DCP (g) | TDN (kg) | ME (Mcal) | Calcium (g) | Phosphorus (g) | Carotene (mg) | Vitamin A (1000 IU) |
| 5+1.2= 6.2 |
240+100= 340 |
2.6+1= 3.6 |
9.6+4.5= 14 |
14+6= 20 |
13+3= 16 |
36+25= 61 |
15+10= 35 |
Vitamin A is particularly essential because it is required for maintenance of uterine epithelium and help in its quick regeneration after delivery.
Normally vitamin A supplementation is not needed if you are providing green fodder to the animals but if you are maintaining the animals on straw and concentrate than Vitamin A supplementation id necessary. Some products containing Vitamin A available in the market:
| Intavita-NH Oral – INTAS | Vimeral VIRBAC | Gromin-SE – VETSFARMA | SEQUVIT – SEQUENT |
Now you know the maintenance requirements of the animals add more rations which will needed for production. It should be keep in mind that animal need some feed for maintenance of its body function which is important for maintaining healthy life. Nutrient requirements per kg of milk production
At 4% Fat content of milk nutrients requirement is
| DCP(g) | ME(Mcal) | TDN(kg) | Calcium(g) | Phosphorus(g) |
| 45 | 1.13 | 0.315 | 2.5 | 1.8 |
| DCP(g) | ME(Mcal) | TDN(kg) | Calcium(g) | Phosphorus(g) |
| 6 | 0.16 | 0.050 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| DCP(g) | ME(Mcal) | TDN(kg) | Calcium(g) | Phosphorus(g) |
| 45+2×6=57 | 1.13+2×0.16=2.45 | 0.315+2×0.050= 0.415 | 2.5+2×0.2=2.9 | 1.8+2×0.2=2.2 |
Note- In practical rations or in field conditions only DCP and TDN requirements are needed to fulfill and other nutrients fulfill accordingly
In this way the nutrient requirements of Murrah buffalo weighing 400kg giving 10kg milk @ 6% fat is calculate as follows; according to the above table
Proper calcium supplementation is necessary for lactating cow/buffalo because milk has high calcium content nearly 1.5g per kg of milk and improper feeding at delivery may leads to fatal condition called Milk fever as well as poor milk production in later lactation. Strategic feeding of calcium is necessary in such situations. So in initial days of lactation (for 2 months at least) calcium should be given.
Maintenance ration requirement-: Dry Matter= 5.5kg; TDN = 2.9kg; DCP= 270g
Production (10kg milk) ration requirement-: TDN= 4.15kg (because for 1kg milk @6% fat 0.415kg TDN is required); DCP = 570g (because for 1kg milk @6% fat 57g DCP is required)
Total Requirement of buffalo will be its maintenance + production = TDN (2.9+4.15=7.05kg) & DCP (270+570=840g)
Normally in northern India Berseem, MP Chari, Lucerne or Maize is being fed to buffaloes and cattle. These fodder crops contains approx. 20% dry matter, 1-2% DCP & 10-15%TDN so it can be concluded that 400kg cattle/buffalo can be maintained at 25kg chari but its production requirement must be fulfilled by concentrate (16% DCP & 70% TDN). For 10kg milk 5kg concentrate should be given.