FEEDING TO ENHANCE
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah
Dept. of Livestock Production
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
mabdullah@uvas.edu.pk; 0300-6648200
Livestock Productivity
Genetics X Environment

Adequate feeding levels of a
highly nutritional diet are vital
for optimal animal performance
and well-being.

Farm-to-farm variations make it
difficult to recommend standard feed
levels:
►Animal genetics
►Environmental conditions
►Management practices
Goal of a Successful
Feeding Programme
 Optimize
 Feed
milk yield
costs represent largest
input cost (60-70%)
 Feeding high producing cows
–– a continues challenge
Nutrient Requirements
 Maintenance/Health
 Growth
 Milk
Production
 Reproduction
 Vary
with the stage of lactation
and gestation
A
ctivity
Priority of Nutrients in the Body
Maintenance
Growth
Lactation
Fetal Growth
Breeding
Body Reserve
Why
Balanced Ration ?
Selection of Concentrate Feeds
 Availability
 Cost
 Nutrient
composition (Protein,
energy, minerals)
General Consideration
 Oil
cakes / Meals
 Grains
 By-products
 Molasses
 Salt/DCP/MM
20 – 25 %
25 – 30 %
40 – 50 %
~ - 10 %
1 - 2%
FEEDING MANAGEMENT
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.
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

Increasing Peak Milk Yield Improve
Lactation Performance
Milk Yield (lit/day)
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
0
4
8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44
Weeks of Lactation
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.
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.
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.
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 25-30 g and limit other
sodium-based minerals in the dry cow
ration to reduce udder edema problems.
Body Condition Scores – Dairy Cows
1
2
BCS: 1
3
BCS: 2
4
BCS: 3
5
BCS: 4
BCS: 5
Feeding in Pregnancy
(Last 2 months)
1.
2.


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
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
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.
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 mixture @ 2% in the ration
Flat Rate Concentrate Feeding
Do
not starve profit out
of a good cow
Do not feed profit to a
poor cow
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

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
THANK
YOU