Feeding of livestock and poultry

1. Dr. P. Ravikanth Reddy
MVSc, PhD
Guest Faculty
KBR College of Agriculture and Horticulture
Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University
Dr. YSR Horticulture University

2.  Additional green fodder – Preserved as hay or silage.
 Legume or non legume fodders spares concentrates.
 Regularity in feeding.
 Concentrate fed during milking (morning and evening)
 Half of the roughage in forenoon and remaining half after
milking at evening.
 High yielding animals – Thrice a day.

3.  Chopping of thick stemmed forages.
 Do not – Change feed abruptly, over feed the concentrates.
 Silage imparts flavor to milk – Therefore feed it after
milking.
 Store in well-ventilated shed.
 Legume fodders – Mix with straw to prevent bloat and
indigestion.

4. Feeding of calves up to 6 months
 Colostrum
 Calf starter
 Fish meal
 Don’t feed urea

5. Feeding of growing animals (From 6 months onwards)
 Concentrate
 Good quality roughage
 14-16% DCP and 70% TDN

6. Feeding of adult cows

7. Feeding of bulls
New feeds by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
 UMMB
 Bypass fat

9. Feeding up to 3 months
 Colostrum
 2-3 times milk per day
 2 weeks – Green roughages
 1 month – Creep feed (22% CP) – 50 to 100 g/animal/day

10. Feeding of Adult animals
 Feed dry fodder during night times.
 If pasture is good – No need of concentrate
 Concentrate – 150-350 g/day
Flushing
 Extra concentrate

11. Pregnant Animals
 First 4 months – Good quality pasture (4 to 5 hrs/day) +
Available green fodder (5 Kg per head)
 Last 1 month –
60-80% requirement – Therefore, Pregnancy Toxaemia
Good quality pasture
Concentrate mixture at 250-350 g/animal/day
Green fodder at 7 Kg/head/day

12. Lactating Animals
 6-8 hrs grazing + 10 Kg green fodder/day
 6-8 hrs grazing + 400 g concentrate mixture/day
 6-8 hrs grazing + 800 g good quality legume/day
Breeding Animals
 1 Kg extra concentrate

13. Sheep under grazing conditions
 Relishes small tender grass (due to slip upper lip).
 Grazed in different small flocks.
 Lambs and adults should be separately fed.
 Rotation of pastures should be adopted to prevent under-
or over-grazing.
 Extra concentrate for additional requirements.
 Fodder trees – when grazing resources are limited.

15.  Swill feeding is recommended and economical.
 Monogastric but utilizes fiber.
Feeding boars
 Requires 2-2.5 Kg concentrate per 100 Kg weight.
 Year round pasture – Provides exercise.

16. Feeding sows
 Flushing
 Last trimester of pregnancy
 Feed allowance –
2.5-3 kg/100 kg body weight + 0.2 kg feed per piglet.

17. Feeding growing stock
 0-4 weeks: Creep feed. Weaned at 28 days age.
 4-10 weeks:
4 Kg feed required per day.
Castration for fattening
Summer management
Poor growers – cull

18. Orphan pig
 Foster mother
 Hand feeding – Cows milk (300-500 ml) – 5 to 6 times a
day for first few weeks and later, decreased frequency to 2
to 3 times.
 Iron injection
 Needle teeth cutting

20.  Feed should be free from contaminants and toxic
principles.
 Store – clean, dry and rodent proof area.
 Frequent stirring of feed – Formation of cakes.
 Store on wooden pallets – For increased air circulation.
 Feed stocked for more than 1 to 1.5 months
– Loss of vitamins and fat rancidity.

21.  Seasonal change in nutrient level – In summer, energy
content should be reduced.
 Summer – Feed during cooler hours of the day.
 Younger birds should be fed frequently.
 Low fiber – Cannibalism.
 Restricted feeding – To avoid overweight.