1. Proper ration formulation for dairy animals is important to optimize their milk production, reproduction and health. Rations should meet the animals' nutrient needs during different stages and account for factors like milk yield, body weight and forage quality. 2. Balanced rations can improve digestibility, increase milk yield and fat-corrected milk, enhance feed efficiency and reduce production costs. Special care is needed when formulating rations for high producing animals and those in transition periods. 3. Feeding calves requires proper colostrum and liquid feeding initially, followed by transition to solid feed like calf starter to support growth and rumen development. A structured feeding schedule tailored to the calf's age and needs optimizes its

1. Ration Formulation for
Dairy Animals

2. Introduction
• Concept 75%
• Nutrient and Ingredient
• DM and Fresh basis
• Cows nutritional needs vary during different stages of her
production cycle
– Optimize milk yield
– Optimize reproduction
– Prevent metabolic disorders

3. • Concentrates:
– Supplied in amounts consistent with:
• Milk production
• Cow body weight
• Nutrients in roughage
• Forages:
– Vary in nutritional composition
– Legumes
– Non Legume
– Straw and stovers (LQR)

4. Poor growth and
reproduction
Low milk production
Shorter lactation length
and longer calving
intervals
Metabolic
disorders
milk fever and
ketosis
Slow growth &
delayed age at
first calving
Shorter
productive life
Carbon foot print
Lower profit to farmers
Inadequate feeding

5. Situation in field condition..

6. Improvements in Digestibility Co-efficients (Cattle)
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Pre-Ration Balancing Post-Ration Balancing % improvements
56.93%
60.05%
5.57%
59.14%
62.33%
5.69%
55.47%
63.99%
15.33%
DM Dig. Coeff OM Dig. Coeff CP Dig. Coeff

7. Impact of balanced feeding on Milk yield (Cattle)
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
1st Week 2nd Week 3rd Week
Base Line Post balanced feeding
7.51 kg 7.82 kg
8.90 kg
9.26 kg
AverageMilkYield(kg)

8. Effect of Balanced ration on Milk yield, 4% FCM and
FCE (kg of FCM produced per kg of DM consumed)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
MY (kg) 4% FCM (kg) FCE
7.51
6.12
0.79
8.86
9.99
1
17.97%
63.23%
26.58%
pre-balancing Post-balancing % Improvement

9. Effect of balanced feeding on economy of production
-20.0%
-15.0%
-10.0%
-5.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
COST OF FEED/KG MY NET PROFIT PER DAY NET INCOME FROM SALE OF MILK PER
DAY
-18.0%
30.0%
25.5%
%Decline/Improvement

11. Guidelines for ration formulation
These guidelines are used to decide the tentative DMI and concentrate
roughage ratio of feed DM. Depending on the body condition of the
dairy animals and quality of feed necessary change may be done
1. Calculate the total nutrient requirements by adding maintenance requirement
as per body weight and lactation requirement as per milk yield
2. Add 20% of maintenance requirement for 1st lactation and 10% for second
lactation.
3. The practical dry matter intake is calculated by adding 2% of body weight
and one third of milk yield
4. The concentrate and roughage ration is decided based on production level

12. Calculation of Body weight
• The body weights of the animals were calculated using Shaffer’s
formula as described below:
𝑩. 𝑾 𝑲𝒈 =
𝑳 𝑮 𝟐
𝟑𝟎𝟎 × 𝟎.𝟒𝟓𝟑𝟔
Where,
𝑳 = Body length in inches from point of shoulder to pin bone
𝑮 = heart girth in inches

13. • Body Condition Score
– Used to monitor nutrition, reproduction, and health
programs
http://dairynutrient.wisc.edu/302/page.php?id=36

14. BCS is a useful long term monitor of energy balance is dairy cows because
the size of body fat reserves changes slowly relative to the precision of the
measurement scale available.
The BCS for different physiological phase is as follows,
Calving - 3.5 – 3.75
Early Lactation - 2.0 – 2.5
Mid - 2.5 – 3.0
Dry Off - 3.5 – 4.0

15. Milk Yield (kg) Roughage : Concentrate ratio
Cattle Buffalo Roughage Concentrate
Upto 6 kg Upto 5 kg 100 0#
7-14 6-10 70 30
15-20 11-15 60 40
21-30 16-20 50 50*
30 + 20+ 40 60*

16. # Such animals should be provided appropriate amount of
mineral mixture supplementation and roughage should be of
very good quality.
# Although the low milk production may be supported by
supplementing only quality green fodder it is better to provide
1kg concentrate mixture to support animal for higher level of
production
* At this level of production appropriate supplements and
additives should be added in ration for maintenance of rumen
and animal health

17. For an average milk production level hit and trial method is used for formulation of compounded concentrate
mixture for cattle and buffaloes. The following is the distribution of ingredients
• Cereal Grains (Maize, Bajra, barley any other locally available cereal) - 32-40%
Cereal grains are rich in starch and have moderate amount of proteins. These are considered as
energy supplying ingredient in the ration the level should be decided based on the production level
and body condition score of animals
• Protein supplements (Cottonseed cakes, Mustard oil and deoiled cake, Soyabean meal, Groundnut cake,
sunflower meal, guar korma, Guar churi, etc) - 28-34%
Protein rich ingredients should be added carefully according to the palatability issues of local area. It
is better if we use more than two protein supplements in the ration. Protein is costliest nutrient and
hence ingredients need to be selected carefully. Depending on the availability of roughage and
production level of animal these may be reduced or increased.
• Agriculture byproducts (Wheat bran, Rice bran, Deoiled rice bran, byproducts of pulses processing
industry) - 28-32 %
These byproducts generally have more protein than cereal grains but less than protein supplements,
rich in phosphorous and fibre and varying amount of fat.
• Mineral Mixture -2 % and
• Salt -1%
Hit an trial Method for formulation of concentrate mixture

18. Recommendations for Buffer feeding
BUFFER % Conc. MIXTURE g/day
Soda Bicarb 1.0-1.5 115-225
MgO 0.4-0.8 45-90
Soda Bicarb+ MgO (3:1) 1-1.5 115-225
Bentonite 3.0-5.0 680-990
Limestone 1.0-1.5 115-180

19. Ration Formulation for Dairy Animals
Lactating cow,15 Kg Milk Yield, 4% Fat,450 Kg Body Weight
Feed Composition
Lactating Buffalo, 10 Kg Milk Yield, 6% Fat,500 Kg Body Weight
Feed Composition
With Non Legume
Green Fodder
With Legume Green
Fodder
Concentrate Mixture (1)- 7.5Kg
Maize Green Fodder- 25.0 Kg
Wheat Straw- 2.25 Kg
Concentrate Mixture (2)- 6.0Kg
Berseem Fodder- 35.0 Kg
Wheat Straw- 4.5 Kg
With Non Legume
Green Fodder
With Legume Green Fodder
Ingredients
Concentrate Mixture -1
(per Qtl.)
Concentrate Mixture -2
(per Qtl.)
Maize 30.00 35.00
Ground nut cake 08.00 03.50
Soyabean meal 06.50 03.50
Mustard Oil cake 17.00 19.00
Wheat Bran 17.50 18.00
Rice Polish - 04.00
Deoiled Rice Bran 18.00 14.00
Mineral Mixture 02.00 02.00
Salt 01.00 01.00
Concentrate Mixture (3)- 7.5Kg
Maize Green Fodder- 25.0 Kg
Wheat Straw- 2.25 Kg
Concentrate Mixture (4)- 6.0Kg
Berseem Fodder- 35.0 Kg
Wheat Straw- 4.5 Kg
Ingredients
Concentrate Mixture -3
(per Qtl.)
Concentrate Mixture -4
(per Qtl.)
Maize 30.00 40.00
Soyabean Meal 10.00
Cottonseed Cake 10.00 15.00
Mustard Oil cake 12.00 14.00
Wheat Bran 15.00 10.00
Rice Polish 06.00 18.00
Deoiled Rice Bran 14.00 -
Mineral Mixture 02.00 02.00
Salt
01.00 01.00

20. Transition Period
• 0 – 3 months post-calving most important
– Hard to provide adequate nutrition
• Milk yield is high
• Intake is limited
- Cow uses her body fat and protein to provide for the nutrients not taken in by her
daily ration = Negative Energy Balance
» Losing body weight during heavy milk production
» Causes problems with conception
» Rumen Health- Ensure feed intake
» Vit E and Selenium- Feeding diets with 0.3 ppm of supplemental selenium to all classes of
cattle and feeding 1000 IU/day of supplemental vitamin E to dry cows and springing heifers
and 500 IU/day to lactating cows improves immunity, reduces the incidence of clinical
mastitis, and reduces SCC
» Niacin
» Choline

21. • Freshly Calved Animals need Special care
• The DMI is low and milk production is increasing
• Animal starts losing its body weight
• Try to increase the DMI
• Increase concentrate portion (min NDF 29% in TMR).
• Yeast, buffers can be used
• Give easily digestible roughage

22. • Successful dairy nutrition:
– Constant, high quality water supply
– High quality feedstuffs
– Sufficient fiber in ration
– Maintain an optimal level of concentrate feeding
– Sufficient manger space
– High level of DM intake
– Feed is available 24 hr per day

23. Water Consumption by Dairy Cattle

25. BIS specification for MM containing salt (Type-I)
and without (Type-II) for cattle feed
Mineral supplement (%) MM Type-I MM Type-II
Moisture,% by mass, max. 5.0 5.0
Calcium, % by mass, min 18.0 23.0
Phosphorus, % by mass, min. 9.0 12.0
Magnesium, % by mass, min. 5.0 6.5
Salt, % by mass, min. 22.0 -
Iron, % by mass, min. 0.4 0.5
Copper, % by mass ,min. 0.06 0.077
Manganese, % by mass, min. 0.1 0.12
Cobalt, % by mass, min. 0.09 0.012
Fluorine, % by mass ,max. 0.05 0.07
Zinc, % by mass, min. 0.3 0.38
Sulphur, % by mass, max. 0.4 0.5
Acid insoluble ash, % by mass,
max.
3 2.5

27. Importance of
calf
Good
quality
germplasm
Expansion
of future
herd
Heifer
replacement
20% reduced
calf mortality
results in
38% net
profit
Economic
benefits

28. Feeding of calves may be divided into 3 phases
• Liquid feeding phase (0-1 month)
• Transition phase (1- 3 months)
•Ruminant phase (above 3 months)
(Davis and Clark, 1981)
Calf Feeding

29. Body wt (Kg) Age in days Colostrum (Kg) Milk (Kg)
Upto 30 1-4
1/10 of body
weight
-
Up to 30 5-90 -
1/10 of body
weight
31-60 5-90 -
1/20 of body
weight above
30 kg.
Feeding schedule of calves
(Dairy handbook, NDRI Karnal; 1979)

30. Colostrum
• Single most important factor in determining health and
survival of the neonatal calf
(Mcguirk, 2004)
• Colostrum provides antibodies which are absorbed intact by
pinocytosis in the first few days of the calf’s life.
(Jaster, 2005)
• The colostrum also contains anti tryptic enzyme which may
help in the protection of whey protein from the proteolysis
(Arthur et al.,1996)
• It also has a laxative effect in removing muconium.
(Ardelean, 2003)

31. Milk Replacer
Milk replacer is a liquid feed having nutritional
qualities comparable to mother’s milk
It is generally fed in the gruel form

32. The initial growth of an animal is the most important phase of its life as maturity
and production depends on rate of growth.
(Ghosh and Mehla 2011)
For a calf to grow efficiently, it must have a successful transition from liquid to
solid feed.
( Laborde et al., 2008 )
A proper solid feed is required to stimulate rumen development. solid feeds
produces VFA which also stimulate rumen microbes to proliferate.
(Laborde et al., 2008)
Calf Starter

33. Solid food used to supplement or replace milk is known as Calf
starter feed which is given after 14 day of age.
The calf starter should contain 18-20 % DCP and 70-75% TDN
(ICAR handbook, 2011)
Animal protein source or skim milk powder can be used for balancing
amino acid requirement of the pre ruminant calves
It is required for their faster growth and rumen development
Cont…………..

34. Age of Calf Whole Milk Calf Starter Good Quality Fodder
1-3 day
Colostrum @ 1/10 of body wt
in 3 feeds
- -
4-7 day
Whole milk @ 1/10 of body wt
in 3 feeds
- -
8-14 day Whole milk @ 1/10 of body wt - -
15-21 day Whole milk @ 1/10 of body wt A little A little
22-35 day Whole milk @ 1/15 of body wt 100g Ad lib
Up to 2 months Whole milk @ 1/20 of body wt 250g
Ad lib
2-3 months
Milk is gradually reduced and
tapered
500g
Ad lib
Feeding Schedule of calves upto 3 months of age
(Reddy,2001)