In Package of Practice for Livestock, GADVASU, Ludhiana has recommended two types of concentrate mixtures for dairy animals: having 13% protein (to feed with non-leguminous fodders) and 16% protein (to feed with leguminous fodders). The composition of which is as follows

First milk after calving is called colostrum. It is rich in immunoglobulins, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Feeding of colostrum should be done at the rate of 10% of calf’s body weight. Feed the colostrum to calf within 2 hours after birth without waiting for the expulsion of the placenta. If colostrum is not available, artificial colostrum should be fed with 50 or more grams of immunoglobulins per litre. Artificial colostrum can be prepared by using an egg, 250 mL of fresh warm water, one litre whole milk and 30 mL castor oil/cod liver oil and offer to the calf 2-3 times a day. New born calf is kept warm in a dry, clean and well-ventilated place preferably on a bedding of straw.

The fodder after harvesting is wilted for 1-2 days in the field, so that the desired dry matter (30-35%) is achieved. Then chaff it to 3-5 cm size and fill it in a silo pit (Length 10 m x width 3 m x depth 1.5 m) 1 m above the ground level and cover it with polythene sheet and layer of mud. Close any crack or hole with mud. Silage is ready for feeding within 40-45 days. The pit can accommodate 250-300 quintal green forage. One cubic meter contains approximately 5-6 quintal green fodder. 25-30 kg of silage should be fed to dairy animal per day. Take out the silage from the silo pit as per the daily requirement and cover the pit again with polythene sheet. The silage can also be prepared in bunkers or low-density polypropylene tube.

The optimum stage of harvesting of fodder crops and its nutritive value for silage and hay making are as under

Leave the harvested fodder in the field for 1-2 days wilting. Then chaff (5-8 cm) and spread it in 5-6" layer on the concrete/clean floor for sun drying with 2-3 turnings/day. Within 4-5 days the hay is ready and can be stored in a dry place. The colour of hay should be green and shattering of leaves should be minimum.

One of the most effective and widely used method to improve nutrient utilization of rice straw has been treatment with urea. The rice straw should be treated with urea in batches of 400 kg and a farmer can treat whole of rice straw available during the harvesting period. About 14 kg urea should be dissolved in 200 liters of water and then sprinkled over 400 kg of rice straw. In single batch, farmer can treat 100 kg paddy straw with 50 L water having 3.5 kg urea and this can be repeated for next three batches. After treating 400 kg paddy straw it should be thoroughly mixed and stacked for 9 days. More than 85% of the added urea is hydrolyzed by 9th day, thereby eliminating the chances of urea toxicity to the animals fed urea treated straw. The shelf life of naturally fermented rice straw is one year without any deterioration in the quality. After the stipulated time of 9 days, the stack should not be dismantled; rather the quantity required for feeding should be taken from one side of the stack. The following points keep in mind before feeding of urea treated paddy straw

• Do not feed to simple stomach animals like pig, horse etc.
• Do not offer to calves below six months of age.

Generally, the ration of high milk producer (cattle >15kg/d and buffalo >10 kg/d), transition phase (3 weeks before to 3 weeks after parturition) and heat-stress dairy animals is energy and protein deficient. Therefore, during these phases, dairy animals are forced to draw body reserves to satisfy nutrients requirement leads to substantial loss in body weight, decreased milk production and delayed conception of the animals after calving, resulting in longer inter-calving period. Bypass fat can be included in the concentrate mixture of animals at 1.5-2 %, or cattle >15kg/d and buffalo >10 kg/d should be supplemented @ 150-200 g/d/animal.

Imbalance of energy, protein or minerals in animal feed is quite common in Punjab, which might be due to the lack of farmer’s awareness or attention towards nutrient requirements of animals. Veterinary University has developed many techniques to enhance farmer’s income and Uromin lick (UMMB-Urea molasses multi-mineral block) is one among them. It contains 35% crude protein, 32% digestible crude protein and 45% total digestible nutrients. The feeding of uromin lick - a unique blend of energy, protein and minerals to the animals helps to fulfill their nutrient requirements as well as results in good health, productive and reproductive performance. To prepare 3 kg of Uromin lick, take 300g of urea in an iron pan, add 900g of molasses and 60g guar gum in it. Premix is prepared by mixing 300g mustard cake, 300g deoiled rice bran, 450g wheat flour, 450g mineral mixture and 120g of salt, then add to the pan. Lastly add 120g calcium oxide and mix the contents rapidly. Put the contents in a manually or electrically operated block making machine and press it. The Uromin lick will be ready in 20 minutes. Pack it in a polythene and store for onward use. On an average, an animal lick about 500-600g UMMB/day. Don’t feed Uromin lick to the animals below 6 months of age as well as to the monogastric animals (horse, pigs, poultry).

Mineral Mixture can be fed to the animals in two ways: by mixing in compounded cattle feed or by feeding required amount per animal per day as per following schedule: -

Cows producing 5-7 kg milk/day     50g

Cows producing 8-10 kg milk/day     60g

Cows producing >11 kg milk/day     100g

Breeding bulls     100g

Compounded cattle feed     2kg/quintal