MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE DURING WINTER FOR IMPROVING MILK PRODUCTION
Dr.Rakesh Singh, TVO,Motihari
One of the many challenges our dairy farmers probably face with grazing is how to help the cows adjust to a new feed source in the winter. Changing from high-quality pasture to lower-quality stored forages is much like changing silos. If the change is made too quickly, milk production drops until the cows and the rumen microbes become accustomed to the new feed. The rumen microbes are especially sensitive to sudden changes, because it takes time to shift their numbers and types to those that are more adapted to lower quality forage
FEEDING MANAGEMENT DURING WINTER
In order to cope with colder temperatures, cattle grow thick winter coats and increase their production of body heat. They accomplish this by increasing their heart rate and respiration, thus increasing blood flow to keep extremities from freezing. Although this physiological response enables cows to withstand extremely low temperatures in relative comfort, they also require more feed in order to maintain their body weight. Since cows may require up to 20 percent more feed during cold weather in order to maintain condition and ward off illness, the amount of feed you will need for your livestock may vary greatly. Since the amount of winter feed required will vary drastically from climate to climate and even from cow to cow, it is best to discuss winter feeding with neighboring farmers, veterinarians and extension agents, and then put up 10 percent more feed than you think you will need.
• Although it may be more comfortable for you, indoor feeding usually is not advisable. Ammonia concentrations in poorly ventilated buildings can be exorbitantly high, causing pneumonia and other breathing problems; high humidity will decrease the insulating capabilities of a cow’s coat. Outdoor feeding will be perfectly comfortable for your cow, and often much cleaner.
• High-moisture rations will likely chiled in the feed bunks. If this occurs, intake will be reduced and more energy will be required to digest the feed.
• It is tempting to feed earlier and earlier as daylight decreases and evening temperatures drop, but your cow will be more comfortable if you delay feeding time in the cold. The activity involved in eating and the fermentation in the rumen will increase heat production during the evening.
• Livestock’s maintenance nutritional requirements can increase significantly during cold weather. Requirements increase dramatically if animals become wet and/or there is appreciable wind. Lowest critical environmental temperatures (LCT) for livestock vary according to species and researchers, but 20° or 32°F are often used as the lowest temperature dry livestock can tolerate without additional energy demands to support normal body temperature. Some researchers state the LCT for wet animals is 60°F. Energy requirements for an animal with a healthy and dry winter coat increase by one percent for every degree the wind chill temperature falls below the LCT. Energy requirements for an animal with a wet coat increase by two percent for every degree drop in the wind chill temperature.
• Energy can be provided through grain or additional roughage (hay). Roughage is generally preferable due to its feeding safety, lower cost and greater heat released during digestion. However, roughage is in short supply in most areas this winter, so grain (corn, barley, wheat, oats, etc.) may be more accessible and affordable. Frequent small grain feedings are safer than one large daily feeding. Grain supplementation rates will vary with species, so discuss feeding rates with your Extension educator.
• Some cold and wet weather fronts can result in predictions that livestock will need close to a 100% increase in energy requirements to help them maintain normal body temperature and functions, but such a large, sudden and short-term increase in energy intake is not healthy for most animals. All dietary changes, be they increases or decreases, should be made gradually. Although dietary energy increases are necessary during inclement weather, livestock will fare better if they have sufficient body condition to call upon during times of need.
• Blankets can be used daily or as needed to retain body heat for individual animals. This technique is most common for elderly or “hard-keeping” horses or the occasional pet goat. The portion of the blanket closest to the animal should not become wet.
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The health of a dairy cow’s rumen impacts on her ability to convert pasture, fodder and grain/pellet supplements into milk and milk solids. A healthy rumen has many large papillae which increase the surface area to absorb the energy and protein from the breakdown of feed. The more energy and protein that passes through the rumen, the higher the production of milk and milksolids.
Dairy cows grazing high quality, low NDF pastures at this time of the year, in association with starch based grains can develop acidosis. The high sugar content of new, improved pastures can result in rapid fermentation within the rumen and when combined with the fermentation of starch from wheat and barley, can reduce the rumen pH. In cases where the rumen pH falls to very low levels, some or many of the papillae can be “burnt” off, thus reducing the surface area through which the energy and protein sources can pass into the blood stream. This in turn decreases the pH of the rumen as the acid is not absorbed. The rumen micro-organisms responsible for the breakdown of forage to energy die off increasing the lactic acid producers. The cow can no longer efficiently convert her feed into milk. This acidosis can result in less milk production, scouring and a low fat test.
One symptom of acidosis is a dramatic fall in the milk fat test of a cow and in severe cases the herd. This can often happen when cows are grazing high quality annual pastures and is put down to a “lack of fibre”. While there is less fibre in the ration at this time of the year, the combination of the fermentable sugars in the pasture and the starch in the cereal grain supplement results in acidosis and a low fat test.
GENERAL MANAGEMENTAL TIPS FOR DAIRY CATTLE DURING WINTER
• Heavy snowfall in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh during this month results in cold breeze and frost in northern India. It is imperative that all necessary steps be taken to protect livestock from this inclement weather.
• In case of the occurrence of frost, make adequate arrangements for artificial lighting and heating.
• Weak and sick animals should be covered with sack cloth to protect them from the cold. At the same time, during the night, all the animals should be tethered in a covered shelter.
• Avoid keeping animals in a damp area, as well as protect them from smoke from fires which are lit to provide warmth. The dampness and smoke increases their chances of contracting pneumonia.
• Animals should be given lukewarm feed and water to drink.
• To maintain the body temperature of animals in milk, they should be fed with a mixture of oil cakes and jaggery.
• It is important to start collecting and storing fodder at this time.
• To ensure that essential salts are maintained in the animals, provide salt mixtures in adequate quantities along with their feed.
• This is the right time to deworm the animals.
• To protect the animals from ecto-parasites, their sheds should be kept clean. Bouquets of Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Basil (Ocimum sanctum) or Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates ) should be hung in the animal sheds, the smell of which keeps ecto-parasites away. To keep the sheds clean, a Neem oil based disinfectant can be sprayed.
• If the animals have not yet been vaccinated against FMD, PPR, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Enterotoxemia, Black Quarter etc, ensure that this is done now. Lambs and kids in particular should be given the vaccination to prevent Enterotoxemia.
• Irrigation of fodder crops of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa, also called Lucerne) and Berseem Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) should be carried out every 20 – 30 days and for the oat crop every 20 – 22 days.
• To protect animals from a sudden drop in temperature, keep the animals in a covered shed/area during the night.
• The bedding/hay in the animal sheds must be kept dry and changed/aired every day.
• If the animals have not yet been vaccinated against FMD, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Black Quarter, Enterotoxemia etc., this must be done during this month.
• Take adequate care to prevent occurrence of Mastitis in animals.
• Anti-parasitical medicines and solutions administered not only protect the animals from diseases, but they also help in better assimilation of the feed that is given to the animals, thereby increasing their productivity.
• Essential salts / mineral mixture in appropriate quantities must be mixed with feed and given to the animals.
• Due care should be taken to store/procure fodder for periods of shortage that may occur during the winter months in certain areas.
• Perennial grasses must be cut at this time. These go into hibernation during the winter months and will only be available for harvesting in the months of February – March.
• To get the maximum benefit from Oat crops, improved varieties (Sirsa Oat 6, Sisra Oat 9, J.H.O.822, and J.H.O.851) may be sown from the middle of this month.
• Sowing of Berseem and Alfalfa must be completed by the middle of this month.
• Goat and Sheep must be vaccinated against PPR once every three years.
• 21 days after the sheep have been sheared; their bodies should be drenched with disinfectants to protect them against ecto-parasites.
• To protect animals from a sudden drop in temperature, keep the animals in a covered shed/area during the night.
• If the animals have not yet been vaccinated against FMD, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Black Quarter, Enterotoxemia etc., this must be done during this month.
• Essential salts / mineral mixture in appropriate quantities must be mixed with feed and given to the animals.
• To protect in-milk animals from Mastitis, all their milk should be removed and after milking, their udders should be cleaned with a disinfectant.
• The quantity of green fodder must be kept in limited quantities in the animal feed, as it increases the chances of occurrence of diarrhoea and Acidosis in the animals.
• If there are adequate quantities of green fodder still available after feeding the animals, this must be dried in the sun and stored for periods of shortage.
• 50 – 55 days after sowing of Berseem and 55 – 60 days of Oats, these can be harvested. Henceforth, Berseem can be harvested every 25 – 30 days.
• Lopping of leaves of fodder trees should be carried out during this month. These leaves should be dried in the shade and stored for feeding animals during periods of fodder shortage.
Reference:On request
