Nutrient requirements of cattle and buffalo by Kisan Forum Pvt. Ltd.

1 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO

ICAR

Indian Council of Agricultural Research New Delhi

PRINTED : JULY 2013

THIRD EDITION 2013

Project Director

Incharge (English Editorial Unit)

Editor Chief Production Officer Technical Officer (Production)

Cover Design

Dr Rameshwar Singh

Dr R P Sharma Reena Kandwal Dr V K Bharti Punit Bhasin

Dr V K Bharti and Punit Bhasin

Correct Citation: Nutrient Requirements of Animals - Cattle and Buffalo (ICAR-NIANP), 2013

ISBN: 978-81-7164-136-9

Price: ?200

Published by Dr Rameshwar Singh, Project Director, Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 110 012; Lasertypeset at M/s Dot & Design, D-35, Ranjeet Nagar Comm. Complex, New Delhi 110 008 and printed at M/s Royal Offset Printers, A-89/1, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi 110 028.

CONTENTS SI. No. Title 1.

Introduction

Dry matter intake and factors affecting Energy requirement Digestible Energy Metabolizable Energy Net Energy Fermentable Metabolizable Energy Protein requirement

Page No.

Metabolizable Protein Digestible Microbial True Protein

8. 9.

Rumen Undegradable Protein Rumen Retention Time and Outflow Rate Digestible Undegradable Protein Microbial Protein Synthesis in the Rumen Efficiencies of Utilization of Metabolizable Protein Feeding cattle and buffalo and their ME and MP requirement Energy requirement for maintenance Protein requirement for maintenance Nutrient requirement of lactating animals a) Feeding transitional cows and buffalo b) Feeding during early lactation c) Feeding during mid lactation d) Feeding of first calvers e) Feeding during pregnancy Feeding of calves Nutrient requirement for growth Nutrient requirement of breeding bulls

1 2 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 19

19 20 21 22

25 26 26

27 31 34

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO

11.

Nutrient requirement of working cattle and buffalo Water requirement

12.

Mineral requirement

13.

Vitamin requirement Metabolic diseases Milk fever

10.

14.

Ketosis

Urea Toxicity Ruminal Tympany Abomasal Displacement

15.

Conclusion

References List ofTMes

35 36 38 43 46 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 59

Introduction The recent livestock census of DAHD, government of India (2007) indicates a rise in both cattle (199 million) as well as buffalo (105 million) population contributing to about 121.8 million tons of milk annually (2011), with major contribution (> 51%) coming from buffaloes. The per capita availability of milk has increased from 260 g/d in 2007-08 to 281 g/d in 2010-11. The share of milk production in 2010-11 by crossbred cows, indigenous/non-descript cows and buffaloes was 24.3 %, 20.8 % and 51.2 % of total milk production, respectively. Population of exotic and crossbred cattle registered a significant increase of 33.9% whereas, the indigenous cattle increased by only 3.4 %. The proportion of animals in milk to the total milch animals has increased from 72.8 to 74.4 % for crossbred cattle, from 59.0 to 63.9 % for indigenous cattle and from 70.6 to 73.3 % for buffaloes.

2L f

WBSKmmm Enhancing the productivity of animals is of major concern to our country, which can be addressed by developing proper feeding systems to provide adequate and balanced nutrients to fhlfill their requirements. In view of increasing demand of animal products including milk, dairy husbandry is witnessing a new era of entrepreneurship with commercial outlook, for which scientific management and sustainability are the two important components. Nutrients to livestock are essentially provided through feed and the requirements expressed and measured in terms of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. In most of the developed countries, the feeding standards for livestock have come through decades of continuous system of experimentation, evaluation and refinement, so as to adopt most scientific way of feeding the livestock. In our country, the first published reference document on scientific feeding of Indian catde appeared as ICAR bulletin No 25 entided "Nutritive values of Indian cattle feeds and the feeding of animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Sen (1957), and the modified document by Sen and Ray (1964), based on Morrisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feeding standards. Later, Sen,etal. (1978) revised the

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO

standards in the light of research work done in the country on Indian breeds. Meanwhile, Kearl (1982) independently compiled data on the nutritional requirements of different livestock species and nutritive values of different feedstuffs from several developing countries in a systematic manner, and put forward quite a comprehensive proposal for its application. The standards compiled in India were reviewed again and the nutritional requirements of cattle and buffaloes were further worked out and published by ICAR (1985 and 1998). However, in view of changes being experienced in the productivity of Indian livestock and in the nutritive value of available feedstuffs, introduction of newer varieties of crops, adoption of modern agricultural practices as well as the introduction of newer methodologies and emerging aspects of animal nutrition, further revision regarding the nutritional requirements of Indian cattle and buffaloes was considered essential. Thus, in the current proposal, efforts have been made to analyze the data in terms of latest principles and concepts developed and currently being followed in scientifically advanced countries. Unfortunately, so. far, we have not succeeded in the application of feeding standards for livestock at field level, both due to lack of knowledge as well as resources on the part of livestock farmers. In fact, there is a greater need to dissipate the knowledge acquired on feeding standards of Indian cattle and buffaloes, especially through this updated document, among the livestock farmers, through extension services and NGO/ SHG working in rural areas, in order to optimize feeding and thus, enhance the reproductive efficiency as well as the overall productivity from our livestock.

Dry matter intake and the factors affecting Since the feed has variable amount of moisture, therefore, nutrient contents are generally expressed on dry matter (DM) basis to maintain the uniformity of expression. Hence, it is only appropriate that the DM intake and factors affecting it are dealt in detail, before discussing the nutrient requirements of cattle and buffaloes. In the feeding of dairy cattle and buffaloes, voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) is of prime importance which needs to be considered first. Both, over feeding as well as underfeeding of nutrients are undesirable features. Underfeeding causes drop in production and could predispose the animal to nutritional and reproductive disorders, including some infectious diseases, due to lower immune protection. On the other hand, overfeeding is an exercise in wasteful expenditure of feed and monetary resources, which could also cause toxicity due to excess intake of some nutrients, resulting in their more excretion, and thereby, contributing to environmental pollution. It is commonly a known fact that chronic ruminal acidosis and laminitis in ruminants is caused by the consumption of very high amounts of dietary

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS

soluble carbohydrates. DM intake depends largely upon the body weight of animals. In view of the difficulty faced in measuring the body weight of cows and buffaloes under field conditions, body weight of animals can be predicted from body measurements (Table1), which may facilitate the feeding of animals as per their dietary needs. Several factors such as type of feed, type of animal, physiological status and the environmental stress affect the consumption of DM by the animals. Tablel . Ready reckoner for calculation of animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body weight (BW) from body measurement

Heart Girth (inches) 35 37 39

42 43 45 47 49 51 53 56 58

60 62 64 66 68 70 73 75 80 82 84 86 88 90

Length (inches) 28

30 32 34 36 39 40 43 45 46 46 49 50 54 55 56 58 60 63 65 65 67 68 68 69 72

B. Wt. (Seer*) 109 123 139 159 172 195 209 234 255 271 286 316 333 372 391 435 464 494 541 574 612 687 714 731 759 810

B. Wt. (Kg) 101 115 129 148 160 181 194 218 237 252 266 294 310 346 364 404 432 460 503 533 569 639 664 680 706 753

Reference: Thomas, C.K., and Sastry N.S.R. (2009) Dairy Bovine Production, Kalyani Publication, New Delhi, Aggarwal's modified Shaeffers formula (Seer) = Girth (inches) X length (inches) / Y * 1 Seer = 0.933 kg Y= 9 if girth is less than 65" Y= 8.5 if girth is 65-80" Y= 8 if girth is over 80â&#x20AC;&#x153;

In addition, the body weight of the animals at field level can be arrived by using the formula suggested by Garg et al. (2009).

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO

Feed factors

Palatability of feeds Among the feed related issues governing the intake in cattle and buffaloes, palatability, chemical composition and nutritive value of rations are important. Palatability of a feed has a significant effect on DMI. Highly palatable feeds have a relatively higher consumption, while bitter-tasting

feed stuffs, irrespective of their nutritive value, restrict the feed consumption.

A sudden change in the ration, irrespective of its palatability, changes the consumption pattern, because the rumen microbes need some time to get adapted to the new feed. It is quite interesting that the animals in different region have different preferences for feeds. For example, cattle and buffaloes in Western and Trans-Gangetic agro climatic regions of India have a preference for wheat straw as the dry roughage, whereas in Eastern and Southern peninsular regions, the animals have a preference for the rice straw. Animals in many parts of the country relish mustard (.Bmssica spp.) cake in their rations despite of its pungent nature. Similarly, guar seed meal is consumed by the animals in some parts of Rajasthan and Haryana quite preferentially. When cattle and buffaloes are offered a new feed, they may take some time for adaptation and the intake would gradually increase following an adjustment period of one or two weeks. In practice, it is recommended that an initial adjustment period of one to three weeks may be given while offering a new feed to the animals.

Moisture level of feeds The animals can comfortably consume feeds ranging between 30 to 70% moisture. However, beyond this range, the DM intake is adversely affected. With regard to low moisture containing fibrous straws and stovers, there is a need to enhance their moisture content, through soaking or water sprinkling, particularly during hot summer months. This practice of wetting the chaffed straw and mixing it with chaffed green fodder before offering it to the animals is already prevalent in northern parts of the country. However, the high moisture feeds such as Berseem, need to be wilted partly prior to offering to the animals. It is advisable not to store such feeds in bigger heaps, as the fermentation may lead to browning, resulting in deterioration of their palatability and nutritive value due to fungal growth. Fibre content of feeds Dry matter intake of cows and buffaloes is largely governed by the feed characteristics. Because of their fibrous nature, straws and stovers are often consumed by cattle and buffaloes in lesser quantities than actually required.

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS

Fibre degradation rates of such feeds, having higher NDF concentration are lower than green forages, resulting in their longer retention time in the rumen and causing rumen fill, which then limits the intake of DM. High producing dairy cows should be fed diets with lower rumen filling effect to maximize DMI. The overall filling effect of the diet is governed by forage NDF content, forage particle size, fragility of forage NDF as determined by forage type (legumes, perennial grasses, annual grasses), NDF digestibility and fermentation characteristics within a forage family (Allen, 2000). On the basis of large number of studies, Allen (2000) concluded that when the level of NDF in the diet of lactating cows exceeds 25 percent, DMI starts declining with increasing dietary NDF concentrations. However, the feed intake can also be limited due to intake of feeds with lower NDF concentrations, through the mechanism of energy intake feedback inhibitors. Some non forage fibre sources, like agro-industrial byproducts (soy hulls, beet pulp, cottonseeds, corn gluten feed, and distillerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grains etc.) contain high levels of NDF. Fibre from non-forage fibre sources is probably having much less filling effect than that of forage NDF. The NDF fraction of forages is generally lignified and mature. Lignin, an integral part of NDF, being indigestible by the ruminal microbes, limits the fermentation of cellulose and hemicelluloses, acting as a barrier for the fibrolytic enzymes to reach their target substrates, which also depends upon its level in the NDF. Within a forage type, the degree of lignifications is related to the filling effects of the NDF. Fibre that is less lignified clears from the rumen faster, allowing more space for the next meal. However, ruminal retention time of NDF from straws and grasses is generally longer than that of legumes in spite of being less lignified ( Voelker Linton and Allen, 2008 ). It is desirable to maintain the dietary fiber level of grasses in the range of 35-50% of DM (NRC, 2001). Buffaloes manage to digest fibre more efficiently than the cattle, largely because of higher rumen volume, efficient rumination, nitrogen recycling capacity and increased retention time in the rumen. Thus, buffaloes are more suited to high fiber diets.

Dietary forage to concentrate ratio The DM consumption by lactating cows and buffaloes is also affected by the dietary forage to concentrate ratio. Irrespective of the forage type, as the concentrate component in the diet increases, there is generally a linear increase in dry matter intake as well as digestible dry matter intake by the animals. However, if the DM intake through concentrate increases beyond 60 % of the total diet, it could lead to ruminal acidosis and thereby, severely affecting the fiber fermentation in the rumen.

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO

Protein content of the diet Dietary protein levels below 6-8% in the ration may decrease the DMI of cattle and buffaloes. This often occurs when these animals are mainly fed on straws, stovers and other low-quality roughages. In such cases, the supplemental protein increases both, the DMI as well as digestibility of the roughages. In ruminants, the dietary protein has two components viz., the rumen degradable protein (RDP) and the un-degraded dietary protein (UDP), also called rumen bypass protein, which escapes ruminal degradation. RDP is primarily required in the ruminant diet to meet the N needs of the rumen microbes for their microbial protein synthesis and overall growth. However, the capture of dietary N by rumen microbes for protein synthesis depends upon the matching amount of soluble carbohydrates present in the diet because, ruminal fermentation, especially the fiber degradation by rumen is directly related to microbial growth in rumen. Both, the microbial protein as well as rumen escape protein are digested in the lower tract and after absorption meet the amino acid needs of the host ruminant at tissue level. However, the consumption of rumen degradable protein or total protein in excess of the threshold level can also decrease DMI of the animals.

Fat content of the diet Under Indian conditions, 3-4 per cent level of fat or ether extract (EE) in the diet of ruminants is generally considered sufficient for low and medium producers. Supplementation of additional fat to raise its level to 5-6 per cent, so as to increase the energy density of the diet of high yielding animals, are often met with disturbances in rumen fermentation, reducing rumen motility, followed by decreased rate of passage and consequently decreased DMI. The decrease in DMI in animals as a result of supplementing with additional fat could be also caused through the actions on gut hormones, oxidation of fat in liver and the general acceptability of fat sources by cattle (Allen, 2000). However, if the unprotected fat is replaced by protected fat and given as Ca salts of fatty acids, the rumen fermentation is not disturbed, but consumption of energy is increased, which increases the milk yield, even at reduced DMI. During heat stress caused by hot humid condition, DMI of the animals is reduced, causing also a drop in milk yield. Supplementing the animals with protected fat in such a situation is very beneficial. The milk yield of the animals is restored and the decrease in roughage intake causes decrease in heat increment, which helps the animal to fight heat stress.

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS

Animal factors

Primiparous vs. multiparous animals There is some merit in grouping the cows whether they being primiparous or multiparous animals, so that the variation in DMI within the group is reduced. A kind of social hierarchy does exist, which gives multiparous animals higher ranking edge, associated with dominance, compared to primiparous animals. The rise in social ranking is gradual for the primiparous animals, related to the gradual exit of multiparous animals from the herd. However, primiparous cows show more persistence in DMI after attaining peak compared to multiparous cows. Increase of 725 kg in milk over 305-day lactation in primiparous cows was observed when grouped separately instead of managing with older cows (Wierenga, 1990, Phelps and Drew, 1992).

Management factors

Feeding practice In India, the feeding practices of cows and buffaloes vary greatly from region to region. The method of feeding does exert its influence on DMI of the animals. While in northern parts of India chopped straw is soaked in water or mixed with chopped green fodder and offered to animal after mixing the forage with the concentrate. This kind of chopped total mixed ration, apart from reducing the energy required for chewing, improves the palatability, and thus, the DMI of the total ration. The practice of chopping dry fodders is still rarely followed in other parts of the country and there is an urgent need to educate the farmers in these regions to follow this simple feeding technology. The better version of total mixed ration (TMR) is, the densified complete feed blocks, which is now slowly being adopted by some dairy cooperatives/federations as a novel way of feeding a balanced ration to the animal. TMR is a wholesome feed where the ingredients are homogeneously mixed and pressed, leaving no scope for sorting or selectivity by the animal, and thus, results in synchronized availability of nutrients to rumen microbes. Consequendy, the feeding of TMR increases DMI as well digestible dry matter intake of cows and buffaloes.

Frequency of feeding Increasing the frequency of feeding has been reported to have beneficial effects on intake and digestibility of feeds. It eliminates the problem of rumen fill and the rumen microbes are regularly getting the measured supply of nutrients for their growth and metabolic activity. This increases in the digestibility of feed, resulting also in enhanced feed intake. Increased feeding

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO

frequency from 2 to 4 times will have an overall beneficial effect on feed utilization, including weight gain in calves. However, the frequency of feeding needs to be weighed against labour cost, so as not to imbalance the margin of profit. At present, there is a remote possibility in our country to shift from two times feeding system to four times feeding system, for the simple reason that the majority of livestock owners are resource poor farmers, who have to manage all the operations at the farm, using their family labour, and moreover it is beyond the reach of our small and marginal farmers to have automation in feeding.

Sequence of feeding forage, concentrate Feeding of forages, especially those having medium or long chop length causes salivation, have a buffering action in rumen. On the other hand, consumption of concentrate as the first meal in the morning could lead to acidic condition in rumen, resulting in reduced DMI and DM digestion (Sniffen and Robinson, 1984). Thus, it is quite obvious that the first meal in the morning given to cattle and buffaloes should not be concentrate, but forage, so that a proper rumen environment, including a neutral pH is created for more fiber digestion. Once that is achieved, the concentrate can then be fed to the animals.

Accessibility of animal to feed If the accessibility of animal to feed is restricted to 5 hours of actual feeding time, that could reduce DMI and thus, resulting in reduced milk yield, compared to when the animal is given a free- choice access to feed. In fact, the fibrous feeds may be given more time for eating, rather should be allowed ad libitum feeding; otherwise there is a chance for reduced DM intake. Similarly in India, to combat extreme weather conditions of hot summer or cold winter, the lactating animals should be offered feed during night time to improve feed intake, and thereby, their overall production. Environmental and other factors Climatic effect The thermo-neutral zone of dairy cattle is about 5 to 20째C, but it varies among individual animals. Young (1983) stated that ruminants adapt to chronic cold stress conditions, by increasing thermal insulation, basal metabolic intensity and DMI, besides increasing the rumination activity, reticulo-rumen motility, and rate of passage of digesta. However, during extreme cold, DMI does not increase at the same rate as metabolism. Hence the animals could remain in a negative energy balance and the energy use shifts from productive purposes to heat production. On the other hand, a rise in ambient temperature above the thermal neutral zone, decreases milk

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS

production because of reduced DMI, as modulated by central nervous system. The water consumption of animals increase as ambient temperature increases up to 35째C, however, further increase in temperature decreases water consumption because of inactivity and lower DMI. Dry bulb temperature and humidity are the two major components in a given area that determine the extent of heat stress in animals. A temperature humidity index > 72 is considered to indicate the heat stress in dairy cattle (McDonald, 1972). Thus, the animal shall have no stress if THI is below 72, shall have mild stress, if it is between 72-79, medium stress between 80-88 and severe stress, if it is above 90. Kundu e-t. al. (2010) summarized the effect of different THI on Indian cattle. It is recommended that increase in dietary energy supply by 10-15% through a highly digestible feed ameliorates heat stress. And the best way to do so is by supplementing the diets with bypass fat, which increases the energy density of feed, even if straw consumption is reduced. Effect of varying Temperature Humidity Index (THI) on cattle

Temp (째C)

Temp

Relative Humidity (%)

(째F)

24 27 29 31 33 36 38 40 42

76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108

20~

)

+ +

[

THI + + + +

+ + +

# #

# # #

+ +

# # #

# #

# # #

+ Mild stress (THI: 72-79); * Medium Stress (THI: 80-89); # Severe Stress (THI: 90-98); - Death (THI >1 00) Source: Park J. (2007) Heat stress and dairy feeding program. International T ropical Animal Nutrition Conference, NDRI Karnal.

| 50 | 60 |

: 90

+ +

# #

# # #

THI 24 27 29 31 33 36 38 40 42

76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108

+ + + + +

+ + + +

+ + +

+ +

# # # # # # # # + Mild stress (THI: 72-79); * Medium Stress (THI: 80-89); # Severe Stress (THI: 90-98); - Death (THI >100)

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO

Animal behavior Behavior of animals at the feed bunk is often affected by social dominance. Dominant cows, usually older and larger ones, but not necessarily the high milk yielders, tend to spend more time in eating than those with a lower social rank in competitive situations, such as restricted bunk space (Albright, 1993). When there is a competition for feed, cows consume slightly more feed in less time than under non-competitive situation.

Metabolic diseases High producing dairy cows are most susceptible to metabolic diseases during the peri-parturient period. During the first few days of lactation, milk production increases more rapidly than the increase in DMI. This kind of activity, eventually leads to body weight loss, which may become excessive for cows experiencing ketosis and/or displaced abomasum. Days to conception may be longer for cows experiencing retained placenta and/or metritis. Mature equivalent milk projected to 60 days in lactation tends to be lower in cows suffering from ketosis and/or displaced abomasum.

Body condition score Body condition of animals also affects DMI. Although the milk production appears to remain unaffected by the body condition, a lower DMI may lead to ketosis, displaced abomasum, or other consequences of nutritional stress. Such problems are more common in fat cows because of body fat mobilization for fulfilling the energy needs, which in turn, produces ketones and fatty acids. Ketone levels increase in blood and if not broken down rapidly, cause ketosis. Fatty acids in the blood aggravate the problem because they tend to reduce appetite. Considering all the relevant factors, equations were adopted for determining the DMI by dairy animals under Indian conditions. Since very large variations exist in quality and nature of forages and feeds available in the country, maximum and minimum DM intake has been computed considering that the accessibilities of feeds which vary between 50 and 65 % using equation suggested by Conrad (1966).

TDN value of feeds Dietary energy supply to cattle and buffaloes often remains a limiting factor under tropical conditions. Total Digestible Nutrient (TDN) has been in use for long to indicate energy content of a feed as well as energy requirement of animals. However, the estimation of crude fiber and NFE under proximate analysis in feeds is having some inherent analytical problems. Therefore, the newer concept of analyzing cell-wall fractions and then determining the TDN value based on true fibre content has been standardized and now being adopted as a measure of energy value for feeds. In this new

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS • Nutrient Requirements of Cattle and Buffalo • Nutrient Requirements of Sheep, Goat and Rabbit • Nutrient Requirements of Poultry

• Nutrient Requirements of Pig • Nutrient Requirements of Finfish and Shellfish • Nutrient Requirements of Camel • Nutrient Requirements of Equine

• Nutrient Requirements of Yak and Mithun • Nutrient Requirements of Companion, Laboratory and Captive Wild Animals • Nutrient Composition of Indian Feeds and Fodder

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