Buying ready cattle feed is expensive. I want to mix my own concentrate from local ingredients. What are the basics?
What are the basics of formulating cattle feed at home to cut concentrate cost?
AAnil Verma6mo ago · 256 views
4 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓6mo ago
Home mixing a concentrate can cut cost, but it must be balanced or the animal underperforms. A simple concentrate mixture combines an energy source like grains and brans, a protein source like oil cakes such as mustard or groundnut cake, and a portion of other ingredients, finished with a small amount of mineral mixture and common salt, which are essential and often missed. The exact proportions depend on the ingredients available and the animal's milk yield and stage, so get a balanced formula from your veterinarian, KVK or animal husbandry office rather than guessing. Always pair the concentrate with enough good green and dry fodder, since concentrate alone is not a complete diet and too much grain causes acidosis. Use clean, mould free ingredients, mix uniformly, and change the ration gradually so the rumen adjusts.
RRakesh Maurya5mo ago
Adding the mineral mixture and salt is the part most people skip, and it matters. After I started including a good mineral mixture on the vet's advice my cows came into heat more regularly and looked healthier. The grain and oil cake alone are not enough.
VVinod Kumar Singh5mo ago
Buy your ingredients smartly to actually save money, that is where home mixing pays. I source mustard cake and bran locally when prices are good and store them dry and mould free. A balanced formula from the KVK guided my proportions so the home mix performs as well as the bought feed at lower cost.
DDevendra Pal4mo ago
Do not overdo the grain to push milk, it backfires. I once made the mix too heavy on grain and a cow got acidosis and went off feed. The vet warned me to keep enough fibre with good dry fodder and to change the ration slowly. Now I pair the concentrate with plenty of green and dry fodder and the cows stay steady.