Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

This is really a good and timely article written by dr aamir Shatif.
we Pakistani claim that we are the 4th largest milk producer in the world. but who will believe our claim unless we satisfy the demand of milk of our own population.
We are highest no of large animals very close to sixty millions but per head productivity is only 6 liter/head.
one reason of low productivity is under feeding of these animals.
Though production potential of our animals is low and this question should also be addressed but while keeping our animals underfed we can not get even that potential which they already have. Giving enough feed is one thing while giving balanced feed is a step forward. The writer has addressed this case very nicely and this awareness among farmers community will help them in boosting production of their animals

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

This is a very interesting article. I am a Dairy Nutritionist in Texas, USA and hearing about the feeding situations in other parts of the world is fascinating.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Interesting article. In addition to the mineral and vitamins needs, energy and protein requirement of cattle should be understand to achieve high efficiency milk production.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

It is an eye opener for Pakistani farmers and even for Govt. Agencies working for dairy development. Since the fermers are not well educated, we all should spread this message to the farmer community as a duty being a Pakistani.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Good article !!

It is heartening to know that Pakistan has tremendous potential to increase milk production with little more effort on correction of balanced ration.

Malnutrition of animals is a common problem in countries like ours, where majority of farmers are economically poor and uneducated.

An extra effort to create awareness among dairy farmer and members of Development Planning Commission would help to boost milk production in underdevelopment countries.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

For dairy animal feeding most important aspect is the quality roughage either green or silage or hay. We can not feed low quality roughage like wheat straw to high producing animals.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Dear Friends,

This is nice aricle .This is a major problem in small holding dairy farm in all developing countries including India.
We never calculate exactly what is the requrement in terms of Energy, Protein, concentrate to roughage ratio, mineral requirement of dairy animals. Such knowledge is required by the farmers also to roughly estimate the feed and fodder requirements.

We always talk about minimum requrements and we never talk about optimum requirement for maximising productivity.

The subclinical deficiency of of minerals causes productivity loss. However, clinical sysmptoms due to deficiency occures very late after subclinical deficiency.

So proper education about optimun requirement should be discussed so that we can prevent loss due to deficiency without clinical sysmptoms.


Thank You

Dr. T.K. Mohanty

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Excellent work Dr. Aamir, why our animals are under achiever, we continue to tell the world that Nili-Ravi buffalo and Sahiwal cattle are best in the world but in the same article we mentioned about their milk production. Perhaps geographical and cultural circumstance in subcontinent played a role is developing genetic potential of these animals, any comments?

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Its very informative article by Dr. Amir....
Very useful for todays commercial farmers as its good turn of people towards commercial dairy farming... Want to add that Rumen Bypass Fat is also a good source of Fats for dairy cattle and even for fattening too...

Regards...

Asif Ali Jagirani
Pakistan

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

THE MAJOR ROLE IN RUMINANT FEEDING IS THE QUALITY OF FORAGE THEREFORE YOU HAVE TO CHECK NDF CONTENT IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH IN A RIGHT WAY THE INGESTION OF DRY MATTER FROM FORAGE. THE NDF CONTENT IS THE KEY POINT ON WHICH YOU CAN DETERMINE HOW THE CONCENTRATE HAS TO BE DONE.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Very good article.
From our experience try as undr:
Protein-20%+
Fat3.5 to 4%+
Fiber- 6 to 7%
Ca-1 to 1.2%
TDN75 %Min
ME kcal/kg 2500
supplement with vit AD3 and Good quality MIn Mixture
give always TMR
ample of clean free flowing drinking water .
Pass the milch animal thru shower 5 minutes before milking during summer
observe 15to 20% improve in milk yield

regards

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Veyr good article.

Biotin @ 6g per day, is known to increase the yield substantially..

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Article is good/I appreciate the suggestion and formuula given by Dr.S..chandra.
-Dr.S.S..Chousalkar,Mumbai,India

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Good and detail article.In a developing country like India,Pakistan financial status of farmer is average or below average.Organised dairy farming is very rare compared to the total cattle population.Mostly roughages along with small quantity of feed is given.Even green grass is fed only during particular season.Status of microflora also plays important role.Even after giving balanced diet what is the gaurantee that the nutrients will be properly digested and assimilated.Enzyme status should also be monitered.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

The titleBalanced ration for Dairy Animals is very vast one. The article can not be completed by touching only minerals and vitamins. As already one of the comments signifies the importance of fodder. My point of view is before formulating ration, we should know types of animals wheather calves, heifers or miltch etc.,body weight of the animal, expected dry matter intake, types of available green and dry, quantity to be fed, available feed ingredients, their prices, fat and SNF content, then only concentrate is made and quantity to be fed is known. The article only touched two aspects more is expected in the future. good try. thanks.

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Dear Dr Amir,
Good Noon. Excellent article regarding basics of dairy ration.

Dr Chandra Shekhar
Key Accounts Manager
VAHL-INDIA

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Excellent article. I would like to get comments on the feeding standards being applied for the dairy animals in Pakistan. Milk production being also a function of genetics, are there any differences in milk production amongst the animals he has mentioned viz: Buffaloes, Camels and the Cattle between the regions where they are found? In Kenya we are yet to record milk production above 20 litres per day from the Camel (we have two distinct breeds based on ecological zones) and it would be of interest for me to know whether there differences in breeds so to speak!!

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Re: Article - Balanced Ration for Dairy Animals

Its an excellant attempt .But many aspects are missing like role of By pass fat & By pass protien.These are very helpful in formulating balanced feed for Lactating and dry cow management.It has made huge difference in the average yield of milk in Punjab(India).
Other than this, role of Enzymes is very important in digestion ,absorption and assimilation of balanced diet.

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