-
COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 68
Collection of semen:
A bull used for AI can sire hundreds of calves. The ejected semen is collected and then divided into many small portions, stored in tubes called straws. Then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. Frozen semen can be stored almost indefinitely and shipped anywhere. When your AI technician breeds your cow or heifer he thaws the straws for 30 seconds and then inserts it into the uterus.
NUTRITION FOR PREGNANT YEARLING
Now that your heifers have been bred, remember that they need adequate nutrition so that they keep growing and also to provide for the developing calf. For the first 6 months of pregnancy the growing fetus makes little demand on the mother's body; she does not need extra nutrition beyond her own needs for growth, good green pasture will provide all she needs. If you have pasture through summer this will be sufficient for pregnant yearlings but do not forget their need for water and salt. When spring is late and the grass has not reached grazeable stage, heifers may need hay for a while at the time of breeding until the pastures are ready.
Hay:
During the autumn and winter, pregnant heifers may need to be fed on hay as soon as grass is no longer sufficient. Part of the ration should be alfalfa that will provide protein needed by the growing heifer and her developing fetus. Most pregnant beef heifers do not need grain unless the weather becomes very cold for long periods or the hay is not of very good quality.
Make sure pregnant heifers have sufficient protein, calcium and vitamin A during the last trimester when the fetus grows fastest. If the heifer does not get enough protein she can't create good colostrums i.e. the first milk – for her calf. Underdeveloped, small calves born to thin mothers may be too weak to stand up and nurse after birth. Good alfalfa hay during the last trimester of pregnancy ensures a strong, well-developed, healthy calf. In the event good alfalfa hay is unavailable, use a protein and vitamin supplement. A good general rule for feeding pregnant heifers is to feed all the good hay they will clean up, that is a mix of grass and alfalfa. Grass hay provides most of the roughage and nutrients needed, while alfalfa gives the extra protein, calcium and vitamin A.
Cold weather:
To maintain body warmth in cold weather a heifer needs more feed. If you observe them cleaning up hay well increase the amount – especially the grass portion because it creates heat during digestion. If the weather turns extremely cold you can feed a little grain to ensure the continued growth of heifers.
Mature cows do fine in cold weather with all the hay they can eat.
CHAPTER 6 – CARE OF PREGNANT COW
There are several things that may go wrong in pregnant cows, some of them are common and other not so therefore it is best to
A bull used for AI can sire hundreds of calves. The ejected semen is collected and then divided into many small portions, stored in tubes called straws. Then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. Frozen semen can be stored almost indefinitely and shipped anywhere. When your AI technician breeds your cow or heifer he thaws the straws for 30 seconds and then inserts it into the uterus.
NUTRITION FOR PREGNANT YEARLING
Now that your heifers have been bred, remember that they need adequate nutrition so that they keep growing and also to provide for the developing calf. For the first 6 months of pregnancy the growing fetus makes little demand on the mother's body; she does not need extra nutrition beyond her own needs for growth, good green pasture will provide all she needs. If you have pasture through summer this will be sufficient for pregnant yearlings but do not forget their need for water and salt. When spring is late and the grass has not reached grazeable stage, heifers may need hay for a while at the time of breeding until the pastures are ready.
Hay:
During the autumn and winter, pregnant heifers may need to be fed on hay as soon as grass is no longer sufficient. Part of the ration should be alfalfa that will provide protein needed by the growing heifer and her developing fetus. Most pregnant beef heifers do not need grain unless the weather becomes very cold for long periods or the hay is not of very good quality.
Make sure pregnant heifers have sufficient protein, calcium and vitamin A during the last trimester when the fetus grows fastest. If the heifer does not get enough protein she can't create good colostrums i.e. the first milk – for her calf. Underdeveloped, small calves born to thin mothers may be too weak to stand up and nurse after birth. Good alfalfa hay during the last trimester of pregnancy ensures a strong, well-developed, healthy calf. In the event good alfalfa hay is unavailable, use a protein and vitamin supplement. A good general rule for feeding pregnant heifers is to feed all the good hay they will clean up, that is a mix of grass and alfalfa. Grass hay provides most of the roughage and nutrients needed, while alfalfa gives the extra protein, calcium and vitamin A.
Cold weather:
To maintain body warmth in cold weather a heifer needs more feed. If you observe them cleaning up hay well increase the amount – especially the grass portion because it creates heat during digestion. If the weather turns extremely cold you can feed a little grain to ensure the continued growth of heifers.
Mature cows do fine in cold weather with all the hay they can eat.
CHAPTER 6 – CARE OF PREGNANT COW
There are several things that may go wrong in pregnant cows, some of them are common and other not so therefore it is best to