Tips for Cow Rearing

Cow Rearing

Livestock and cow rearing are closely related each other for improvement and development of agricultural sector. It is said that marital development of a nation depends on how much milk they can take. Today Agriculture has developed in those places of the world where milk production and their uses have been established as industry. In our country, cow rearing is being established almost as an industry. There are five types of improved cow breed. These are Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Sahiwal, Shindhi, Red Chittagong etc. The production efficiency of these breeds is almost good and their production efficiency will be increased if they are reared and bred in a scientific method.

Housing for Cow

Housing of cow is called cow barn. In our country, cow is reared by keeping in cow barn. Cow barn should be built up on high and dry place so that faces can properly be cleaned out and the barn become dry. Cow barn should be built up in such a way that lighting and proper ventilation will be available and rain water, temperature, humidity etc. can be controlled. Cow barn must be the safe shelter for cow. Cow barn should be larger in size. In every cow barn, feed and separately water should be managed.

Caring for Cow

The objective of caring for cows is to keep them for more efficient. During pregnancy, parturition and milking, care should be given with special importance. Special emphasis should be given on regular washing, dehorning, hoof trimming of cows etc. This caring keeps the cow healthy and affects the production performance. During pregnancy, special care should be taken because the calf is growing inside the body of cow. In this time, cow should be provided sufficient amount of concentrates. Before and during of parturition, care should be provided to cows by keeping them in separate place. Cows are kept in a flat area. During pregnancy and parturition, proper care should be provided to cow. Fetus may be damaged if careless during pregnancy. Moreover, cow may lose the breeding and pregnancy ability. Cow should be observed for 2-3 hours in a quiet environment during showing symptoms of parturition. If the parturition is not going smoothly, it is worth calling a veterinary doctor. Colostrums must be provided to calf for increasing disease prevention ability and helping the calf growing properly. Cow gives colostrums for 5-7 days and after that gives milk. During milking, keep the cows free from any excitement and milking should be performed quickly. Another objective of cow rearing is to keep cow free from any insects and flies.

Feeding of Cow

Quality feed is necessary for cow�s body growth, development and repairing of cells and tissues, heat and energy production, fat storage, milk and meat production, achieving breeding ability, fetal development during pregnancy, etc. Special importance should be given on adequacy of carbohydrate, protein and fat during feed supply, because all kinds of feed nutrient are very important for cow�s body growth. To meet up the animals� requirement, all kinds of nutrients have to be available in mixed feed with sufficient quantity and properly balanced. So, balanced feed is required for cow for their complete development and production. Generally, cow�s feed can be classified in to three groups, such as Roughages, concentrates and feed additives. Roughage includes mainly straw, green grass, tree leaves, hay, silage etc. Concentrate includes mainly cereal grains, wheat bran, rice polish, oil cake etc. Besides, bone meal, various vitamins �mineral premix is included in vitamin and mineral. The feeds have to be collected according to requirement and supplied to the cow. The amount of feed required to supply cow can be calculated by Thumb-rule method. Such as-

1. Daily straw and green grass has to be provided to cow that how much it can intake a day.
2. 1.5 kg concentrates have to be provided to cow for its body maintenance and 0.5 kg concentrates have to be provided along with straw and green grass daily for 1.0 liter milk production.
3. 40-50g bone meal and 100-120g common salt will need to be provided.
4. Moreover, clean, organism free feed and drinking water has to be provided to dairy cow.

Hygienic Rearing of Cows and Disease Prevention:

Hygienic rearing may be defined as the hygienic means which have been followed for livestock production. This are-

1. To facilitate lighting and ventilation during house making and protect disaster.
2. To keep feeder and drinker neat and clean.
3. To avoid rotten, stale and dirty feed and water.
4. To provide always fresh feed and water.
5. To follow the microorganisms free method during breeding and parturition.
6. To drain out faces and urine quickly.
7. To separate sick cow and dispose dead cow.
8. To follow deworming practice regularly.
9. To apply vaccination program against the infectious disease etc.

Regular Observation of Cow and Treatment:

Sick animal can be identified by regular observation. Regular vaccination program is applied to cows for preventing different diseases. Cow may be affected by black quarter, anthrax, foot and mouth disease, goiter, rinderpest, mastitis, parasites etc. It is wise to take advice from a Veterinary doctor if any disease outbreaks.