What is the best nutrition for cows? Cows need specific dietary requirements, and these are met by feed additives. Natural sources of nutrients are diminished by drought and other weather elements. Feed additives provide high-quality feed and improve health and productivity. The benefits of nutritive feed additives can last a lifetime for the animals. Here are some of the best sources of these nutrients. Listed below are some of the most important ones.
Contents
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the most important fat-soluble vitamins in animal nutrition. It plays numerous roles in the body, including supporting the immune response to infections. Cattle producers are most familiar with vitamin E, which plays a role in reproductive efficiency and milk production. Besides that, vitamin E is also an important component of selenium, an essential micronutrient. It supports glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme found in the cytosol of the cell.
Fibre
The rumen needs sufficient dietary fibre to function correctly and produce saliva. Saliva contains salts and is beneficial in raising the number of rumen microbes. Fibre is made up of structural carbohydrates and the lignin that binds them. As cows get older, their lignin content decreases, which makes fibre nutrition essential for their health. Nevertheless, cows still need some dietary fibre to maintain the rumen’s proper functioning.
Minerals
While trace minerals like Se are essential for healthy growth and reproduction, their oversupply in animal feed can lead to toxic metal residues. Although they are trace elements, these minerals have beneficial effects on the meat properties. During the autolytic process of slaughter, meat undergoes changes that affect its visual appearance, taste, and smell. These changes are essentially the result of oxidative deterioration. These changes can have a significant impact on the meat’s value as an ingredient in retail and consumer products.
Amino acids
Amino acids in cow nutrition can be measured in g/d, % MP or g/Mcal ME. These quantities will vary depending on the stage of lactation of a cow. The optimal mMet and lysine supply for a close cow is 30 to 35 g/d, while for a fresh cow, the appropriate amino acid intake is 90 to 95 g/d. In addition, the lysine supply for a post-fresh cow should be at least 3.03 g/Mcal ME.
Calcium
Unlike human beings, cows can get enough calcium from diets high in forages. Most forages are excellent sources of calcium, but annual grains, corn silage, and grain are all poor sources. Although cows with diets based on forages are rarely affected by calcium deficiency, the consequences can be severe. The animals may suffer from abnormal bone growth, reduced milk production, or ‘down cow’ syndrome. However, the consequences of prolonged calcium deficiency are not as severe in beef cows as in dairy cows. Greenfeed is essential for cattle nutrition in winter.
Protein
The objective of protein nutrition for ruminants is to provide an adequate intake of dietary crude protein, along with a sufficient supply of ruminally degraded protein (RDP). In addition to growth and maintenance, protein is essential for tissue accretion. Here, we will review some of the concepts related to protein nutrition for cows. This information will be valuable for beef producers as they develop nutritional strategies. Let’s begin with the basics.
Dietary acidification
While there are some benefits of a negative DCAD diet for pre-fresh cows, it is important to note that there are some significant drawbacks as well. Over-acidification of cows can reduce feed intake, milk protein content, and energy balance in early lactation. The following discussion will focus on the negative aspects of extreme acidification. Ultimately, it will be the responsibility of the producer to determine which treatment option is best for his herd.
Physical satiety
The concept of physical satiety in cow nutrition refers to the degree of distention or fullness in the rumen or abdominal cavity of a dairy cow. This effect is related to forage quality, which dictates how quickly forage moves through the digestive tract. Poor-quality bermudagrass stays longer in the rumen than high-quality annual ryegrass and white clover. In addition, the capacity of the digestive tract limits forage intake, because stretch receptors in the rumen wall are sensitive to stretching.
Calcium supplementation
The most common form of Ca supplementation for cows is oral boluses containing 43 g of Ca per dose. In contrast, oral calcium pastes, gels, and liquids pose significant safety concerns. Furthermore, these methods can damage the cow’s mucosa and cause aspiration. Thus, it is recommended that cows receive boluses coated with a protective coating. This will minimize the risk of mucosal damage.
Methionine
There are many benefits to including methionine in cow nutrition, but how do you know if it’s right for your cows? The Cardoso research team has a couple of theories. Supplementing cows with methionine early in lactation might be enough to increase milk yield. Or, methionine may play a role in improving the function of the cow’s membrane interface.
