Feed Formulation

for Cattle and Buffaloes

*agaand Cumenliratesfor

- SARECmSF Buffalo Research

and Development Programme
I Peradenj a , Sri Lanka
I

[ Introduction
Most small holder farmers do not feed their
dairy cattle and buffaloes adequately. The end
result is poor productivity and low milk yields.
The animal is unable to give off its best. Most
fibrous feeds available to animals (cattle and
buffalo) are deficient is some nutrients and are
generally poor in digestibility. The problem is
more acute during the dry season when the
quantity of feed available is low and poor in
quality as well. High producing dairy animals
would face nutritional deficiencies when they
are fed only on such poor quality fibrous feed.
Therefore, it is important that such diets are
supplemented with nutritionally rich feed, to
compenszte for the deficiencies and also to
balance the nutrients in order to improve the
efficiency of feed utilisation.
We have discussed in Leaflet No. 1 of this
series that the use of concentrates such as
coconut poonac, rice polish, etc., could be one
way of correcting deficiencies and increasing
the digestibility of fibrous Feed in tho rumen.
However, as these concentrate feeds are
expensive, farmers have to use them at the
optimum level but not at maximum level, in
order to minimize the cost of production and
thereby increase profit margins. The concept
of optimum and economical feeding is
illustrated below.
I What do you mean by concelztrc~te
.feeds
Concentrates are feeds which are rich in
nutrients, such as energy, protein, minerals and
vitamins required for animals. Examples of
such feeds are coconut poonac, rice bran, rice
polish, soya bean meal, gingerly poonac, etc.,
T 5 -11-4998
and commercial feed preparations such BB\P&
mixes of the above concentrate feed rk$prkets.
However, the nutritive value of rice b
highly variable and II ranges from 40%
(product from an old huller type rice mill) to
60% TDN (product from a newer cone type
rice mill). The newer mills are able to separate
the hull from the polishings. This high
variation in quallty can also be due to
adulteration with rice hulls.
These concentrate feeds are very often
relatively expensive. Therefore, they have to
be incorporated into daily rations of cattle and
buffaloes after carefir1 consideration of the
animals requirement, the cost of feeding such
expensive Feed and the cconornic return.
Feeding concentrates beyond a certain level
would also be uneconomical, as there would
not be an incremental increase of milk yield
over and above h e ircremental increase of
cost of feeding. 'The optimum level of
concentrate feeding will have to be worked out
for each cow in your herd. This leaflet
provides you the required guidelines in
incorporating expensive concentrate feed in
the diets of ruminants at different
physiological states in a cost effective manner.
physiological stcafesand their
Nutritional requirement of animals vary wi#th
their physioiogical state, body weight, growth
rate and milk production levels. The purpose
for which the nutrients are required for
animals in different physiological states are
given in Table1 .
Table 1. Nutrient needs of animals in different physiological states

I Maintenance I Growth
I I
1 Pregnancy 1 Lactation
I I

Calf 1 JJ 1 JJJ -

From this table you could see that nutritional
requirements of animals vary significantly
according to their physiological states. Later in
this Leaflet. you will see that the nutrient
requirements of animals will also vary with the
level of milk production.
The value of colostrum feeding and managing
a new born calf is given in Leaflet No. 8. The
description below will focus on feeding of
animals from the first week of life to sexual
maturity, during pregnancy, postpartum period
and lactation.

( 4. Feeding young stock fom

feed requirements of animals
of different age groups, body
Animals from birth have to obtain their
nutrients from the feed they ingest. The
mother's milk is the best form of feed in early
life. The fore-milk or colostrum also contains
protective agents called antibodies to fight
against infectious organisms causing diseases.
1 calfhood to sexual maturity
(Puberty) 1
Guidelines for incorporating roughage,
concentrates and other feed supplements for
cattle and buffaloes from birth to sexual
maturity or first heat are given in Boxes 1 to
1 1. Feeding of pregnant heifers and cows and
cows in lactation are given in sections 5,6 and
7.

Box 1 Feeding caIfj?om 04Ihday to end of 3 weeks

Milk (litres) Fibrous feed 1 Concentrate

2.0 - 2.5 Small amount of hay Small amount of calf feed
or Or
good quality fresh grass prepared concentrate feed

Box 2 Feeding calfji-om 1." month to end of 2ndmonth

Milk (litres) Fibrous feed 1 Concentrate

1.5 - 2.0 250 g of hay 200 g of a calf feed
or or
500 g fresh grass prepared concentrate feed
0 legume leaves
 -
Box 3 Feeding c a w o m 2ndmonth end of to 3rdmonth

Milkllitres) Fibrous feed Concentrate

0.5-0.75 750 g of hay 350 g o f a c a l f f e e d
or or
1.25 kg fresh grass prepared concentrate mixture 1
L --
a legume leaves I

Box 4 Feeding c a w o m 3"' month to end of 6Ihmonth

Concentrate
1 kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 10 g of mineral mixture
1 6 kg of fresh grass 1 0.5 kg of concentrate mix 1
~ u m o f l 0 g of mineral mixture

Box 5 FeedingPorig 7'" month to end of 91h month

Concentrate
1 1 kg of fresh grass 1 kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 1 0 g of mineral mixture
or or
10 kg of fresh grass 0.5 kg of concentrate mix
+ 5 kg of legume leaves +% of mineral mixture

Box 6 Feedingporn 10'" month to end of 12''' month

Roughage 1 Concentrate
16 kg of fresh grass 1 kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 10 g of mineral mixture
or or
13 kg of fresh grass 0.5 kg of cattle feed mix
+ 7 kg of legumes + 10 gm of mineral mixture

Box 7 Feedingj-om 13Ih .month to end of 15Ih month

Concentrate
1 kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 30 g of mineral mixture
or or
I 5 kg of fresh grass 0.5 kg of concentrate mix
+ 10 kg of legume leaves + 30 g of mineral mixture
Box 8 Feedingtom 1.5'~ month to end of l g hmonth
~ou~hage Concentrate
2 1 kg of fresh grass 1 kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 30 g of mineral mixture
or or
18 kg of fresh grass 0.5 kg of concentrate mix
+ 10 kg of legume leaves + 30 g of mineral mixture

Box 9 Feedingporn 191h month to end of 21"' month

Roughage Concentrate
25 kg of fresh grass I kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 30 g of mineral mixture
or or
22 kg of fresh grass 0.5 kg of concentrate mix
+ I 1 kg legume leaves + 30 g of mineral mixture

Box 10 Feeding jiom 22"d month to end of 24'h month

Roughage Concentrate
30 kg of fresh grass 1 kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 30 g of mineral mixture
or or
25 kg of fresh grass 0.5 kg of concentrate mix
+ 13 kg legume leaves + 30 g of mineral mixture

Box 11 Feeding from 25'" month to end of30'" month

Roughage Concentrate
3 5 kg of fresh grass 1 kg of a cattle feed mix
+ 30 g of mineral mixture
or or
28 kg of fresh grass 0.5 kg of concentrate mix
+ 14 kg l
- e g u m e of mineral mixture
5. -
BOX 12 Feeding of pregnani
Hewer
The nutritive requirements of a pregnant heifer, especially during the last 2 months of gestation
increases considerably. Hence, the level of concentrate feeding must be higher than those of sexually
mature but non- pregnant heifer.
Roughage
35-40 kg fresh grass
or
30 kg of fresh grass
+ 14 kg legume leaves
From the above Boxes (1 to 12) you will see that the amount of concentrate could be reduced by half
by incorporating few kilo grams of legumes or tree fodders thereby reducing the cost of feeding your
cow by 50%.
6. Feeding cows during
pregnancy and lacialion
Rations for cows at different physiological
states such as postpartum and lactating cows
and dry cows cannot be given in table form. It
has to be worked out for each cow in your
herd according to the body weight, level of
milk production and fat percentage of milk.
This however, must be done with the ultimate
objective of opimizing milk production of the
animal with.rational use of feed resources at
your disposal at a minimum cost. You must
remember maximum feeding may not be the
most economical level of feeding, as increase
in cost of providing feed for incremental
increase of milk may not be cost-effective.
Concentrates
1.0 kg of cattle feed mix
2.0 + 30 gm of mineral mixture
or
0.5 kg cattle feed mix
+ 30 gm mineral mixture
?
,
7. How wouldyou estimate the
nutrient requirements of a
COW
As the animals' requirement for production
varies with the body weight and milk yield, the
farmer has to calculate the ration on the basis
of cow's requirement. The way of doing it is
illustrated below.
The daily nutrient requirement of animal could
be expressed in 2 estimates of feeding values.
These two are called Total Digestible
Nutrients (TDN) and Digestible Crude Protein
(DCP). If you meet the requirement of TDN
and DCP, then the animal will produce
optimally.
The nutritive requirements in terms of TDN
and DCP for cows of different production
levels could be obtained from feeding tables
published by DAPH. A standard table
containing TDN and DCP req'uirernent of a
buffalo cow weighing 350 kg with different fat
percentages (4.0%, 6.0% and 8.0% fat) are
given in Table 2.
Table 02 Daily nutrient requirements (g TDN & g DCP) for a lactating buffalo cow
weighing 350 kg (for maintenance, growth, milk production & gestation)

Milk yield Milk with 4.0 % fat Milk with 6.0 % fat Milk with 8.0 % fat
(lid) TDN I
DCP TDN 1
DCP TDN IDCP

Tablc 2 could be used to estimate the TDN and DCP requirement of your cow with different body
weight and milk fat percentages. The values given for the standard cows need to be adjusted to suit
your cow with a different body weight and fat % as shown in Box 13.

Box 13 Adjustment factors for different body weights and fat contents.
-
body weights:
in body weight, add or subtract 300 g TDN and 25 g DCP

Adjustmen1 forjat content in milk:

For every 1 % increase in fat content provide,an additional 50 g TDN and 8 g DCP for every litre of
mi.lk produced.

Box 14.shows you how to calculate the TDN and DCP requirement of a cow in your herd, before we
proceed to feed formulation.

Box 14. Method of calculating TDN and DCP requirement of a ccw

Assume that your cow is weighing 300 kg and producing 4 litres of milk with 7% fat.

Step 1. Find the TDN and DCP values from the table (Table 2) for 4 liters of milk with 6% of fat
(look for the value given for the nearest fat percentage). According to this example the
TDN and DCP values of cow weighing 350 kgs and producing 4 liters of milk with 6% fat
are :
TDN(g) DCP(g)
" 350 kg cow producing 4 litres milk with 6% fat (table 2) 6090 805

Step 2. Adjust the above values for differences

in body weight (-50 kg) and fat percentage (+I%)
For 50 kg less bodyweight
For 4 litres milk with 1 % extra fat)
(4x50 TDN & 4x8 DCP)

1 Step 3. Sum up the values.

Therefore, the amount of TDN and DCP
you have to feed
-
5990
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8":
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1
8. HOWdo we estimate the
nutritive value of differentfeeds

To make the feed formulation easy, the nutritive value of different feeds are also expressed in same
two estimates - TDN and DCP. These values are given in the feeding tables published by DAPH. A
list of TDN and DCP values for a list of selected feed resources are given in Table 3.

Table 03. Nutritive Value of Selected feeds (gtkglfresh weight)

Feedstuff DM TDN DCP

Grass: Guinea Before flowering- 21 0 I16 19
After flowering
Napier Grass
Signal grass - Before flowering
After flowering
Natural -
grass - From road side
V a d d y field 180 88 18
Legumes:
- Gliricidia 226 142 50
Ipil ipil
Erythrina
Wild sunflower
Albizia

Tree leaves Jack leaves 314 151 28

and shrubs Girapala 250 165 31

Straw Rice straw

Rice stubble
Ground nut straw
Maize stover
Concentrates Coconut uoonac
Rice bran (com.mill) 902 343 72
Dairy mix.(Prima) 940 620 124
Urea nol lasses mulnutrient block 900 764 46
Rice polish 894 733 72

Now you have the knowledge and information with regard to an animal's nutritive requirements as
well as the nutritive value of the common feeds that are easily accessible. Your task is to formulate a
balance ration at minimum cost. The procedure is outlined below.

[ 9. Feed FormuEation I
The aim of feed formulation is to match the cow's TDN & DCP requirements with a diet of
compatible amounts of TDN and DCP at least cost. To do this you must understand how to use Table
2 and 3 and the information given in Boxes 13 and 14 in this exercise. The sequential steps, leading to
feed formulation are given Box 15.
Box 15. Calculation of a ration for a lactating cow

9ssume that you have a pregnant buffalo cow weighing 400 kg producing 5 litres of milk per day with
7 % fat. If the farmer has access to guinea grass (1 month old), gliricidia, coconut poonac and urea
nolasses lick block, prepare a suitable ration to meet the daily nutrient requirements of the animal.

Step 1 Find the TDN and DCP requirement of the cow using Table 2 and .Box13.

350 kg cow producing 5 L milk with 6% fat requires 6520 g TDN 880 g DCP
Extra requirement for 50 kg body weight +300 +25
Extra requirement for 1 % fat (50x5 TDN & 8x5 DCP) +250 +40
Total requirement for 400 kg cow
Producing 5 L milk and 7% fat 7070 g TDN 945 g DCP

Step 2 Find the nutritive value of the available feeds from Table 03.

TDN DCP
Guinea grass 116 19
Gliricidia 142 50
Coconi~tpoonac 683 148
IJrea nol lasses multinutrient mixture 764 46

Step 3 Ration formulation

Now you have to select the appropriate combination of feed resources to match the
nutrient requirements of the of the animal as given above. There is a limiting factor in
ruminant feeding when primarily roughage feeds are given. The maximum intake that can be
expec,ed of a cow weighing 400 kg. She would be able to consume 12 kg s f dry matter or
about 60 kg fresh grass if we assume the dry matter content of grass as 20%.
Now let us see how much the cow weighing 400 kg and producing 5 1 of milk
containing 7% fat would receive, if she consumes good quality grass (Gunea grass, before
flowering - 1 16 g TDlU and 19 g DCP) at maximum level of intake (at 3% body weight on dry
matter basis) would receive 6960 g TliN (60 x 1 16) and 1 140 g DCP (60 x 19). At this level
of consumption, cow could receive her total TDN and DCP requirements. Llnfortunately,
under normal ct.iiiitions, cows neither receive good quality grass nor are they fed at optimum
level of intake Moreover, the ~ntakeor poor quality roughage is also low, because of low
palatability as well as digestibility. 7 herefore, as discussed elsewhere (Leaflet 1)
supplementation with concentrates (e.g. coconut poonac, rice polish), tree fodder (Gliricidia,
ipil-ipil) urea-molasses-mulrinutrient feed mixtures, separately or in combination is required.
'The task before you is to prepare a balance feed ration that is cost effective. One such example
is given below.

Assume that you are using 50 kg of young Guinea grass (before flowering) and 3 kg of
Glyricidia. The total TDN and DCP that could be obtained is given below.
Dry matter TDN DCP
Intake (kg) (g) (g>
50 kg guinea grass grazed or
cut and fed, will provide 10.5 5 800 950
3 kg gliricidia will provide 0.7 426 150

Nutrients supplied by grass 11.2 6226 1100

& gliricidia
 ..........continuation of Box 15

From the above table it is clear that there is a deficiency of TDlV in the above ration. Therefore a third
feed resource has to be included in the ration to overcome the TDN de3ciency of 844 g (7070-6226).
Because ofthe space limitation in the rumen, one has to feed a concentrate like coconut poonac or
urea molasses multinutrient mixture (UMM). So the farmer has two 0ption.s.
- lhe DCP requirement is satisjied by feeding grass and gliricidia

Step 4.:
In order to bridge the 844 g deficiency in TDN one could feed;
(a) 8441683 = 1.24 kg of coconut poonac at a cost of Rs. 17.36 (@Rs. 14lkg) or
(b) 844-1764= 1 . I 0 kg of UMM at a cost of Rs. 7.04 (Rs. 32 for a 5 kg block)

1 Note that there is a Rs. 10 difirence between the choice of including coconut poonac or UMM
According to the example, the farmer could choose between the following two rations:

Ration A Ration B
(kg) (kg)
Guinea grass 50 50
Gliricidia 03 3
Coconut poonac 1.24
Urea-molasses-multinutrient
Mixture 1.1

The ultimate choice should be an economic one which in this case favours the one that used UMM.
One shoilld also not forget that UMM contains mineral elements such as calcium and phosphorus
which are equally important as TDW and DCP.

This information leaflet is prepared by Drs. M.N.M. Ibrahim, H. Abeygunawardena and D.H.A.
Subasinghe for SARECNSF (formerly NARESA) Water Buffalo Information Dissemination
Programme in collaboration with the University of Peradeniya and Department of Animal Production
and Health, Peradeniya