Feed is one of the major factors that affect the performance of livestock production in relation to quality and quantity of products.
As farmers lack nutritious feed for livestock due to lack of enough green fodder, calcium deficiency causes poor growth, delayed lactation and poor reproduction. This affects mostly dairy cows which are high yielding.
Nutrient deficiency
As low calcium in animal‘s body weakens its bones, calcium deficiency causes milk fever in cows however, urgently contact vet to administer calcium infusion to cow otherwise it dies. Cows store calcium in bones.
Similarly, calcium is got from legumes hence give 2kg of legumes fodder, maize fodder and silage to cows everyday. Give animals leaves rich in calcium twice a week and then soak cotton seeds over a night and give each cow 1/2 kg daily. Give each cow 2kg of grass after milking and have enough feed during the dry season.
Continue by giving 2kg of balanced concentrates to pregnant cow during last 3 month of pregnancy and after calving give 250g of concentrates to cow. Mix 1kg of millet flour with brown sugar and give to cow after calving and after a month of calving, give bitter leaves to cow daily.
Mix egg shell flour in water with feed and give to cow. Put 1/2 kg of powdered limestone into pot and soak for one night in 5 litres of water and in morning take only upper layer of clear lime water from pot.
Finally, mix it with feed and give to cow and in case of severity consult vet.
