Chapter 9( Agriculture TLe Report) Cattle Raising

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Chapter 9

Cattle fattening and production

Fattening cattle prior to slaughter increases the dressing percentage and improves the quality of beef. Thus, the value of

the animal is increased.

IN some countries, feedlot cattle are fed w/ harvested crops (mostly grains) so as to put them in good finish.

In the Philippines like in Iloilo and Batangas, backyard feedlot fattening of cattle utilizes primarily ipil-ipil and other farm

by products as feeds. Batangas today is the main source of prime beef in Metro Manila.

Feedlot operation is suited in areas where farm by- products such as sugarcane tops, corn stover, rice straw, and

pineapple pulp, and such concentrates as corn gluten, rice bran, molasses, and copra meal are abundantly available.

The demand for an animal protein, especially for high- quality beef, is very high. Potential demand for the canning sector

is great.

Fattening cattle feedlot requires simple care and management.

Feedlot fattening requires little space for housing. The space needed is relatively small; Feeder stock requires a floor

space of 30-50 sq. per head.

There is fast turnover of capital. The fattening period is relatively short and may range from 120-180 days after which

the animals can be sold at a profit.

Feedlot projects have less problem losses from diseases and parasites because the stocks are confines and production

period is relatively short.

Cattle fattening In the feedlot produces better meat quality as manifested by the improved marbling score on thecarcasses.

Reporter: Divine

Management practices

Feeder stocks selection

In selecting and buying feeder stock, careful consideration must be given to the relative prices of the animals at various

ages, weights, and their quality uniformity and body condition. To produce the best meat and to make profit, the

livestock operator should pay attention to the potential of the animals to gain weight.

A good feeder stock has good conformation with well-sprung ribs, low set body which has more width and depth in it. It

has greater capacity for higher feed intake and makes more economical flesh in the regions of valuable cuts.

Two-to-three-year-old cattle need less feed for every unit weight gain.

Thin cattle of about 2-3 yrs. old are usually preferred for feedlot fattening, particularly when the prices of feeds are

down. However, when cattle are relatively cheap and cost of feeds is high, feeders in good condition should be selected.

Likewise, if the feeding period is only about 3-4 months to cope with the market demand, feeder stock with good flesh

should be bought for the further fattening.



Researchers have shown that thin but healthy cattle usually gain faster and are more efficient in converting feeds into

meat than cattle in better condition. Healthy cattle are active and have smooth hair coat and bright eyes. The muzzle is

usually moist.

Feeder cattle are classified as weaning calves, steers, bulls, heifers, or cows. Weaning calves are usually 6 months to 1 yr

old: bulls are males: steers are castrated males: heifers are females that have not given birth to a young: while cows are

that have given birth to calves. Bulls kept in the feedlot give better rate on gain that steers or heifers, but they are more

difficult to handle. Steers are prefers to heifers especially when the animals are to be fattened for about 6-8 months.

Steers are usually more available in the market and easier to manage.

The feed conversion efficiency ( FCE) of upgraded and improved breeds are higher than native animals. It is therefore

recommended that this type of animals be used in the feedlot fattening project.

Sources of feeder stocks

The Bureau of Animal Industry has accredited more than 45 livestock markets all over the country. The market for

feeder cattle, however, can be found in almost all provinces.

It is generally cheaper to buy cattle for fattening direct from the ranches. During dry months when grasses are scarce,

ranchers cut down their cattle population in the farm: thus, a good number of feeders is made available for sale.

Reporter: Dian

Handling during Transport

The animals should be handled as quietly and gently as possible. They should be loaded and unloaded with the use of a

sloping ramp. Unnecessary stress should be avoided.

Feeding

The first 3 weeks of feeder stocks in the feedlot are very critical. If feeders do not get started correctly, it is almost

certain that such cattle will be just boarders of the farm. Start the feeder stocks with fresh roughage and with limited

amount of concentrate. Then the amount of concentrate should be gradually increased up to economical level. To

estimate the daily feed requirements, studies show that young fatteners consume about 3 percent of their body weight

of air-dry feed. Older stock, on the other hand, consumes about 2.50 percent dry matter (DM) or 10-14 percent water

content in it. A formula on Page 104 shows an example of how feed requirements are calculated. The performance of

fatteners fed with the formula under experimental conditions is presented on the table on p. 110

Provide potable drinking water to the fatteners at all times. It is likewise essential that the macro and micro

requirements of the animals are met to ensure attainment of the optimum gain per unit feed intake.

Cattle as ruminant animals can utilize farm and industrial by-products which ordinarily have no value to man such ascorn stovers, rice straw, and hay. Improved grasses and legumes, particularly ipil-ipil has proven to be excellent feed for

feedlot fatteners.

Molasses is widely used as feed ingredient. It is a good source of energy and it increases the palatability of mixed ration.

Urea is a cheap source of nitrogen (protein) and can be used as supplement for ruminants. The microorganisms in the

rumen of these animals can utilize urea or non- protein nitrogen (NPN). In turn, cattle utilize microorganisms or true

protein in building up its own muscles.



Urea as an ingredient of the ration should be about one percent of the total air-dry weight of the compound mixture, or

not more than two to three percent of the concentrate mixture. Urea should be properly mixed in the ration to avoid

toxicity. It is most ideal if urea is mixed with molasses or any readily available carbohydrate ingredients in the ration for

proper and efficient utilization.

Reporter:bebs

Housing and fixtures

A feedlot fattening project requires minimum space for housing. A sheltered feeding area about 4 sq. meters and a

fenced run of about the same area or size per head is highly recommended. It is best to restrict the movement of the

animal at all times so that it uses less energy and gains weight quickly. Do not use barbed wires or any materials with

sharp edges because it can cause injury to the cattle.

The shed should be made of native materials but for durability, wood, concrete, and G.I. sheets may be used. Since

feedlot cattle will spend most of their time eating, each animal should have enough feeding and watering spaces. Floors

must be made of concrete for easy cleaning and better drainage.

Herd Health and General Management

Newly-bought stocks subjected to considerable stress as they move into a new environment. It is recommended that

antibiotic-vitamin-mineral supplement be given to offset this stress. It is best to ass the mixture of concentrate mix to

the drinking water. Suspected and sick animals should be isolated immediately for treatment and observation.

Immediately upon arrival in the feedlot project, feeder stocks should be confined and provided with clean water and

low-energy feed. Do not give young and succulent grasses to avoid incidence of diarrhea and bloat. Keep the feedlot

area clean and well drained at all times to ensure proper sanitation. The deworming and external parasite control should

be carried out within a week after arrival of the feedlot.

It is necessary that the animals are closely checked every day to detect sick animals as early as possible. Such signs are

reduced feed intake, unusual behavior, appearance of abnormal discharges, etc., must be looked into immediately.

Consult a competent veterinarian for proper disposal and treatment of sick cattle.

Reporter:Mary

Forage and Pasture crop Production

Forage and pasture crops are essential in beef production because they provide the cheapest gains when fed to feedlot

stock. To ensure efficient utilization of these feeds, they should be used at the right stage of growth when the digestible

nutrients are high and when they are more palatable. Young and succulent forage contains more nutrients, phosphorus,

calcium, and vitamins, particularly carotene, when compared with mature forage. Mature legumes and grasses,

however, have higher dry matter content than the young forages.

Improved pasture includes compatible mixtures of legumes and grasses. Recommended grasses are Para grass, Napier,

and Guinea grass. I pil-I pil , centrosome, and tropical kudzu are some of the recommended legumes. A legume-grass

mixture ensures greater herbage yield, especially during the dry season, provides more balanced nutrition for the

animals, and improves soil fertility.

Grow ipil-ipil as fodder. When established to support commercial feedlot projects. I pil-ipil Is planted in hedgerows and

harvested manually or by a mechanical shopper to be brought to the cattle mixed with grasses.



Silage Making

Feedlot operators should not rely upon pastures as the sole source of roughage throughout the year, especially if the

farm is located in regions with distinct seasons, there is usually an excess of forage in the wet season and a shortage in

the dry season. When the pasture yield is low; feed the animals with preserved forage or silage.

Silage is preserved forage crops. Silage making also utilizes farm by-products such as cane tops, corn stalks, rice straw,etc. These forages are gathered and stored in a silo to preserve its palatability and nutrients. Silage is a high-quality

succulent feed if properly prepared. It has a firm texture, is green to brown in color and acidic in taste and odor.

Silos are either circular or vertical pits or trench type. A trench silo is cheaper to build when compared to other types.

Usually, a trench silo is built long and wide rather than deep because of water seepage. The side walls should be inclined

by about 2.5 to 5.0 cm per 50 cm. The flooring should gradually slope towards the emptying end of the silo to permit the

flow of excess water from the bottom of the ensiled forages. Trench silo should be protected from surface water to

prevent spoilage.

Reporter: Pauline

Manure Management

Manures handling is probably the most disagreeable activity on the farm and one that takes more time and equipment

than most of the feedlot operators want to spend. But it is becoming an increasingly important operation in every

feedlot project. Manure management, as opposed to manure disposal, Is probably the least understood of all potentially

profitable farming activities. The spiraling cost of commercial fertilizers has made it economically feasible to take

advantage of all the nutritive and organic value of manure.

A cattle weighing about 346 kg excretes 24.5kg manure daily. Proximate and mineral analysis of the waste shows that a

kilo of manure contains6 gram nitrogen (N), 4 grams Phosphorus (PO), and grams potassium (KO).

Steps in calculating Food requirement

Basic data:

1. Thin but healthy steer, 2 yrs old.

2. Body weight- 250 kg.

3. ..naputol .

4. Based on realistic availability and prices of fedds, the desired proportion of concentrate to roughage is 30% of

the daily feed allowance.

Procedure:

Step 1 . 6.2kg. x 0.30 = 1.86 kg. is the DM from concentrate mix

6.2 kg- 1.86kg= 4,34 kg. is the DM from roughage

Step 2. If the roughage is from soilage(freshly cut grasses) which contains about 20% DM, then the amount of

soilage is:

4.34 x 100/20= 21.70kg of soilage

if the concentrate mix has 86% DM, then:

1.86 x 100/86=2.16 kg. of concentrate mix



Step 3. The ratio of the steeras feed basis is:

21.70 kg of soilage

2.16 kg of concentrate mix

23.86 kg.- total daily feed requirement

Table 11

Feedlot Performance of Batangas Bulls Fed with Rice and Concentrateswith and without Fresh Ipil-Ipil Leaves

Supplement, 126 Days feeding Period

TRT Ratio components Total gain ADG Daily RS DMC kg. Intake 1² total FEC

I 50% rice straw

50% concentrate68.25 0.54 2.00 3.21 _ 6.21 11.50

II

A

35% rice straw

35% fresh ipil-ipil

30% concentrate

B

89.29** 0.71** 2.27 2.02 2.27 6.56* 0.36*

*significant(P<0.05).

**significant(P<0.01).

Reporter: jessa

Documents

Chapter 9( Agriculture TLe Report) Cattle Raising