CattleRaising & Fattening on Your Backyard Part 3 of 3

General Guide for Cattle Farmers
A. Selection of Feeder Stock

• Purchase feeder stock from reliable breeders or select good quality steers from the
  livestock market.

B. Deworming and Spraying

• Have fecal examination conducted to determine proper drugs for deworming. Spray animals to control external parasites such as ticks, lice and flies.

C. Disease Prevention

1. Never buy sick cattle. Make sure the animals are not stressed. Provide good sanitation.
2. Proper nutrition will help ensure the health of cattle and increase their resistance to diseases. Salt in the diet will help prevent footrot.
3. Don’t mix newly arrived animals with cattle already on feed. New arrivals should receive good quality roughage as a starter ration and then give water three to four hours later.
4. Bathed the animals at least once a week to clean them and to improve their feed intake.
5. Be alert for signs of illness. Isolate sick animals right away. Deworm and immunize the animals from major infectious diseases. Spray the animals with insecticide to eliminate parasites like ticks and blood sucking fleas. In coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) or the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, vaccinate against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Hemorrhagic septicemia and other common diseases.

D. Feeding Management Practices

1. Feed animals daily with concentrate one to two kilograms per day during fattening period. Give roughage daily at 3% of body weight if given air dry or 8.75 if given fresh.
2. Give clean water without limit or ad libitum. Provide ordinary table salt about 30-50 grams per head per day.
3. Give the animals fresh, palatable feed and clean water at all times. Reduction of feed intake by 5 percent will reduce weight gain by 10 percent. Do not overstock feeds in the feedbunk since the bottom portion will develop heat and make the feed stale.
4. Mix feed properly. Have at least 15-20 percent roughage in feed to prevent bloat and other digestive disorders.
5. During rainy days, cattle will eat more during the daytime. During summer, they will eat more at night and during the cooler hours. Provide enough feeds during these periods.
6. Digestion will be more efficient if roughage is eaten separately from concentrates. Roughage consumption tends to stimulate saliva secretion up to as much as 80-120 liters per day.
7. Providing l2-14 inches of bunk space per head will allow cattle to eat slowly. This will help increase the rumen’s efficiency thereby facilitating digestion.
8. Schedule manure removal. If allowed to remain with the animals, deep, wet manure will reduce both feed intake and weight gain.

E. Confinement of Animals

• Provide proper and adequate space for confinement.

F. Bathing the Animals

• Bathe and wash animals at least once a week to increase feed consumption and promote sanitation.

G. Marketing of Animals

• The desired finishing weight of fattened cattleof275-325 kgs. is attained in 180 days after date of purchase. Visit the “Oksyon” Market nearest your place.

source: www.gov.ph, photo from article.wn.com