The Cattle Fattening Process: Methods, Feed Formula, and Cost

Engage in the art of cattle fattening as we delve into the intricacies of the process. Explore the science behind maximizing weight gain in bovine buddies, from diverse methods to optimal feed formulas. Unravel the economic side, understanding the costs involved in this agricultural endeavor.

Cattle Fattening Process

Introduction to Cattle Fattening

Cattle fattening is a livestock production strategy that lowers animal activity, allowing cattle to fatten faster. Larger animals can be sold for a higher price on the market since they produce more meat. Cattle fattening is one of the newly developing actions that can generate income and employment for urban and pre-urban dwellers, especially those displaced by urbanization, and form cattle fattening associations at the small-scale microfinance level.

Cattle fattening is also an effective device for poverty alleviation and requires attention to be focused on smallholder cattle fatteners, with the private sector as an engines of economic vitality.

Housing Requirements for Cattle During the Fattening Phase

Cattle fattening requires adequate housing facilities to protect the animals from adverse weather conditions and predators. The housing should also provide enough space, ventilation, lighting, drainage, and sanitation. The housing design may vary depending on the climate, topography, and availability of materials. Common housing types are open sheds, covered yards, feedlots, and barns. The housing should have feeders, waterers, and bedding materials ensure comfort, and health of the cattle.

Various Feeding Methods Used in Cattle Fattening

Cattle fattening involves three main feeding methods: dry, wet, and thin. Dry feeding uses dry roughages like hay, straw, silage, or crop residues, suitable for low rainfall areas and easy storage. It provides high-quality nutrients and moisture but may cause digestive problems. Wet feeding uses wet roughages like fresh grass, legumes, or fodder crops, suitable for high rainfall areas and abundant green fodder.

It provides high-quality nutrients and moisture and enhances appetite and digestion, but it may be expensive, difficult to store, and spoil easily. Thin feeding mixes roughages and concentrates, suitable for areas with limited roughage or fodder sources, providing a balanced diet but may be costly and require careful management.

Feed Formulation in Cattle Fattening (Different Components)

Feed formulation combines various ingredients to create a balanced diet for cattle, considering factors like age, weight, breed, sex, health status, production level, feed availability, cost, and market demand. The main components of feed formulation include roughages, which provide bulk and stimulate rumination, and concentrates, which provide starch, sugar, fat, protein, minerals, and vitamins.

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Farm Worker Feeding Calves in Cattle Shed

Concentrates should make up 40-60% of the total diet. Supplements are feed additives that enhance the diet quality or prevent diseases or deficiencies in cattle. They include minerals, vitamins, antibiotics, and hormones, usually given in small amounts (less than 1% of the total diet) according to specific needs.

Various Feed Ingredients Used in Cattle Fattening Diets

Feed Ingredient	Dry Matter (%)	Crude Protein (%)	Crude Fiber (%)	Digestible Energy (Mcal/kg)
Corn grain	88	9	2	3.5
Wheat grain	88	12	3	3.4
Barley grain	88	11	5	3.2
Soybean meal	88	44	7	2.6
Cottonseed meal	90	41	13	2.4
Molasses	75	5	–	3.0
Distillers grains	90	28	9	2.8
Alfalfa hay	90	18	30	2.0
Grass hay	90	10	35	1.6
Corn silage	35	8	25	1.8
Grass silage	30	7	30	1.5

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Its Significance in Cattle Fattening

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) measures feed efficiency, which indicates the amount of feed needed to produce one unit of weight gain in cattle. It is calculated by dividing the total feed consumed by weight gain. A lower FCR means less feed is needed to produce more weight gain, reducing production costs and environmental impact.

A higher FCR means more feed is needed to produce less weight gain, increasing production costs and environmental impact. The FCR of cattle fattening depends on factors like feed type and quality, cattle breed and health, housing and management practices, market demand, and beef price. The average FCR ranges from 6:1 to 10:1, depending on these factors.

Water Management in Cattle Fattening

Water is an essential nutrient for cattle fattening, affecting their growth, health, and welfare.
Water intake depends on various factors such as the type and amount of feed, the temperature and humidity of the environment, the activity and stress level of the cattle, and the quality and availability of water.
Water intake can be estimated by multiplying the dry matter intake by a factor of three to five.
For example, if a cattle consumes 10 kg of dry matter daily, it will need about 30 to 50 liters of water daily.
Water should be always provided ad libitum (free access) to cattle fattening.

Health Management in Cattle Fattening

Health management is a vital aspect of cattle fattening that aims to prevent or treat diseases or disorders affecting cattle growth, quality, or welfare.
Health management involves various practices such as vaccination, deworming, castration, dehorning, identification, record keeping, biosecurity, quarantine, diagnosis, treatment, etc.
Health management should be based on a comprehensive health plan developed in consultation with a veterinarian or an animal health expert.
The health plan should include the following elements:- A vaccination schedule covering common diseases that may affect cattle fattening, such as foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, blackleg, brucellosis, etc.
A deworming schedule controls the internal parasites affecting cattle fattening, such as roundworms, tapeworms, flukes, etc.
A castration schedule that prevents unwanted pregnancies and improves the growth and carcass quality of male cattle.
A dehorning schedule that prevents injuries and infections caused by horns and improves the handling and transportation of cattle.
An identification system that allows easy recognition and traceability of individual cattle using ear tags, tattoos, brands, etc.
A record-keeping system that records the important information about each cattle, such as its origin, age, weight, breed, health status, feed intake, performance, etc.

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Growth Monitoring During the Fattening Phase

Growth monitoring is crucial during the fattening phase for optimizing cattle development. It assesses parameters like weight gain, body condition score, and feed conversion rates, providing insights into metabolic efficiency. Biochemical markers like blood urea nitrogen and serum proteins gauge nutritional adequacy. Ultrasound technology allows precise muscle and fat deposition measurement, enabling informed diet and management practice adjustments.

Cost Aspects of Cattle Fattening

Cattle fattening is raising cattle to produce beef for consumption, which involves feeding them high-energy diets to increase their live weight and body fat. The cost of beef production from cattle fattening depends on factors such as the length of the fattening period, daily live weight gain, farm capacity, input and output prices, and environmental impacts.

In Turkey, researchers found that the longer fattening period, daily live weight gain, and increased farm capacity negatively affect production costs. In Indonesia, researchers found that the cost of fattening cattle was IDR 40,509.00/kg live weight, while the selling price of live cattle was IDR 44,579.00. In a global comparison, raising beef cattle is far more environmentally costly than poultry, pork, dairy, or eggs, as cattle require 28 times more land and 11 times more water per calorie.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Cattle Fattening Process

What’s the Optimal Method for Cattle Fattening?

The best approach involves a balanced diet meeting nutritional needs alongside proper care and shelter. Methods include intensive feeding, semi-intensive feeding, and grazing.

What are the Pros and Cons of Different Feed Formulas?

Various formulas impact growth rate, meat quality, and profitability. Ingredients like grains, hay, silage, oilseeds, and supplements influence outcomes based on cost, availability, and desired results.

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Conclusion

Mastering the cattle fattening process demands a scientific approach. Combining optimal methods, precise feed formulas, and a keen understanding of costs ensures productive and economically sound practices, marking a holistic and informed approach to successful cattle fattening.