Latest BIS Guidelines of Compounded Feeds for Cattle in India

The Bureau of Indian Standards established in 2009 standards for feeds/feed materials intended
for meat and milk producing animals.On December 10, 2019, the FSSAI issues guidelines, based on the Food
Safety and Standards Act (2006), requiring commercial feeds/feed materials intended for food producing
animals to comply with the relevant BIS standards, and to be manufactured, imported, distributed, and sold only
with BIS Certification Mark ,With the new FSSAI guidelines, the intent is to make the BIS standards mandatory.
The authority’s action is premised on the imported nature of commercial feeds/feed materials and their
utilization in the domestic meat (i.e., from the domestic/Asian water-buffalo, Bubalus bubalis) and dairy (both
water buffalo and Bos taurus) cattle herds. The FSSAI guidelines set an implementation date of June 10, 2020,
six-months from the date of issue of the notification.On January 27, 2020, nevertheless the FSSAI amends its December 10, 2019, guidelines. It notes that commercial feeds intended for cattle will comply with BIS specifications only for compounded feeds for cattle (IS 2052:2009) and shall carry a BIS Certification Mark on the label of products. Implementation is set to begin six-months from the date of issue of this guideline, that is on July 27, 2020. On July 24, 2020, the authority,however, amends the guidelines’ compliance timeline, establishing a new compliance date of January 21, 2021.
On January 1, 2021, the FSSAI extends the compliance date for stakeholders to adopt BSI standards pertaining
to the commercial feeds/feed materials intended for meat and milk producing animals. The new compliance
date is July 1, 2021, with the timeline extended to accommodate requests from industry stakeholders due to the
COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the nationwide lockdown in early 2020.

On July 14, 2021, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) (authority) extended the
compliance timeline for guidelines issued for commercial feeds/feed materials (i.e., compounded cattle feed)
intended for meat and milk producing animals. The extension applies to a relatively limited pool of industry
stakeholders, who encountered difficulties in obtaining Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification/licensing
during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic second wave (see, Appendix I). The new compliance date, for
this group, is set for January 1, 2022. The notification is accessible on the FSSAI website located at:
https://fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2021/07/60eeaf0a1cb43Extension_TimeLine_Meat_milk_14_07_2021.pdf

WHAT IS NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT?
  • Nutrient requirement is a statement of what animals on an average requires for a particular function.
  • Whereas the nutrient allowance is greater than the nutrient requirements as it includes margin of safety.
  • The margin of safety is given to take care of the variations in requirement between individual animals.

Nutrient requirement may be calculated for

  • Two purpose
    • For maintenance
    • For production purposes. (milk, meat, wool, egg, work etc.)

Maintenance

  • The maintenance ration is that which takes care of the needs of animals at rest to carry out the basic essential processes of life such as breathing and circulation of blood, without either gain or loss of weight.

Production

  • Nutrient supplied to the animal over and above its maintenance requirement is available for production (growth, milk production, reproduction and work.)
DIGESTIBLE CRUDE PROTEIN (DCP) and TOTAL DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENT (TDN)

Digestible crude protein

  • To find out the digestible crude protein (DCP) content of a feed,multiply the digestibilty coefficient of the crude protein with the crude protein content of the feedstuff.

DCP= Digestibilty Co-efficient x CP

Where, CP represents crude protein content of the feed.

Total Digestible Nutrients

  • It is a measure of apparent digestible energy, but it is expressed in units of weight or per cent rather than energy per se. It is the most widely used expression of energy system in the 20th century. Digestibility coefficients are used to compute the TDN: Digestible ether extract is multiplied by 2.25 since its energy is 2.25 times of carbohydrates.

TDN = DCP + DCF + DNFE + (DEE x 2.25)

  • Percentage Digestible nutrient is calculated as follows:
  • If the digestibility coefficient of protein in soyabean meal is 75 % and the protein content is 45%. The digestible crude protein content of soybean meal is 45 x 75/100 = 33.75 %.

Example calculation of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and DCP

*Factors used to put on a carbohydrate-equvalent basis.

1 kg TDN = 4.4 Mcal DE or 4400 Kcal DE

ME = DE X 82 / 100 (ruminants)

Using the above example, TDN content of a feed = 66.2%

DE content of the feed = 4400 x 66.2 /100 = 2913 Kcal

ME content of the feed = 2913 x 82/100 = 2389 Kcal (ruminants)

Total digestible nutrients (TDN)

  • Total digestible nutrients (TDN), indicates the relative energy value of feed to an animal.
  • Calculation of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)
  • TDN (%) = % DCP + % DCF + % DNFE + (% DEE x 2.25).
NutrientsPercentage value
Digestibe crude potein4.28 %
Digestible crude fiber9.55%
Digestible N-free extract29.90%
Digestile crude fat x 2.25 (1.10 x 2.25)2.48%
Total46.21% (TDN)
  • Feeds listed and grouped according to their percentage of TDN for cattle – As fed basis

Group.A. Primarily the pure fats and other high fat feeds, plus certain other feeds of generally high digestibility.

Feed stuffsTDN value (%)
Hydrolysed animal fat223.0
Soybean oil194.0
Corn oil172.8
Peanut kernels131.0
Cotton seed88.0
Soya bean seeds83.0

Group.B. Mostly low- fiber grains and grain by-products.

Feed stuffsTDN value (%)
Dried brewers grain81.0
Corn gluten meal78.0
Sorghum (Jowar) grain78.0
Wheat grain78.0
Corn (Maize) grain77.0
44% Soyabean meal75.0
41% solvent extracted cotton seed meal70.0
Peanut meal71.0

Group.C.Largely the more fibrous grains and by-products and concentrates.

Feed stuffsTDN value (%)
Soyabean hulls70.0
Copra meal68.0
36% cottonseed meal67.0
Dried alfalfa leaves64.0
Rapeseed meal63.0
Rice bran63.0
Wheat bran63.0
Beet molasses61.0
Wheat middlings61.0
Sunflower meal60.0

Group.D. Predominantly the hays, hay meals, straws, hulls corn cobs,corn stover and cane molasses.

Feed stuffsTDN value (%)
Poultry manure59.0
Oats hay56.0
Dehydrated alfalfa meal55.0
Cow pea hay53.0
Alfalfa hay52.0
Millets hay51.0
Peanut hay50.0
Oat straw47.0
Ground corn cobs45.0
Cotton seed hulls41.0
Cane molasses54.0

Exercise

  • Calculate the digestibility coefficients of the nutrients with given data and also calculate the TDN.
    A bullock consumed 10 kg of hay per day. Over the experimental period, the animal excreted 15 kg of wet faeces per day. The per cent chemical composition of hay and faeces were as follows:
HayFaeces
Moisture970
Crude protein6.51.8
Ether extract2.50.8
Crude fibre27.58.5
Total ash10.518
  • Calculate the DCP and TDN of the feed with given data:
Chemical composition (%)Digestibility (%)
Crude protein8.660
Ether extract2.560
Crude fibre11.650
NFE42.558

DCP = 6.5

CALCULATION OF BODY WEIGHT
  • Where it is not possible to weigh the animals the body weight can be calculated by using Shaeffer’s formula.

For Cattle

W = LG2
300

  • W = Body weight in pounds
  • L = Length of the animal in inches. It is from the point of the pin bone and the shoulder.
  • G = Girth in inches. It is the circumference measured just behind the point of elbow.

The body weight can be converted to kg by the formula 1kg = 2.2 pounds.

READ MORE :  POST –PARTUM MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR IN COW & BUFFALO

For Buffaloes

W = GL
Y

  • W = Weight of the animal in seers.
  • 1 seer is equal to 0.93 kgs.
  • G = Girth of the animal in inches.
  • L = Length of the animal in inches.
  • Y = is a constant.
  • When G is below 65, Y is 9.0
  • When G is between 65 to 80, Y is 8.5
  • When G is above 80, Y is 8.0.
METABOLIC BODY WEIGHT

Metabolic body weight (W0.75)

  • Body weight to the power of 0.75.
  • This is calculated by using Logarithm tables or a calculator.

Using Logarithm tables

Logarithm value=2.6021 x 0.75 = 1.9516
Antilogarithm value for metabolic body weight}=89.44

Using a calculator

  • Body weight to the power of 3 and press the square root key twice, you will get the metabolic body weight.
  • 400 x 400 x 400 = √64000000 →√8000 → 89.44
DRY MATTER ,ENERGY,PROTEIN AND WATER REQUIREMENT FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS
  • The total quantity of dry matter the animal can consume per day should be known, so that we can compute the ration in a manner that the entire quantity of the nutrients required is present in the dry matter, the animal is able to consume.
  • Cattle will generally consume 2.0 to 2.5 kg. of dry matter per 100 kg. body weight.
  • Buffaloes, crossbred animals and heavy yielders consume 2.5 to 3.0 kg dry matter per 100 kg body weight.
  • In mid lactation (10-29 weeks) DM intake has to be increased by 1.7 kg/day.
  • In late lactation (30 weeks onwards) DM intake has to be increased by 4.1 kg / day.
  • In early lactation, the probable DMI may be up to 18 % less than mid lactation.

DM Requirments of cattle and buffaloes

FunctionCattleBuffaloes
Maintenance64.35 g / kg mbwt62 g/ kgmbw
Growth5.0 G/ GRAM GAIN5.0 g/ g gain
Lactation450 G/ KG 4 % FCM524 G / KG 6 % FCM
Pregnancy1.5-2.0% b.wt + (1) 20 % of maintenance extra during – 1st pregnancy (2) 10 % of maintenance extra during – 2nd pregnancy1.5-2.0% b.wt + 20 % of maintenance extra during – 1st pregnancy 10 % of maintenance extra during – 2nd pregnancy
Breeding bulls1.5-2.0% bwt1.5-2.0% bwt
Working animals2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% for light, medium and heavy works2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% for light, medium and heavy works
Calves (1-3 months)35-45 g/ metabolic weight35-45 g/ metabolic weight
Calves (3-6months)65-80 g/ metabolic weight65-80 g/ metabolic weight

Energy requirements

FunctionCattleBuffaloes
Maintenance37 g TDN / KG MBT35-40 g TDN / KG MBT
Growth2.70 G TDN / G GROWTH2.0 G TDN / G GROWTH
Lactation
Maintenance37 g TDN / KG MBT35 g TDN / KG MBT
4 or 6 % FCMTDN=325 G/ KG 4 % FCMTDN=406.32 G/ KG 6 % FCM
Pregnancy20 % of maintenance extra during – 1st pregnancy 10 % of maintenance extra during – 2nd pregnancy + 1.0 kg TDN during last trimester of pregnancy20 % of maintenance extra during – 1st pregnancy 10 % of maintenance extra during – 2nd Pregnancy + 1.0 kg TDN during last trimester of pregnancy
GROWTH2.70 g TDN / g GROWTH2.0 g TDN / g GROWTH
Breeding bulls41.0 g TDN/kg MW41.0 g TDN/kg MW
Working2.4 Mcal ME/kg B.wt/2.4 Mcal ME/kg B.wt/hr

Potein requirments

  • The protein in practical diet supply some dietary protein that escapes rumen fermentation and this protein plus the microbial protein produced from supplemental NPN may be enough to produce 20 kg 4 % FCM / day
  • Similarly, the protein in practical diets that meet the CP or DCP requirements plus energy may be enough to supply enough amino acids for 700 g growth / day
  • 6% FCM (kg) = 0.308 M (kg) + 11.54 F (kg)
  • 4% FCM (kg) = 0.4 M (kg) + 15 F (kg)
FunctionCattleBuffaloes
Growth
Maintenance2.75 g DCP or 5.5 g CP / kg MW2.75 g DCP/ kg MW or 5.5 g CP / kg MW
growth0.41 g DCP or 0.75 g CP per g gain0.23 g DCP or 0.33 g CP per g gain
lactation
Maintenance2.75 g DCP/ kg MW OR 5.5 g CP / kg MW3.1 g DCP/ kg MW OR 5.5 g CP / kg MW
growth0.41 g DCP or 0.75 g CP per g gain0.23 g DCP or 0.33 CP per g gain
Milk (6% FCM)57.0 g DCP or 90 g CP per kg 4 % FCM55.0 g DCP or 90 g CP per kg 6 % FCM
Breeding7.5 g CP/ kg MBWT
Working2.4 Mcal ME/kg B.wt/hr

Water

  • Lactating dairy cows in the tropics require 60 to 70 L of water per day for maintenance, plus an extra 4 to 5 L for each litre of milk produced.
  • Water requirements rise with air temperature. An increase of 4°C will increase water requirements by 6 to 7 L/d.
  • High yielding milking cows can drink 150 to 200 L water/d during the hot season.
NUTRIENTS REQUIREMENT FOR MAINTENANCE
  • TDN requirement = 34 g TDN/Kg W 75
  • DCP requirement = 2.84 g DCP/Kg W 75

Calcium and Phosphorus requirement

  • Animals weighing 250 to 400 kg of body weight the requirement of Calcium is 25 g; and the Phosphorus requirement is 17 g per day .
  • Above 400 kg of body weight the requirement of Calcium is 31 g ; and phosphorus requirement is 23 g per day .

Energy and Protein requirements for maintenance

  • Data on maintenance requirement of energy were obtained by using short term trials in which the dry, non-producing animals of same sex and body weight were fasted, kept in thermo-neutral environment and their heat production was determined (fasting metabolism). The fasting metabolism gives an estimate about the minimum quantity of net energy that must be supplied to the animals to keep energy equilibrium. This has been estimated both by direct and indirect calorimetry. Most of the work on energy requirementin India was conducted using indirect calorimetry.
  • Lot of work has been conducted on energy requirementfor maintenance of dry animal where the energy requirement is reported to be 61 to 104 k cal / kg W
  • Data on protein requirementswere generated by using factorial method, where endogenous urinary nitrogen (EUN) and metabolic faecal nitrogen (MFN) are estimated to assess protein requirements (Kehar, 1944). The EUN excretion in Indian cattle was reported to be 0.02g/kg b.wt. The EUN excretion is proportional to body size (W)
  • Lot of work has been conducted to determine the protein requirementfor maintenance. Most of the workers have followed factorial methods but lately 35 regression models suggested by Moe et al. (1970-71) have been used to calculate protein requirements. These reports indicate that the DCP requirement for maintenance ranges from 1.97 to 4.21 g/kg metabolic body size. The requirement of 2.48 g/kg W

Daily nutrient requirement for maintenance of mature cows/buffaloes.

Body Weight (kg)Dry feed (kg)DCP (g)ME McalTDN kgCa gP gCarotene mgVitamin A 1000 IU
2003.51506.01.787219
2504.01707.22.01092611
3004.52008.42.412103213
3505.02309.42.714113715
4005.525010.83.017134217
4506.028012.43.418144819
5006.530013.23.720155321
5507.033014.44.021165823
6007.535015.54.222176426

(Source: Nutrient requirements of Livestock and Poultry by S.K.Ranjhan)

0.75and maintenance requirement during lactation to be 113 to 160 k cal / kg W0.75. On going through the data, the requirement proposed by Sen et al. (1978) and Ranjhan (1980) have been taken to calculate the energy requirement for maintenance i.e. 122 k cal of ME/ kg W0.75 for both cattle and buffaloes. 0.75). The MFN values determined in Indian cattle were 0.35g/100 g DMI and in buffaloes were 0.34g/100 g DMI. 0.75 as proposed by Sen et al. (1978) and Ranjhan (1980, 1991) has been used for calculating the DCP requirement for maintenance.

BIS specifications for compounded feeds for cattle

BIS SPECIFICATIONS FOR COMPOUNDED FEEDS FOR CATTLE
S.No.Characteristic RequirementType 1Type 2
1Moisture (max)1111
2Crude protein (min)2220
3Crude fat (min)3.02.5
4Crude fibre (max)712
5Acid insoluble ash (max)3.04.0
BIS SPCIFICATIONS (%) FOR MINERAL MIXTURES FOR CATTLE 
S.No.Characteristic (percent by mass)Requirement
with saltwithout salt
1Moisture, (max)55
2Calcium, (min)2228
3 4Phosphorus, (min) Magnesium (min)9 512 6.5
5Salt (chlorine as Nacl) (min)22
6Iron, (min)0.40.50
7Iodine (as KI), (min)0.020.03
8Copper, (min)0.060.08
9Manganese, (min)0.10.12
10Cobalt, (min)0.010.012
11Fluorine, (max)0.050.04
12 13Zinc,(min) Sulphur (max)0.3 0.40.38 0.5
14 15Acid Insoluble ash, (Max) Spores of Bacillus anthracis,clostridium sp3 NIL2.5 NIL
NUTRITV VALUE OF FEEDS AND FODDER FOR RUMINANTS (% ON DM BASIS)
DMCPDCPTDNCaP
NON LEGUME-GREEN FORAGES
NAPIER GRASS206.02.544.00.500.68
PARA GRASS208.04.559.00.280.16
GUINEA GRASS206.03.051.00.390.16
CYANADON DACTYLON
(Arugam pul in tamil)
205.52.545.00.360.10
SORGHUM2010.02.550.00.270.24
MAIZE205.53.560.00.560.11
OATS2010.04.560.00.330.17
BARLEY207.04.559.00.470.18
LEGUME-GREEN FORAGE
COWPEA2020.012.559.01.470.30
LUCERNE2022.013.559.01.50.25
SOOBABUL2028.014.055.01.60.1
SESBANIA (AGATHI)2030.015.052.01.60.1
STRAWS
PADDY STRAW903.8450.220.08
WHEAT STRAW902.90.3480.30.16
SORGHUM STRAW903.01.5560.50.5
RAGI STRAW901.50.3520.390.20
HAY
SORGHUM HAY905.62.5510.260.24
BARLEY HAY90105570.470.18
OAT HAY9052.5600.330.17
GROUND NUT HAULMS9020.512491.890.26
LUCERNE HAY9030.016.5552.20.2
COWPEA9020.610.5501.470.30
CONCENTRATES
CEREAL GRAINS
BAJRA9010.74.585.00.010.44
SORGHUM9010.87.585.00.110.41
MAIZE9097.588.00.020.29
VEGETABLE PROTEIN SOURCES
COCONUT OIL CAKE9025.020.072.00.20.5
COTTON SEED CAKE9040.532.072.00.100.62
GRAM9022.820.074.00.270.28
SOYA BEAN MEAL9045.840.072.00.230.54
GROUND NUT CAKE9047.342.070.00.160.54
SEASAME CAKE9047.838.070.02.121.26
CEREAL BYPRODUCTS
WHEAT BRAN901410.567.00.131.05
RICE BRAN9013.38.560.00.051.64
     0.091.35
GRAM HUSK903.6551.060.04
MOLASSES703.21.575.00.480.06
Stovers
Maize stover903.60.555
Sorghum stover904.30.555
Millet903.30.3 to 0.755
Average903.70.555
Pulse straws
Black gram straw9010.15.558
Cow pea straw908.15.558
Green gram straw9010.16.058
Average9010.15.858
NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT FOR LACTATION

Energy and protein requirements for lactation

  • In practical feeding many factors like level of intake, proportion of concentrate to roughage and the quality of roughage, physical form of the ration (grinding, pelleting etc.) will affect the energy requirement. The requirement proposed by Sen (1978) and Ranjhan et al (1982, 1991) of 1,188 kcal of ME per kg of 4% fat corrected milk was taken to calculate the energy requirementof dairy cattle and buffaloes.
  • The requirement of 132 g digestible nitrogen per 100 g of milk nitrogen proposed by Sen (1978) and Ranjhan (1980, 1992) was taken to calculate the DCP requirement.

Nutrient requirements per Kg of milk production (ICAR, 1998)

% fatDCP (g)TDN (kg)ME (Mcal)Ca (g)P (g)
3.0400.2700.972.51.8
4.0450.3151.132.72.0
5.0510.3701.282.92.2
6.0570.4101.363.12.4
7.0630.4601.543.32.6
8.0690.5101.803.52.8
9.0750.5002.063.73.0
10.0810.6002.163.93.2
11.0850.7002.343.43.4

TDN requirement

  • 330 g TDN/kg fat corrected milk.
  • Fat correction of milk (FCM) per Kg is 0.4 + 0.15F, where F is % of fat in milk.

ME requirement

  • Gross energy of one Kg of fat corrected milk is 750 kcal of energy = NE requirement per Kg FCM
  • Efficiency of ME of feed to NE for Milk production = 62 %
ME requirement per Kg FCM =750 x 100
————- 62

= 1200 Kcal

Efficiency of conversion of DE to ME = 82 %

DE requirement per Kg FCM =1200 x 100
————— 82

= 1460 Kcal

DCP requirement

  • The protein content of milk can be calculated by using the following formula.
  • Percentage of protein = 1.9 + 0.4F, where F is percentage of fat.
  • Then the DCP requirement is calculated by assuming that the Biological value of microbial protein in Cattle as 70%
    • The DCP requirement of 1 kg of milk with 5% fat
    • Percentage of protein = 1.9 + (0.4 x 5) = 3.9 % or 39 g in 1 kg.
    • Quantity of DCP required is (39 / 70) x 100 = 55.7 or 56 g of DCP for 1 kg of milk with 5% fat.

Mineral requirement for milk production

  • 8 g Calcium and 2.0 g phosphorus should be provided per kg of milk produced.
NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT FOR PREGNANCY

Energy and protein requirements for pregnancy

  • No systematic work on nutrient requirements for pregnancy has been done in India. Therefore, the requirements recommended by NRC (1988) have been adopted for feeding pregnant cattle and buffaloes till such time when Indian values for feeding of pregnant animals are available.

Requirements for maintenance and pregnancy (last 2 months) (ICAR, 1998)

(Kg) B. WtDry Feed (Kg)DCP (g)TDN (Kg)ME (Mcal)Ca (g)P (g)Carotene (mg)Vit.A 100 IU
2504.92703.010.814125121
3005.62903.412.416145625
3506.43203.713.221166727
4007.23504.014.123187630
4507.94004.415.926208634
5008.64304.817.329229538
5509.34655.218.8312410542
60010.05005.620.2342611446
65010.65306.021.6362812450
70011.35506.322.7393013353
75012.06006.724.2423214357
80012.66307.125.644341526

(Source : Nutrient requirement for Livestock and Poultry by S.K.Ranjhan)

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS FOR BREEDING BULLS
  • When bulls have properly developed, they are normally fed on maintenance requirement.
  • Overfeeding should be avoided as it leads to excessive fattening which lowers the libido.
  • No systematic work on nutrient requirements of breeding bulls had been conducted in the country. However, the requirements proposed by Ranjhan (1980) adopted from NRC (1971) have been adopted by ICAR (1998).
  • Nutrients required for breeding bulls per head per day
B. wt (kg)DCP (kg)SE (kg)TDN (kg)Ca (g)P (g)
4000.382.73.699
5000.453.44.51111
6000.534.25.41313
NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING BULLOCKS
  • Work production normally does not involve extra protein over the maintenance. The requirement of nutrients for bullocks for work production is comparatively lower than for fast moving horses.
  • For bullocks, the work has been categorized into 2 types
    • Normal work – working for 4 h of ploughing or 6 h of carting
    • Heavy work – working for 6 h of ploughing or 8 h of carting
  • Nutrient requirements for working animals / head / day
  • The nutrient requirements of bullocks for different types of work proposed by Sen (1978) and Ranjhan (1980, 1991) have been adopted by ICAR (1998).
B. wt (kg)Normal work DCP (kg) TDN (kg)Heavy work DCP (kg) TDN (kg)
2000.242.00.252.7
3000.333.10.424.0
4000.454.00.574.8
5000.564.90.716.4
6000.665.80.847.2
NUTIRENTS REQUIREMENT FOR GROWTH
  • Nutrient requirements for growing calves may be divided into 2 phases.
  • Pre-ruminant growth period
  • The nutrients required for pre-ruminant growth have been reported by Ranjhan (1972) and were adopted by ICAR (1998).
  • e. before the rumen is anatomically and physiologically developed.
  • Post-ruminant growth period
  • Vast data was available on growing zebu cattle, buffaloes and crossbred animals on different planes of nutrition from which nutrient requirements pertaining to protein and energy have been calculated. For minerals and vitamins, the requirements have been derived from NRC (1988) for a specific growth rate. The requirements have been given for growth rates of 550 and 600 g per day.
  • Nutrient requirements of preruminant cattle and buffalo calves (ICAR, 1998)
Age (days)B.wt (kg)Daily Gain (g)DCP (g)TDN (kg)ME (Mcal)Ca (g)P (g)Vit. A 100IUVit. D IU
0-1525200800.401.52.51.51.5200
16-3030300900.501.73.02.01.5250
31-60403001250.802.43.52.51.7250
61-90503501501.003.64.03.82.0300
  • Nutrient requirements for growing calves (cattle) (ICAR, 1998)
  • after the rumen has been developed.
(kg) B.wtGrowth rate (g)DM (kg)DCP (g)TDN (kg)ME (Mcal)Ca (g)P (g)Carotene (mg)Vit.A 100IU
70550 6002.1 2.3255 2601.4 1.55.0 5.48 86 67 73 3
80550 6002.4 2.5260 2701.5 1.65.4 5.89 97 77 83 3
100550 6002.8 3.0270 2802.1 2.27.6 7.910 108 810 103 3
120550 6003.2 3.7280 2902.3 2.48.3 8.614 1411 1111 114 4
140550 6003.7 4.2290 3002.5 2.69.0 9.414 1411 1116 166 6
160550 6004.2 4.7300 3202.7 2.89.7 10.115 1512 1216 166 6
180550 6004.7 5.2310 3202.9 3.010.4 10.815 1512 1218 188 8
200550 6005.2 5.7320 3303.1 3.211.2 11.516 1613 1322 229 9
220550 6005.7 6.2330 3403.3 3.411.9 12.218 1814 1424 2410 10
240550 6006.2 6.7340 3503.5 3.612.6 13.020 2016 1628 2812 12
260550 6006.7 7.2350 3603.7 3.813.3 13.720 2016 1630 3013 13
FEEDING OF CALVES UPTO 3 MONTHS
Age of calfWhole milk (g)Skim-milk (g)Calf-starter* (g)Good-quality hay (g)
1st 3 days2,500 (Colostrum)
4th to 7th day2,500
2nd Week3,000100300
3rd Week3,250300500
4th Week3,000400600
5th Week1,5001,000500700
6th Week2,500650750
7th Week2,000800850
8th Week1,7501,0001,000
9th Week1,250
(Up to 60th day)
1,2001,100
10th Week1,3001,200
11th Week1,4001,300
12th Week1,5001,500
13th Week2,0002,000
NUTRIENT (% of DM) SPECIFICATION OF CALF STARTER  AND NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT OF HEIFERS. 
NutrientAmount required
DCP18.0
TDN80.0
Fat3.0
ME ( Mcal/ kg DM)3.11
Ca0.60
P0.40
Vitamin A (IU/ kg)2,200
Vitamin D (IU/kg)300
Vitamin E (IU/kg)25

Daily Nutrient requirement of growing heifer calves

Live Weight(kg)Daily gain(g)DM (kg)DCP (g)TDN (kg)Ca(g)P (g)
20100560.441.10.8
25150700.541.51.1
352500.851000.742.51.5
504001.501401.023.82.1
754502.251751.315.43.2

Nutrient Requirements of Pre-ruminant Calves

AgeBody Weight (kg)Daily gain (g )DCP (g)TDN (kg)ME (Mcal/kg)Ca (g)P (g)Vit. A (IU)Vit D (IU)
Birth to 15 days25200800.401.52.51.5150200
15 to 30 days30200900.501.73.02.0150250
31 to 60 days403001250.802.43.52.5170250
60 to 90 days503501501.003.64.03.8200360

Calcium and Phosphorus requirement of growing cattle (Growth 500 g/day)

AgeBody Weight (kg)Daily gain (g )DCP (g)TDN (kg)ME (Mcal/kg)Ca (g)P (g)Vit. A (IU)Vit D (IU)
Birth to 15 days25200800.401.52.51.5150200
15 to 30 days30200900.501.73.02.0150250
31 to 60 days403001250.802.43.52.5170250
60 to 90 days503501501.003.64.03.8200360