1Shrey Gautam, 2Sachin Gautam, 3Surbhi Singh, 1Jayant Kumar kakwani, 1Akash Pawar, 1Akanksha, 4Sonu Jaiswal
1MVSc Scholar, Department of Animal Nutrition
2Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition
3MVSc Scholar, Department of Livestock Production Management
4Head,Veterinary Clinical Complex
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry
Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology
Kumarganj, Ayodhya-224229
Introduction
When feed is correct medicine is of no need, when feed is incorrect medicine is of no use.
In livestock farming, feeding is the biggest cost. Many farmers still follow old beliefs that reduce milk and harm animal health. These feeding mistakes can cause low production, infertility, and unnecessary medical expenses.
Many dairy farmers feed their animals based on practices passed down from elders. Some of these ideas work, but many are outdated and silently reduce milk production. Incorrect feeding not only wastes money but also affects animal fertility and overall health.
Here are 10 very common feeding myths and their simple scientific truths that every farmer should know.
1. Myth: “More concentrate gives more milk.”
✔ Truth: Too much concentrate causes acidity in the cow’s stomach.
Cows need more roughage (bhusa + green fodder) and limited concentrate.
Balanced feeding keeps the rumen healthy and increases milk safely.
2. Myth: “Green fodder alone is enough.”
✔ Truth: High-yielding animals need more than green fodder.
They must receive:
Dry fodder, Concentrate mixture, Mineral mixture, Clean water
Only green fodder = low milk + weak body
3. Myth: “Salt is enough, mineral mixture is not needed.”
✔ Truth: Salt provides only sodium and chloride.
Animals also need calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, cobalt, etc.
Daily mineral mixture improves – Fertility, Bone strength, Immunity, Milk yield.
Mineral Mixture Guide for Farmers:
A good mineral mixture should have:
✔ High Calcium & Phosphorus
— for bones, milk, and fertility
✔ Some Magnesium
— prevents muscle weakness
✔ Iron, Copper, Zinc, Iodine, Cobalt
— for healthy calves, good heat cycle, healthy coat
✔ Very low Fluorine
— prevents teeth and bone damage
✔ NO harmful bacteria
— ensures animal safety
Before buying, ensure the package/label includes or you confirm:
The mixture is labelled under “Mineral Mixtures for Supplementing Cattle Feeds / Livestock Feeds.”
It is certified with BIS/ISI-Mark or shows a licence number.
The product label lists key minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, I, Fe, etc.), and indicates correct percentages or safe ranges, not just vague “vitamins + minerals”.
It is free-flowing powder (not lumps), with no visible adulterants, mold, bad smell.
4. Myth: “Urea feeding increases milk fast.”
✔ Truth: Urea is safe only in very small amounts.
Overfeeding urea can cause: Poisoning, Infertility, Animals refusing feed.
It must always be mixed properly.
Below are the safe feeding amounts for each stage
Calves (0–6 months)
NO UREA AT ALL
Rumen is not developed enough to handle urea.
Growing Heifers (6–12 months)
ONLY 10–15 grams per day
Mixed in concentrate
(or through small amount of urea-treated straw)
Reason:
Rumen microbes still developing → low tolerance.
Heifers (12–24 months)
✔ 20–30 grams per day
Only if mixed properly with:
Energy sources (maize, barley, grains)
Sufficient roughage
Dry Cows (Non-lactating adult cows)
✔ 30–50 grams per day
Best used when:
Fodder is poor quality
Straw-based ration is high
Lactating Cows (Milking cows)
✔ 40–80 grams per day (depending on milk yield)
Low yield (up to 5 L/day): 30–40 g/day
Moderate yield (6–10 L/day): 40–60 g/day
High yield (>10 L/day): 60–80 g/day
Condition: must be mixed with good energy feed; NOT raw.
Pregnant Cows (Dry-off to late gestation)
✔ 20–40 grams per day
Overfeeding urea during advanced pregnancy → risky.
5. Myth: “Adding more oil to the feed improves milk fat percentage.”
✔ Truth: Oil in excess harms digestion.
The cow’s rumen cannot handle too much raw oil.
Only bypass fat is safe for improving milk fat.
Bypass fat is a special type of fat that does not get digested in the rumen.
Instead, it reaches the intestine and gives energy directly → this helps increase milk yield, milk fat, and keeps the animal strong during heat stress and early lactation.
Below is the simple way to add it to the animal’s diet.
Buy Bypass Fat from a Good Company
- You can buy ready-made bypass fat powder from:
- Veterinary medicine shops
- Feed stores / feed mills
- Cooperatives (Amul, Sudha, Parag, Milma, etc.)
- Online stores
- Price: Usually ₹100–₹140 per kg.
Do NOT use normal ghee/oil.
Only protected/bypass fat works.
How Much to Feed Per Day?
- Give according to the milk yield:
- Low milk (6–8 L/day): 50 grams/day
- Medium milk (8–12 L/day): 75 grams/day
- High milk (12+ L/day): 100 grams/day
- Peak lactation (first 60 days): 100–150 grams/day
Do NOT give more than 150 grams/day → waste + digestion problem.
How to Mix It?
You can mix it like this:
Method 1: Mix with Concentrate
Take the animal’s usual dana (concentrate):
➡ Add bypass fat powder
➡ Mix with hand
➡ Give directly
Method 2: Mix with Gud + Dana
Many farmers prefer this:
➡ Take 1 handful of dana
➡ Add bypass fat
➡ Add a small piece of Jaggery
➡ Mix
➡ Feed immediately
The sweetness of Jaggery improves taste, and the animal eats the bypass fat easily.
Method 3: Mix with Dry Fodder
If animal does not eat powder:
➡ Sprinkle bypass fat on bhusa
➡ Mix well
➡ Then give
What NOT to Do (Very Important)
❌ Do NOT mix bypass fat in hot water
❌ Do NOT feed raw oil or ghee instead (it harms rumen)
❌ Do NOT give too much at one time
❌ Do NOT feed to animals not eating properly
❌ Do NOT feed expired or caked material
- Myth: “Feeding less in summer keeps animals cool.”
✔ Truth: Animals need more energy during heat stress.
- To reduce heat stress:
- Give cool water
- Provide shade
- Feed in evening
- Give electrolytes
- Use bypass fat , reducing feed worsens the problem.
7. Belief: “Urea-treated bhusa is not safe.”
✔ Truth: When prepared correctly, urea-treated bhusa is safe, softer, and more digestible.
It helps animals utilize poor-quality straw more effectively and reduces feed cost.
8. Myth: “Feeding gur/jaggery increases milk immediately.”
✔ Truth: Gur only gives sugar.
Milk production needs protein + minerals + good-quality fodder.
Gur alone cannot increase milk.
9. Myth: “Calves don’t need milk after 1 month.”
✔ Truth: Calves need milk for at least 3 months.
- Stopping milk early leads to:
- Weak growth
- Poor immunity
- Delayed maturity
Start fodder slowly, but do not stop milk early.
10.Myth: “If an animal is eating well, it is healthy.”
✔ Truth: Many mineral deficiencies show no early signs. Animals may eat normally but still have:
- Silent heat
- Repeat breeding
- Weak bones
- Low immunity
Daily mineral mixture prevents these problems.
Conclusion
Milk yield and animal health improve when feeding is done scientifically, not traditionally.
Small daily changes—like giving mineral mixture, balancing fodder, avoiding excess concentrate—can greatly increase milk, fertility, and farmer income.