FAST FACTS
- As bulls mature, their nutritional requirements change from those for growth and development to those primarily for maintenance.
- Young bulls need rations with a high level of crude protein to ensure optimal muscle development.
- Environmental factors such as temperature and terrain affect the nutritional requirements of livestock, young bulls included.
Environmental factors, of which herd management forms an integral part, exert a 70% influence on the performance of an adult bull, whereas genetics account for only 30%. This means that the nutrition of young bulls is crucial to ensuring a top-performing adult animal, according to Dr Francois van de Vyver, national technical manager at Voermol Feeds. He warns, however, that putting young bulls on high-concentrate rations can be detrimental to their future fertility and soundness.
FEED FOR MUSCLE GROWTH
As bulls grow, their nutritional requirements change. Mature bulls use nutrients primarily for maintenance, whereas younger animals require nutrients to support growth, development and maintenance. Nutritional requirements must be met in full to develop growing bulls from weaning onwards, but feeding a young bull a high-energy diet after weaning will result in rapid weight gain, which can create a host of problems such as a reduction in semen quality. In addition, an excessively fat bull will be lazy and unhealthy.
Animals go through different phases of growth on the road to adulthood. “It’s therefore vital that animals are fed according to their nutritional demands at the different stages of tissue development,” explains Van de Vyver.
この記事は Farmer's Weekly の October 29, 2021 版に掲載されています。
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この記事は Farmer's Weekly の October 29, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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