Disease Prevention and Deworming
It is essential to conduct a thorough health inspection of newly purchased shelf cows before introducing them into the farm. Healthy animals should be vaccinated with hoof-and-mouth disease, brucellosis, and clostridium perfringens vaccines. A deworming treatment should be administered one time before they start the fattening process. Three days after deworming, it's recommended to give them artificial salt or other stomach medicine to support digestion. Newly arrived cattle are often stressed due to environmental changes, transportation, and unfamiliar surroundings. To help them adapt, add 0.5% salt and 1% brown sugar to their drinking water for a week, and ensure they have access to plenty of grass or hay. Two days later, introduce a small amount of bran gradually as part of their diet. Monitoring the cattle’s feeding habits, waste production, and overall behavior is crucial during this period.
Scientific Feeding
Shelf cattle fattening can be divided into three stages: the pre-fattening (adaptation) phase, the mid-fattening (transition) phase, and the finishing (anticipation) phase. The adaptation period typically lasts about 15 days. During this time, ammoniated straw and silage corn stalks are used as roughage, combined with locally available concentrate feed. Cattle should have free access to roughage and sufficient clean water. Starting from the second day, the concentrate feed should be introduced gradually and increased over time. By the end of the adaptation phase, daily concentrate intake can reach approximately 2 kg, or about 0.8% of the animal’s body weight, averaging around 1.5 kg per day. A typical concentrate formula includes 45% corn flour, 40% wheat bran, 10% cake, 2% bone meal, 2% urea, and 1% salt. Adding 2 grams of cod liver oil per kilogram of feed enhances nutritional value. The mid-fattening stage usually lasts about 30 days.
During the feeding process, it's important to maintain a balanced ratio of roughage to concentrate. At the beginning of the mid-fattening period, the ratio is 3:1, then 2:1 in the middle, and finally 1:1 toward the end. Feed twice a day, providing 4-5 kg each time, and allow 2 hours for digestion before offering water. The finishing phase generally takes about 45 days. In this stage, the diet should be mainly concentrated, with concentrate making up 70%-80% of the total diet. High-energy (60%-70%) and low-protein (10%-20%) feeds are ideal. Provide 1.5%-2% of the animal’s body weight in feed daily, maintaining a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 1:2 to 1:3. Increase the number of feedings per day and ensure constant access to clean water. A common finishing feed formula includes 2-3 kg of cornmeal, 20-25 kg of molasses residue, 15-20 kg of distillers’ grains, 10-15 kg of silage straw, 50g of salt, and 20g of mineral additives, fed twice daily. Alternatively, use 56% corn flour, 10% cottonseed cake, 8% wheat bran, 23.5% ammoniated wheat straw powder, 1% growth promoter, 1% salt, and 0.5% sodium bicarbonate, at 6-7 kg per head daily.
Use of Weight Gain Agents
Commonly used weight gain agents that work through the rumen include monensin and lasalocid. These are typically mixed with the feed and given orally. A standard dosage is 40-60 mg per kilogram of concentrate feed. Additionally, using urea properly can significantly improve weight gain. Administer 0.25 kg of slow-release urea additive per day. Urea should be fed at night, and the animals should not drink water for two hours afterward to prevent toxicity.
Proper Management
The ideal ambient temperature for cattle is between 5°C and 21°C. During the fattening period, provide a warm, quiet, and comfortable environment. Regularly brush the animals 1-2 times daily to keep them clean. Install adjustable ventilation windows in the barn to ensure good air circulation. Remove manure daily to maintain cleanliness, dryness, and proper ventilation, while protecting the animals from damp conditions.
Timely Slaughter
After 2-3 months of fattening, when the cattle reach a weight of 500 kg or more, they should be slaughtered promptly. There are two main indicators for determining slaughter time: first, if the cattle’s appetite decreases and cannot be restored despite dietary adjustments; second, if you can feel fat on the lumbar region or when holding the ear, indicating full muscle development. These signs suggest the cattle are ready for slaughter.
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