Cemali TOPRAK
Herd Management Specialist
One of the most frequently asked questions from cattle breeding businesses is “Is clover hay also used for fattening?” It is used, and that would be a very accurate choice indeed. I tried to answer this question with real rations, costs and technical data. In the tables below, you will clearly see what happens in the rations with and without clover hay.
Table 1 shows the names of the roughage, feed raw materials and feed additives used in the ration, and analysis values on the basis of 100% dry matter.
Table 2 shows which vitamins, minerals and other feed additives in 1 kg of the vitamin and mineral premix used in the ration.
Table 3 shows how and in which periods our domestic calves will be fed with rations that do not contain clover hay for a period of 334 days, which is considered as the average live weight of 250 kg in the beginning of fattening and average body weight of 690 kg at the end of the fattening. In addition, in Table 3, the prices of roughage, feed raw materials and feed additives are given in order to calculate the cost. In Table 3, the daily ration cost per animal in TRY terms per period is given separately.
In Table 4, it is given in which periods and how the domestic calves, which are planned to be fed for 334 days, which are accepted as the average live weight of 250 kg in the beginning of fattening and the live body weight of 690 kg at the end of fattening, will be fed with the rations containing clover hay. In addition, in Table 4, the prices of roughage, feed raw materials and feed additives are given in order to calculate the cost. In Table 4, the daily ration cost per animal in each period is given separately in TRY terms.
In Table 5, the total roughage, feed raw materials and feed additive needs of a calf during the 334-day fattening period in rations that do not contain clover hay are given.
In Table 6, the total roughage, feed raw materials and feed additive needs of a calf during the 334-day fattening period in rations containing clover hay are given.
In Table 7 and Table 8, the costs per animal are given for the daily, monthly and 334-day total fattening periods of the rations that do not contain clover hay. As can be seen from Tables 7 and 8, rations containing clover hay have higher costs. However, in the technical data given below, we see that the rations containing clover hay have superior properties.
In Table 9, the fattening performance and technical analyses of the rations that do not contain clover hay are given.
In Table 10, the fattening performance and technical analyses of the rations that contain clover hay are given.
In the light of all these data, we can reach the following conclusions with the rations using clover hay;
1.Ration crude protein values are much better. In this way, our animals become taller and larger. This will allow us to gain more carcass weight and therefore generate more revenue.
2.Since the ration starch % values are lower, the probability of experiencing metabolic problems such as acidosis, laminitis (solea ulcer), tympany is lower. This will cause us to feed healthier animals, higher body weight gain, less drug consumption and therefore more income.
3.Since the ration NFC % values are lower, metabolic problems such as acidosis, laminitis (solea ulcer), tympany are less likely to be experienced. This will cause us to feed healthier animals, higher body weight gain, less drug consumption and therefore more income.
4.Since the ration NDF (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) % values are lower, the ration's consumability will be higher. This shows that our animals can consume more dry matter. Especially in hot weather and in sick animals, the use of clover hay affects the consumption amounts of the ration positively. In this way, the daily live weight gains of the animals are higher and thus incomes increase.
5.Since the ration ADF (cellulose, hemicellulose) % values are lower, the digestibility of the ration will be higher. Better digestible rations mean greater body weight gain and higher income.
6.Since the ration Ca % values will be higher, especially bone development will be better.
7.Since the ration P% values will be higher, metabolic activities and energy metabolism will work better.
8.Since the ration total and unit kg Metabolic Energy values will be higher, the animals will gain more live weight (kg). Since this will cause more carcass weight, the income to be obtained per animal will also increase.
In the light of all these data, it is clearly seen that clover hay can be used safely in cattle fattening rations from the beginning to the end of fattening.