Stage-1
Usually cow gave birth to a calf or baby cow after 9 months carrying. Calf can born on any season summer, monsoon and winter. When new calf born its mother licks and clean it. New calf will stand on its own within half to one hour. Also it starts to drinks milk from its mother anon. All vitamins need will fulfil through its mother milk, which protects it from diseases and helps it grow strong and healthy.
Stage-2: GROWING
Older cows can eat grasses, hay, Dry forages and so on. Cows will voluntarily consume 2.0% of body weight or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100% dry matter. Grass hays will often be 7 to 10% moisture. Grain can get cattle growing quickly and can help cattle get fat. In fact, many farmers feed grains to growing cattle to reduce costs and get cattle ready sooner. Grain supplements are also a good solution for winters and for cattle that lack access to high-quality hay and grazing pastures.
Stage-3: MATING
A successful mating programme is fundamental to sustaining dairy production from one year to the next. A cow must be mated in order to produce a calf in the following season and therefore to initiate lactation.
Those calves born are important, the heifers will be reared in order to replenish herd numbers and improve its genetic potential. Bull calves may also contribute to beef production. Breeding programs aim to have as many cows pregnant in the shortest possible time frame. Reproductive performance is a complex issues that must bring together metabolic and endocrine functions, as well as sound management practices. Maintaining dry matter intake and minimising body condition losses can have a significant beneficial impact on fertility.
Stage-4: PRE-CALVING
A cow is 2 years old enough to give birth to a calf. They can have a calf on every year. Sometimes we can expect even twins. Poor feeding management of cows can lead to shorter, lower yielding lactations and increase calving interval.
Managing cow health during the final weeks of gestation (transition) and calving is critical to set up a cow for productive lactation. The lead up to calving is the period where the preparation begins to enable the cow to maximise her dry matter intake post-calving and begin adapting the rumen for changes in diet. Healthy, well managed cows, are more effcient at converting feed into milk solids, lose less body condition post-calving, and have increased reproductive performance.
Stage-5: FRESH COW
The first 30 days post-calving is the time when the cow is both recovering from the birth of a calf and kicking into milk production. The onset of lactation significantly increases nutrient demand at a time when dry matter intake is often insucient to meet the cow’s requirements. Freshly calved cows have very high demands for blood glucose and amino acids at a time when intake is somewhat constrained.
Nutrition during the first 30 days of lactation assists the cow to quickly recover from calving, commence lactation and minimise the number of days she spends in negative energy balance, thereby reducing body condition loss and helping to drive milk solids production.
The lactation cycle
Cows must calve to produce milk and the lactation cycle is the period between one calving and the next.
The cycle is split into four phases, the early, mid and late lactation and the dry period. In an ideal world, cows calve every 12 months.A number of changes occur in cows as they progress through different stages of lactation.
Although her maintenance requirements will not vary, she will need more dietary energy and protein as milk production increases then less when production declines. However to regain body condition in late lactation, she will require additional energy.
Cows usually use their own body condition for about 12 weeks after calving, to provide energy in addition to that consumed. The energy released is used to produce milk, allowing them to achieve higher peak production than would be possible from their diet alone.
To do this, cows must have sufficient body condition available to lose, and therefore they must have put it on late in the previous lactation or during the dry period.
As well as variations in milk production, there are changes in feed intake and body condition, and stage of pregnancy.
Stage-6: PEAK MILK
The period of peak milk production is the time when nutrition can improve reproductive performance and fertility. The nutritional objective during this phase is to maximise and sustain peak milk solids production in order to extend the milk production curve over the entire lactation.
Providing the correct balance of carbohydrates, amino acids, fibre and minerals is essential to support optimum milk solids production without compromising cow health. Grain-based rations, which are high in rumen degradable starch but low in protein and mineral content, cannot meet these demands. Careful attention to nutrition during this stage has a direct bearing on reproductive performance.
Stage-7: MID LACTATION
Mid lactation is a settled period when mating is completed and the focus is shifted on churning out the milk solids. During the mid lactation stage, attention turns to minimising the natural decline in milk solids production and restoring body condition. Managing forage quality and the provision of supplementary sources of carbohydrate and digestible protein can help to maintain dry matter intake to prevent post peak decline.
Stage-8: LATE LACTATION
Late lactation provides a final opportunity to recover body condition and rebuild lean muscle mass in preparation for the next lactation. Although the energy required for milk production is less demanding during this period because milk production is declining, energy is still important because of pregnancy and the need to build up body condition as an energy reserve for the next lactation.
Energy intake from available forage and concentrates needs to be sufficient to optimise rumen fermentation, restore body condition and assist foetal development whilst maintaining milk solids production.
Stage-9: DRY COW
The dry period is the time for rest and recovery for the herd. Dry cow management assists the cow in maintaining its body condition and improving her general health during late gestation. This ensures that the cow has adequate body reserves for early lactation. A good nutrition program replaces essential macro and micro-minerals lost during the previous lactation to support tissue regeneration, mammary involution and boost immune function.
