Disease Prevention and Deworming
Before introducing new shelf cows into the farm, a thorough health inspection is essential. Healthy animals should receive vaccinations such as hoof-and-mouth disease, brucellosis, and clostridium perfringens vaccines. Before entering the fattening house, deworming should be performed once. Three days after deworming, administer artificial salt or 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 one week. Provide more grass or hay during this time. Two days later, introduce a small amount of bran gradually, leading to a transition into full fattening. Throughout the process, monitor the cattle’s feeding behavior, excretion, and overall mental state closely.
Scientific Feeding
Fattening shelf cows can be divided into three stages: pre-fattening (adaptation period), middle fattening (transition phase), and the final fattening stage (pre-slaughter). The pre-fattening period typically lasts around 15 days. During this time, ammoniated straw and silage corn stalks are used as primary roughage, supplemented with locally available concentrate feed. These roughages should be freely available, and clean water must be provided at all times. Starting from day two, gradually increase the amount of concentrate feed until it reaches about 2 kg per day, or 0.8% of the animal's body weight, averaging around 1.5 kg daily. A typical concentrate formula includes 45% corn flour, 40% wheat bran, 10% cake, 2% bone meal, 2% urea, and 1% salt. Additionally, include 2 ml of cod liver oil per kilogram of feed. The middle fattening period usually lasts about 30 days.
During feeding, ensure a balanced ratio of roughage and concentrate. At the beginning of the period, the ratio is 3:1 (roughage to concentrate), then 2:1 in the middle, and 1:1 by the end. Feed twice daily, providing 4–5 kg per day, and allow 2 hours of rest before offering water. The final fattening period usually takes about 45 days. During this time, the diet should be mainly concentrated, with 70–80% of the total diet being concentrate. The concentrate should be high in energy (60–70%) and low in protein (10–20%). Feed approximately 1.5–2% of the animal’s body weight per day, with a crude fiber to concentrate ratio of 1:2 to 1:3. Increase the number of feedings per day and ensure sufficient clean water is always available. A suitable feed formulation for this period could include 2–3 kg of cornmeal, 20–25 kg of molasses residue, 15–20 kg of distillers grains, 10–15 kg of silage straw, 50 g of salt, 20 g of mineral additives, and feed twice daily. Another option is 56% corn flour, 10% cottonseed cake, 8% wheat bran, 23.5% ammoniated wheat straw powder, 1% auxin, 1% salt, and 0.5% sodium bicarbonate, totaling 6–7 kg per head per day.
Use of Weight Gain Agents
Commonly used weight gain agents that work through the rumen include monensin and lasalocid. These are typically added to the feed and administered orally. The usual dosage is 40–60 mg per kilogram of concentrate feed. In addition, using urea can significantly improve weight gain. Administer 0.25 kg of slow-release urea additive per day. Urea and other additives can be given at night, and the cattle should not drink water for at least 2 hours afterward to prevent potential toxicity.
Proper Management
The ideal ambient temperature for cattle is between 5°C and 21°C. During the fattening period, create a warm, quiet, and comfortable environment for the animals. Regularly brush the cattle 1–2 times a day to maintain cleanliness. Install openable ventilation windows in the barn to ensure good air circulation. Remove manure daily to keep the barn clean, dry, and well-ventilated, and protect 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: 1) if the cattle’s appetite gradually decreases and cannot be restored even after adjusting the feeding; 2) if you feel fat deposits on the lumbar area or notice fullness in the ears when touched, it indicates the animal is ready for slaughter. Always ensure humane handling and proper timing to maximize meat quality and efficiency.
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