Significant losses in cattle productivity and income have historically resulted from Drought. Murrah buffalo’s biological systems are impacted in terms of lack of thriftiness, compromised reproduction, lowered immunity, increased disease attacks, and availability of poor-quality feed, resulting in a decline in productivity and animal health. Thus, to maximize the available resources, drought mitigation techniques are centered on maintaining the survival of cattle (critical body weight loss reported up to 20%). The main aim is to keep your cattle safe as they are your resource to earn.
Housing Management for Cattle During Drought
- You must ensure that the shed is not overcrowded with cattle and there is proper ventilation.
- Allow more frequent feedings to Murrah bhens, especially in the early morning and late evening, to encourage the ingestion of dry materials.
- Ensure that your cattle graze early in the day to protect them from harmful sun rays.
- Buffaloes should ideally be given a bath or allowed to wallow.
If you feel your Murrah buffalo is facing any issues, you should contact the vet for their advice. Farmers often need clarification about consulting a vet; in such instances, you can trust MeraPashu 360. You will find top medical services for your cattle at your doorstep.
Feeding Management for Cattle During Drought
Optimizing feeding techniques to use limited resources effectively becomes crucial in an emergency. Given the impending threat of Drought, it is crucial to emphasize protecting green fodder. However, appropriate feed enrichment and supplementation measures become even more crucial in the face of unpreparedness. The selection of supplements is essential, and minerals are recommended with high energy/protein feed ingredients.
Vitamin supplementation is necessary because vitamin deficiencies, especially those of vitamins A and E, are brought primarily by a lack of green fodder. It takes 10g of Brivita to provide a buffalo with the 60 to 75 thousand, 15 to 20 thousand, and 400 to 500 IU of vitamins A, D3, and E that it needs to produce 15 to 18 liters of milk each day. You can order food supplements online from websites like MeraPashu 360, which provides your cattle with every essential nutrition.
To supplement the diet of the affected animals inexpensively, 1.00 quintal of straw can be sprinkled with 20 liters of water containing 10 kg of molasses, 1 kilogram of urea, 500 gm of mineral combination, 50 g of Brivita (Vitamin A, D3, and E), and 1 kg of salt. In the absence of molasses, ground grain can be combined at 1.5 kg per 10 kg urea-enriched straw. You can include up to 30% of maize stovers, soya bean chaff, etc., in your meal.
Mango, banyan, babul, subabul, mahua, Israili babool, kabuli kikar, vegetable leaves, fruit pulp and waste, and dry sugarcane leaves are a few unusual feeds that can be given in gradient doses during a harsh drought. Tree leaves comprise 50% of the diet, 5% of cake, 25% of the available pods (Kabuli kikar, Israeli babool), 15% molasses, 1% urea, 2% mineral mixture, and 2% salt. Getting cattle feed could be challenging in such situations, so consider getting them online.
Reproduction Management
Until drought conditions are avoided, Murrah bhens should not be treated for infertility; nevertheless, cyclic animals must be artificially inseminated (A I).
It is essential to properly breed animals that maintain average/acceptable development, milk output, and cyclicity. Repeat breeders can be handled according to the veterinarian’s recommendations.
Females may be inseminated when the environment is not too hot during the scorching summer (morning and evening).
Supplementing vitamins A, D, and E with selenium throughout the third trimester of pregnancy, particularly in cases where animals lack access to forage, can help reduce periparturient problems such as premature births, placenta retention, dystocia, mastitis, etc.
Health Management
- Under stressful conditions, such as Drought, there may be increased chances of decreased immuno-competence against various diseases.
- The risks of infections, vectors, and epidemiological disease patterns emerging or re-emerging can increase due to Drought and global warming.
- Extreme drought episodes in dry places can encourage animals to move to less affected areas. These migrations pose significant risks for spreading infections, especially those more common in arid regions.
- Fever, anemia, reduced milk production in breastfeeding animals, etc., could happen. It is advised to inject iodized oil (750 mg elemental iodine) subcutaneously.
- Jowar poisoning is caused by the sluggish seedling growth brought on by a water shortage, leading to HCN toxicity. If medical attention is delayed, an animal exhibits signs such as shortness of breath, convulsions, salivation, mydriasis, and death. A 200 ml solution (i/v) comprising 2.5 g of sodium nitrite and 30 g of sodium thiosulphate diluted in 200 ml of water can be administered to an adult animal weighing 500 kg (BW). In case of severe conditions, the dose may be doubled. Adult animals can be given orally 30 to 60 g of sodium thiosulfate as needed. Murrah buffalo must be kept under medical supervision.
To End
Drought is when humans and cattle strive to get some relief; you can order food online through MeraPashu360 in any situation so that your cattle can get the required nutrition. In addition, you can also get vet services directly at your doorsteps. Check out the official website to know more.
