Method for improving reproductive rate of yaks through timely weaning of calves

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for improving the reproductive rate of yaks through timely weaning of calves, and relates to the technical field of yak breeding, and the method comprises the following specific steps: step 1, determining the weaning time of yak calves in advance; the weaning time range of the calf is estimated according to the age and health condition of the calf and the lactation capacity and feeding environment of the cow; 2, preparation before weaning of the calf; 3, feeding management in the weaning period: 8-14 days before weaning, the breast milk intake of the calf is equivalently decreased, the proportion of feeding concentrated feed is synchronously and equivalently increased, and the feed mass increased every time is 80-90% of the decreased breast milk mass; and step 4, management after weaning of the calf. According to the method for improving the reproduction rate of the yaks through timely weaning of the calves, the growth performance of the calves is improved, meanwhile, the reproduction cycle of cows is accelerated, and therefore the reproduction rate of the whole cattle herd is improved, healthy growth of the calves is facilitated, the lactation period and the breeding cycle of the calves are shortened, the breeding cost is reduced, and the income of herdsmen is increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of yak breeding, in particular to a method for improving the reproduction rate of yaks by timely weaning calves. Background Art

[0002] Yaks are mammals and are domestic animals unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Yaks have high economic value, and their meat, skin, hair, milk, etc. can all be used. Yak meat is delicious and nutritious, and is known as the "ship of the plateau." Yak skin is thick, wear-resistant and durable, making it a good material for making leather products. Yak dung can be dried into dung cakes for burning, and its dung is also used as fuel.

[0003] At present, most of the yaks are still in the free breeding stage, and the proportion of human intervention is insufficient. That is, extensive feeding is adopted by full manual labor, and its feeding efficiency is low. The growth cycle of calves is long, which indirectly leads to a surge in the calves' demand for breast milk and prolongs the reproductive efficiency of the herd. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a method for timely weaning of calves to improve the reproductive rate of yaks, which solves the problems raised in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions: a method for timely weaning of calves to improve the reproductive rate of yaks, comprising the following specific steps:

[0006] Step 1: Determine the weaning time of the yak calf in advance; estimate the weaning time range based on the calf's age, health status, the cow's lactation capacity, and the breeding environment;

[0007] Step 2: Preparation for calf weaning, including disease prevention and adjustment of calf rearing environment;

[0008] Disease prevention for calves includes not feeding milk containing antibiotics or milk from cows with mastitis, supplementing the herd with electrolytes, amino acids, and vitamins to improve overall immunity, avoiding weaning during periods of drastic climate change, not administering vaccines during weaning, not transporting or separating calves during weaning, and providing warm water to drink during weaning.

[0009] Adjust the calf rearing environment. Before weaning, move the calves to separate pens to reduce the chance of cross-infection with other cattle. Keep the pens clean, dry, and well-ventilated. Keep the ambient temperature at 22-26°C and disinfect them every 1-2 days to reduce the incidence of disease.

[0010] Step 3: Feeding and management during weaning: 8-14 days before weaning, gradually reduce the calf's intake of breast milk and simultaneously increase the proportion of concentrated feed. The quality of each increase in feed should be 80-90% of the quality of the breast milk. At the same time, increase the consumption of calf starter feed according to the calf's feeding needs. Ensure that there is sufficient drinking water during the calf's feeding period.

[0011] When breast milk intake accounts for less than 15%, maintain the ratio of breast milk to feed for 2-3 days and stop breastfeeding;

[0012] Step 4: Management of calves after weaning, including environmental management, health management and group management.

[0013] Optionally, the steps of determining the weaning time of the calf in step 1 are specifically as follows:

[0014] (1) Healthy calves aged 26-30 days and weighing 160-180 kg were selected, and their stomach volume was measured. Calves with a stomach volume of 52 ± 2% of the total stomach volume were selected;

[0015] (2) Each calf was then monitored independently, and the calf's stomach volume was measured again 24-32 days later;

[0016] (3) collecting data on the calf's body size, weight, and food intake at equal time intervals during step (2);

[0017] (4) Select calves whose stomach volume accounts for 60±2% of the total stomach solvent for weaning.

[0018] Optionally, the equal amount decreasing method in step 3 is specifically as follows:

[0019] (1) Reduce the calf's milk intake by an equal amount each time for 2-3 days, reducing the original intake by 10-15% each time;

[0020] (2) Reduce the number of times the calf is fed milk every day, decreasing it by one every 2-3 days.

[0021] Optionally, the feeding and management during the weaning period in step 3 further includes observing and recording the health status of individual calves;

[0022] Observation and record of health status: During the weaning process, the health status of the calves should be continuously observed, and the body size, weight, and intake of the calves during weaning should be counted and recorded every 2-3 days.

[0023] Optionally, the feed ratio of the calf in step 3 is as follows:

[0024] Autoclaved corn flakes, soybean meal, soybean dregs, plant protein powder, calcium powder, fish meal, salt, vitamins, whole milk powder, whey powder, amino acids, probiotics;

[0025] The specific proportions by percentage are as follows:

[0026] Steamed corn crumbs 30-50%, soybean meal 12-18%, soybean residue 10-18%, plant protein powder 1-10%, calcium powder 1-5%, fish meal 1-6%, salt 0.1-3%, vitamins 0.1-3%, whole milk powder 0.1-10%, whey powder 0.1-5%, amino acids 0.1-5%, probiotics 0.1-5%;

[0027] When breast milk intake accounts for less than 45%, bran, alfalfa, methionine and stone powder are added to the feed in the following proportions:

[0028] Steamed corn crumbs 25-40%, soybean meal 12-18%, soybean residue 10-18%, bran 8-18%, alfalfa 6-12%, plant protein powder 1-10%, calcium powder 1-5%, fish meal 1-6%, stone powder 1-5%, salt 0.1-3%, vitamins 0.1-3%, whole milk powder 0.1-10%, whey powder 0.1-5%, amino acids 0.1-5%, probiotics 0.1-5%, methionine 0.1-5%.

[0029] Optionally, the environmental management in step 4 is as follows:

[0030] (1) Keep the feeding area clean and dry, clean feces and drinking water equipment regularly to prevent the spread of diseases;

[0031] (2) Ensure that calves have sufficient space for exercise, and the ratio of the number of calves (head) to the feeding area (㎡) is 1:10-12;

[0032] (3) Keep calves exposed to sunlight for 2-4 hours on sunny days to promote their physical health and immunity;

[0033] (4) Regularly clean the feces in the calf feeding area and change the feed and water containers every 1-2 days to avoid the growth and spread of bacteria, thereby reducing the risk of disease.

[0034] Optionally, the health management in step 4 includes regular physical examinations of the calves to check their health status and growth and development, and providing corresponding treatment and health care advice as needed.

[0035] Optionally, in the group management in step 4, calves need to be grouped after weaning to adapt to group life, with the number of calves in each group being 6 to 8; the grouping of calves is based on the calves' age, individual size and physical condition, and is adjusted appropriately; at the same time, the stocking density during grouping is that each calf has a feeding trough of 40-60 cm; the drinking water space is set to 10-20 cm; the number of cattle beds is the same as the number of calves.

[0036] The present invention provides a method for timely weaning of calves to improve the reproductive rate of yaks, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0037] The method of timely weaning of calves to improve the reproduction rate of yaks allows calves to enter fattening farms quickly, shortens the breeding interval of cows, reduces the nutritional requirements of cows, enables cows to utilize more roughage, prolongs the service life of breeding cows, improves the growth performance of calves, and helps to speed up the reproduction cycle of cows, thereby improving the reproduction rate of the entire herd, contributing to the healthy growth of calves, shortening the calf lactation period and breeding cycle, reducing breeding costs, and increasing herders' income. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0039] Example 1: The present invention provides a technical solution: a method for timely weaning of calves to improve the reproductive rate of yaks, comprising the following specific steps:

[0040] Step 1: Determine the weaning time of the yak calf in advance; estimate the weaning time range of the calf based on the calf's age, health status, the cow's lactation ability, and the breeding environment, as follows:

[0041] (1) Healthy calves aged 26-30 days and weighing 160-180 kg were selected, and their stomach volume was measured. Calves with a stomach volume of 52 ± 2% of the total stomach volume were selected;

[0042] (2) Each calf was then monitored independently, and the calf's stomach volume was measured again 24-32 days later;

[0043] (3) collecting data on the calf's body size, weight, and food intake at equal time intervals during step (2);

[0044] (4) calves with a stomach volume of 60 ± 2% of the total stomach solvent were selected for weaning;

[0045] Step 2: Preparation for calf weaning, including disease prevention and adjustment of calf rearing environment;

[0046] Disease prevention for calves includes not feeding milk containing antibiotics or milk from cows with mastitis, supplementing the herd with electrolytes, amino acids, and vitamins to improve overall immunity, avoiding weaning during periods of drastic climate change, not administering vaccines during weaning, not transporting or separating calves during weaning, and providing warm water to drink during weaning.

[0047] Adjust the calf rearing environment. Before weaning, move the calves to separate pens to reduce the chance of cross-infection with other cattle. Keep the pens clean, dry, and well-ventilated. Keep the ambient temperature at 22-26°C and disinfect them once a day to reduce the incidence of disease.

[0048] Step 3: Feeding and management during weaning: 8-14 days before weaning, gradually reduce the calf's intake of breast milk and simultaneously increase the proportion of concentrated feed. The quality of each increase in feed should be 85% of the quality of the breast milk. At the same time, increase the consumption of calf starter feed according to the calf's feeding needs. Ensure that there is sufficient drinking water during the calf's feeding period.

[0049] The specific method of equal reduction is as follows:

[0050] (1) Reduce the amount of breast milk the calf consumes each time by an equal amount for 2-3 days, reducing the original intake by 15% each time;

[0051] (2) Reduce the number of times the calf is fed milk every day, decreasing it by one every two days;

[0052] Feeding management during the weaning period also includes observation and recording of the health status of individual calves;

[0053] Observation and record of health status: During the weaning process, the health status of the calves should be continuously observed, and the body size, weight, and intake of the calves during the weaning period should be counted and recorded every two days;

[0054] The feed ratio for calves is as follows:

[0055] Autoclaved corn flakes, soybean meal, soybean dregs, plant protein powder, calcium powder, fish meal, salt, vitamins, whole milk powder, whey powder, amino acids, probiotics;

[0056] The specific proportions by percentage are as follows:

[0057] Steamed corn flakes 47%, soybean meal 12%, soybean residue 14%, vegetable protein powder 6%, calcium powder 3.5%, fish meal 2.7%, salt 2.1%, vitamins 1.7%, whole milk powder 6%, whey powder 2.5%, amino acids 1.5%, probiotics 1%;

[0058] When breast milk intake accounts for less than 45%, bran, alfalfa, methionine and stone powder are added to the feed in the following proportions:

[0059] Steamed corn flakes 32%, soybean meal 12%, soybean residue 12%, bran 10%, alfalfa 6%, plant protein powder 5%, calcium powder 2%, fish meal 2%, rock powder 3%, salt 2.2%, vitamins 1.5%, whole milk powder 5.5%, whey powder 1.8%, amino acids 2%, probiotics 2%, methionine 1%;

[0060] When breast milk intake accounts for less than 15%, maintain the ratio of breast milk to feed for 2 days and then stop all breastfeeding;

[0061] Step 4: Post-weaning calf management, including environmental management, health management, and group management;

[0062] Environmental management, specifically as follows:

[0063] (1) Keep the feeding area clean and dry, clean feces and drinking water equipment regularly to prevent the spread of diseases;

[0064] (2) Ensure that calves have sufficient space for exercise, and the ratio of the number of calves (head) to the breeding area (m2) is 1:10;

[0065] (3) Keep calves exposed to sunlight for 2-4 hours on sunny days to promote their physical health and immunity;

[0066] (4) Regularly clean the feces in the calf feeding area and change the feed and water containers every day to avoid the growth and spread of bacteria, thereby reducing the risk of disease.

[0067] Health management: Regular physical examinations are performed on calves to check their health status and growth and development, and appropriate treatment and health care advice is given as needed.

[0068] For group management, calves need to be grouped after weaning to adapt to group life. The number of calves in each group is 6 to 8. The grouping of calves is based on the calves' age, individual size and physical condition, and is adjusted appropriately. At the same time, the stocking density during grouping is that each calf has a 40-60 cm feeding trough; the drinking space is set at 10-20 cm; the number of cattle beds is the same as the number of calves.

[0069] Example 2: The present invention provides a technical solution: a method for timely weaning of calves to improve the reproductive rate of yaks, comprising the following specific steps:

[0070] Step 1: Determine the weaning time of the yak calf in advance; estimate the weaning time range of the calf based on the calf's age, health status, the cow's lactation ability, and the breeding environment, as follows:

[0071] (1) Healthy calves aged 26-30 days and weighing 160-180 kg were selected, and their stomach volume was measured. Calves with a stomach volume of 52 ± 2% of the total stomach volume were selected;

[0072] (2) Each calf was then monitored independently, and the calf's stomach volume was measured again 24-32 days later;

[0073] (3) collecting data on the calf's body size, weight, and food intake at equal time intervals during step (2);

[0074] (4) calves with a stomach volume of 60 ± 2% of the total stomach solvent were selected for weaning;

[0075] Step 2: Preparation for calf weaning, including disease prevention and adjustment of calf rearing environment;

[0076] Disease prevention for calves includes not feeding milk containing antibiotics or milk from cows with mastitis, supplementing the herd with electrolytes, amino acids, and vitamins to improve overall immunity, avoiding weaning during periods of drastic climate change, not administering vaccines during weaning, not transporting or separating calves during weaning, and providing warm water to drink during weaning.

[0077] Adjust the calf rearing environment. Before weaning, move the calves to separate pens to reduce the chance of cross-infection with other cattle. Keep the pens clean, dry, and well-ventilated. Keep the ambient temperature at 22-26°C and disinfect them every 1-2 days to reduce the incidence of disease.

[0078] Step 3: Feeding and management during weaning: 8-14 days before weaning, gradually reduce the calf's intake of breast milk and simultaneously increase the proportion of concentrated feed. The quality of each increase in feed should be 80-90% of the quality of the breast milk. At the same time, increase the consumption of calf starter feed according to the calf's feeding needs. Ensure that there is sufficient drinking water during the calf's feeding period.

[0079] The specific method of equal reduction is as follows:

[0080] (1) Reduce the calf's milk intake by an equal amount each time for 2-3 days, reducing the original intake by 10-15% each time;

[0081] (2) Reduce the number of times the calf is fed every day, decreasing it by one every 2-3 days;

[0082] Feeding management during the weaning period also includes observation and recording of the health status of individual calves;

[0083] Observation and record of health status: During the weaning process, the health status of the calves should be continuously observed, and the size, weight, and intake of the calves during the weaning period should be counted and recorded every 2-3 days;

[0084] The feed ratio for calves is as follows:

[0085] Autoclaved corn flakes, soybean meal, soybean dregs, plant protein powder, calcium powder, fish meal, salt, vitamins, whole milk powder, whey powder, amino acids, probiotics;

[0086] The specific proportions by percentage are as follows:

[0087] Steamed corn flakes 45%, soybean meal 13%, soybean residue 15%, vegetable protein powder 7%, calcium powder 3%, fish meal 2.7%, salt 2.1%, vitamins 2.3%, whole milk powder 4%, whey powder 2.5%, amino acids 2.5%, probiotics 1%;

[0088] When breast milk intake accounts for less than 15%, maintain the ratio of breast milk to feed for 2-3 days and stop breastfeeding;

[0089] Step 4: Post-weaning calf management, including environmental management, health management, and group management;

[0090] Environmental management, specifically as follows:

[0091] (1) Keep the feeding area clean and dry, clean feces and drinking water equipment regularly to prevent the spread of diseases;

[0092] (2) Ensure that calves have sufficient space for exercise, and the ratio of the number of calves (head) to the breeding area (m2) is 1:12;

[0093] (3) Keep calves exposed to sunlight for 2-4 hours on sunny days to promote their physical health and immunity;

[0094] (4) Regularly clean the feces in the calf feeding area and change the feed and water containers every 1-2 days to avoid the growth and spread of bacteria, thereby reducing the risk of disease.

[0095] Health management: Regular physical examinations of calves to check their health and growth and development, and provide appropriate treatment and health care advice as needed;

[0096] For group management, calves need to be grouped after weaning to adapt to group life. The number of calves in each group is 6 to 8. The grouping of calves is based on the calves' age, individual size and physical condition, and is adjusted appropriately. At the same time, the stocking density during grouping is that each calf has a 40-60 cm feeding trough; the drinking space is set at 10-20 cm; the number of cattle beds is the same as the number of calves.

[0097] Test Example: 120 suitable calves were selected and weaned using the methods of Example 1 and Example 2, respectively. The calves were observed and recorded for 180 days, including 40 calves from Example 1, 40 calves from Example 2, and 40 calves from the comparative example.

[0098] The details are shown in the following table:

[0099]

[0100] Conclusion: The weaning method proposed in the present invention can effectively promote the growth of calves, thereby shortening the breeding interval of cows, reducing the nutritional requirements of cows, improving the growth performance of calves, and helping to accelerate the reproductive cycle of cows, thereby improving the reproductive rate of the entire herd.

[0101] The above description is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field, within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, who makes equivalent replacements or changes based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered by the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for improving the reproductive rate of yaks by timely weaning of calves, characterized in that: The specific steps include: Step 1: Determine the weaning time of the yak calf in advance; estimate the weaning time range based on the calf's age, health status, the cow's lactation capacity, and the breeding environment; Step 2: Preparation for calf weaning, including disease prevention and adjustment of calf rearing environment; Disease prevention for calves includes not feeding milk containing antibiotics or milk from cows with mastitis, supplementing the herd with electrolytes, amino acids, and vitamins to improve overall immunity, avoiding weaning during periods of drastic climate change, not administering vaccines during weaning, not transporting or separating calves during weaning, and providing warm water to drink during weaning. Adjust the calf rearing environment. Before weaning, move the calves to separate pens to reduce the chance of cross-infection with other cattle. Keep the pens clean, dry, and well-ventilated. Keep the ambient temperature at 22-26°C and disinfect them every 1-2 days to reduce the incidence of disease. Step 3: Feeding and management during weaning: 8-14 days before weaning, gradually reduce the calf's intake of breast milk and simultaneously increase the proportion of concentrated feed. The quality of each increase in feed should be 80-90% of the quality of the breast milk. At the same time, increase the consumption of calf starter feed according to the calf's feeding needs. Ensure that there is sufficient drinking water during the calf's feeding period. When breast milk intake accounts for less than 15%, maintain the ratio of breast milk to feed for 2-3 days and stop breastfeeding; Step 4: Management of calves after weaning, including environmental management, health management and group management.

2. The method for improving yak reproduction rate by timely weaning of calves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steps of determining the weaning time of the calf in step 1 are specifically as follows: (1) Healthy calves aged 26-30 days and weighing 160-180 kg were selected, and their stomach volume was measured. Calves with a stomach volume of 52 ± 2% of the total stomach volume were selected; (2) Each calf was then monitored independently, and the calf's stomach volume was measured again 24-32 days later; (3) collecting data on the calf's body size, weight, and food intake at equal time intervals during step (2); (4) Select calves whose stomach volume accounts for 60±2% of the total stomach solvent for weaning.

3. The method for improving yak reproduction rate by timely weaning of calves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The specific method of decreasing by equal amounts in step 3 is as follows: (1) Reduce the calf's milk intake by an equal amount each time for 2-3 days, reducing the original intake by 10-15% each time; (2) Reduce the number of times the calf is fed milk every day, decreasing it by one every 2-3 days.

4. The method for improving yak reproduction rate by timely weaning of calves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding and management during the weaning period in step 3 also includes observing and recording the health status of individual calves; Observation and record of health status: During the weaning process, the health status of the calves should be continuously observed, and the body size, weight, and intake of the calves during weaning should be counted and recorded every 2-3 days.

5. The method for improving yak reproduction rate by timely weaning of calves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feed ratio of the calf in step 3 is as follows: Autoclaved corn flakes, soybean meal, soybean dregs, plant protein powder, calcium powder, fish meal, salt, vitamins, whole milk powder, whey powder, amino acids, probiotics; The specific proportions by percentage are as follows: Steamed corn crumbs 30-50%, soybean meal 12-18%, soybean residue 10-18%, plant protein powder 1-10%, calcium powder 1-5%, fish meal 1-6%, salt 0.1-3%, vitamins 0.1-3%, whole milk powder 0.1-10%, whey powder 0.1-5%, amino acids 0.1-5%, probiotics 0.1-5%; When breast milk intake accounts for less than 45%, bran, alfalfa, methionine and stone powder are added to the feed in the following proportions: Steamed corn crumbs 25-40%, soybean meal 12-18%, soybean residue 10-18%, bran 8-18%, alfalfa 6-12%, plant protein powder 1-10%, calcium powder 1-5%, fish meal 1-6%, stone powder 1-5%, salt 0.1-3%, vitamins 0.1-3%, whole milk powder 0.1-10%, whey powder 0.1-5%, amino acids 0.1-5%, probiotics 0.1-5%, methionine 0.1-5%.

6. The method for improving yak reproduction rate by timely weaning of calves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The environmental management in step 4 is as follows: (1) Keep the feeding area clean and dry, clean feces and drinking water equipment regularly to prevent the spread of diseases; (2) Ensure that calves have sufficient space for exercise, and the ratio of the number of calves (head) to the feeding area (㎡) is 1:10-12; (3) Keep calves exposed to sunlight for 2-4 hours on sunny days to promote their physical health and immunity; (4) Regularly clean the feces in the calf feeding area and change the feed and water containers every 1-2 days to avoid the growth and spread of bacteria, thereby reducing the risk of disease.

7. The method for improving yak reproduction rate by timely weaning of calves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The health management in step 4 is to conduct regular physical examinations on the calves to check their health status and growth and development, and provide corresponding treatment and health care advice as needed.

8. The method for improving yak reproduction rate by timely weaning of calves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The group management in step 4 requires that calves be grouped after weaning to adapt to group life, with the number of calves in each group being 6 to 8. The grouping of calves is based on the calves' age, individual size, and physical condition, and is adjusted appropriately. At the same time, the stocking density during grouping is that each calf has a 40-60 cm feeding trough; the drinking water space is set to 10-20 cm; the number of cattle beds is the same as the number of calves.

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