Too little feed and milk drops; too much and you waste money. Use this simple chart to work out the right daily amount of concentrate, green fodder and dry fodder for your animals.
Key Takeaways
- Maintenance: about 1.5 – 2 kg of concentrate per day for an adult animal.
- Add about 1 kg for every 2.5 L of cow milk, or every 2 L of buffalo milk.
- Always balance concentrate with enough green fodder, dry fodder and water.
In this article
One of the most common questions we hear from farmers is, “Kitna daana dena chahiye?” – how much feed should I give? The answer depends on the animal’s weight, milk yield and the fodder you have. But a simple rule of thumb works well for most farms, and it is easy to remember.
The three parts of a daily ration
- Green fodder – berseem, maize, jowar, napier grass. Provides vitamins, protein and taste.
- Dry fodder – bhusa or straw. Provides fibre that keeps the rumen working.
- Concentrate – compound feed such as Super Feed or pellets. Provides the extra energy, protein and minerals needed for milk.
- Plus mineral mixture and unlimited clean water.
The concentrate rule of thumb
| Animal | For body maintenance | Extra for milk |
|---|---|---|
| Cow | 1.5 – 2 kg / day | + 1 kg for every 2.5 L of milk |
| Buffalo | 1.5 – 2 kg / day | + 1 kg for every 2 L of milk |
| Pregnant animal (last 2 months) | As above | + 1 – 1.5 kg / day |
Buffalo milk is richer in fat than cow milk, so a buffalo needs a little more feed for every litre she gives.
Worked examples
| Animal | Milk / day | Concentrate / day | Green fodder | Dry fodder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cow | 5 L | 3.5 – 4 kg | 20 – 25 kg | 4 – 5 kg |
| Cow | 10 L | 5.5 – 6 kg | 25 – 30 kg | 5 – 6 kg |
| Buffalo | 6 L | 4.5 – 5 kg | 25 – 30 kg | 5 – 6 kg |
| Buffalo | 10 L | 6.5 – 7 kg | 30 – 35 kg | 5 – 6 kg |
Fodder quantities are approximate and depend on the quality and type of fodder available. When green fodder is short, the animal may need a little more concentrate.
Choosing the right feed for the yield
- Average yielders – Super Feed gives complete daily nutrition.
- Good yielders – Uttam Pellet provides nutrient-rich pellets with less wastage.
- High yielders and early lactation – Bypass Dairy Special supplies protected protein for more milk.
Watch your animals
The chart is a starting point. If an animal is losing body condition, give a little more; if she is getting fat without more milk, reduce slightly. For a personalised plan for your herd, talk to our team or your local veterinarian.
