Pregnancy protection for pregnant cows
First, careful feeding. The management of cows during the first trimester, from January to February, is crucial for the healthy development of the fetus. During this time, the nutrients required by the fetus must be well-balanced and sufficient. While cows can generally meet their nutritional needs through grazing on young grasses, in autumn, winter, and early spring, pastures become rough, and farmers often rely on hay, crop straws, and other coarse feeds. If grazing is limited, it's important to supplement their diet with high-quality feed to ensure optimal growth.
Once a cow is three months pregnant, the fetus begins to develop more rapidly, so the amount of concentrate feed should gradually increase. A typical mix might include 40% soybean, 30% corn, 20% barley, and 10% wheat. These ingredients should be soaked in warm water for 6–8 hours, then ground into pulp. Adding 10–15% soybean meal, 5–8% bran, 1% salt, and 3–5% bone meal will create a balanced diet. Feed this mixture two to three times daily, with each portion ranging from 0.5 kg to 2 kg. Young cows should also receive an appropriate increase in concentrate feed during this period.
Two months before calving, the fetus gains 60–70% of its birth weight, and the cow needs to store enough nutrients to support milk production. At this stage, the amount of concentrate should be doubled compared to pre-pregnancy levels. The feed should be fresh, varied, and rich in nutrients. Green vegetables like carrots and leafy greens are beneficial. Avoid feeding potatoes, distillers' grains, or untreated cottonseed or soybean cakes, as well as any spoiled, cold, acidic, or toxic plants such as stinging nettle or poisonous flowers.
One month before calving, control the amount of coarse feed and provide softer options like ammoniated straw, salted straw, or juicy green feeds. Increase the bran content in the concentrate to aid digestion. About ten days before delivery, reduce feed based on the cow’s appetite and digestion. Two to three days before birth, if the cow is in good health, with swollen udders and abdominal swelling, reduce her feed by one-third to half to prevent excessive milk production, which could lead to mastitis, back milk, or digestive issues in the calf. For lean cows that show signs of dry udders a week before birth, consider increasing protein-rich feeds like soybean cake, soy milk, or bean dregs, along with juicy, laxative greens to ensure adequate milk supply postpartum. Keep feed and water clean at all times.
Second, careful management. From February to March of pregnancy, the placenta is still developing, making the cow more prone to miscarriage. Avoid sudden movements or overgrazing. From May to June, pregnant cows should avoid strenuous work, running, or circular activities. Prevent them from entering paddy fields to avoid abdominal injury. Avoid exercise during extreme weather conditions, and steer clear of steep slopes, sharp turns, or cold winds. Allow 10–15 minutes of rest every 1.5–2 hours. Ensure 16–18 hours of rest and rumination daily.
In the last month of pregnancy, avoid grazing on steep hills or rough terrain. Watch out for cold storms. Cows with weak udders or premature signs can benefit from warm water (40°C–50°C) baths twice daily for about 20 days before birth. This helps stimulate mammary gland development and eases artificial feeding after birth. Keep the barn clean, dry, and well-ventilated with plenty of light. Avoid overcrowding. Seven to ten days before delivery, thoroughly clean the barn, dig new soil, spray the floor with 2–3% caustic soda, and treat walls with 20% lime milk. Provide a soft, short bed of straw for the cow.
If a cow shows signs of fetal distress—such as abdominal pain, restlessness, lying down, vomiting, frequent urination, or mucus or bloody discharge from the vagina—immediate action is needed. First, administer 250–500 ml of shochu orally to induce mild anesthesia and suppress contractions. Second, for mild fetal movement, inject 10–15 ml of progesterone intramuscularly. Third, if there is internal heat or bleeding, give a decoction of fresh ramie root (90g), Agrimonia (120g), and Agrimonia leaves (30g). Fourth, for cows prone to habitual abortion, take a "safety pill" every other month starting at five months of pregnancy. This includes herbs like Angelica, Chuanxiong, Dodder, fried white peony, Fritillaria, Huangqi, Nepeta, Park, Oyster shell, Alfalfa, Licorice, Black Eucommia, Dipsacus, Paper, and ginger, all finely ground and taken orally with water.
Probiotics are a group of active microorganisms that are beneficial to the host by colonizing the body and changing the composition of the host flora in a certain area. It is a single microorganism or a mixture of microorganisms with well-defined composition that can produce beneficial effects on health by regulating the immune function of the host mucosa and system or by regulating the balance of flora in the intestine and promoting nutrient absorption to maintain a healthy intestine.
The probiotics that scientists have discovered so far can be broadly divided into three major categories which include.
â‘ Lactobacillus class such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus janus, Lactobacillus lamanis, etc.
â‘¡Bifidobacteria category such as Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium shortum, Bifidobacterium ovale, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, etc.
â‘¢ Gram-positive cocci such as Streptococcus faecalis, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus intermedius, etc.
Probiotics:Lactobacillus;Bifidobacteria;Lactococcus lactis
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