Is it possible or not to give raw potatoes to a cow, the benefits and harms and how to feed
A properly formulated cow diet has a beneficial effect on their health and increased productivity. The body must receive all the necessary vitamins, nutrients and trace elements. In this case, the food should not harm the animals. You need to be careful when using feed for feeding cows, to know how useful each product is. Consider if raw potatoes can be fed to cows.
Potato composition
Potatoes occupy the leading place among high-calorie foods. For 100 gr. accounts for 76 kcal. Most of the root vegetable is starch. It contains useful minerals: magnesium, calcium, potassium, copper, selenium, iodine, vanadium, boron, cobalt, silicon, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, aluminum.
The vegetable is rich in amino acids, vitamins PP, C, B, H, folic acid and fiber, which helps to improve the digestion of food in the body.
Benefit and harm
Potatoes are a valuable product used for feeding cows. The huge potassium content in potatoes stimulates the elimination of water from the body, which helps to improve metabolism.
Feeding a dairy cow with raw potatoes increases milk yield, which is necessary for calves to grow quickly. Roots should take up most of the diet.
Calf feeding rate from 9 to 10 months. - 10-12 kg of potatoes. It is recommended to feed with caution, because poisoning with solanine, a substance contained in the tubers of a vegetable, is a common cause of death of livestock. Especially its amount is high in roots with a green tint, tops and berries of the plant.
How to properly give potatoes to cows
Potatoes must be present in the diet of cows. This will reduce the consumption of concentrated feed and promote the addition of milk. Overfeeding will lead to obesity of the cow, a decrease in milk yield and a change in the taste and color of milk. It is important to know the permissible daily allowance for animal feeding:
- Dairy cows - 15-20 kg.
- In the dry period - up to 10 kg.
- Bulls - 30-35 kg.
Raw potatoes
For feeding livestock, raw potatoes are pre-washed from dirt. Frequent feeding of contaminated tubers results in decreased milk production, impaired digestion and tooth wear after 5-6 months. It is recommended to cut the vegetable into pieces, having previously peeled off the peel, eyes and rotten places.
Tubers with green and spoiled patches are dangerous and should not be used in animal feed. Sprouted potatoes are not recommended to be used raw. It can cause poisoning, stomach problems.
Boiled potatoes
A spoiled or greened root crop is used boiled. Before preparing it, remove the processes and eyes. Undeaten potatoes must be removed from the trough, since the vegetable is stored for no more than 6 hours. After this time, it turns sour and deteriorates.
Tops
Experts advise against using fresh cows for feeding. High solanine content is dangerous for them. Plants often contain nitrates that can enhance the effect of a toxic substance. The use of tops in food can cause poisoning, stomach upset, and even death. Often, the tops are the cause of the appearance of ulcerative stomatitis. A particularly high index of solanine in the berries of the plant. However, some experts allow cows to be fed with dried or young tops.
Potato peel is actively used in the diet of animals. A lot of cleaning remains in all houses. The herders decide not to throw away the waste and to feed the cattle. Due to the solanine content in the peel, it is allowed to be used boiled. Do not use water after cooking.
When is it better not to give
Potatoes are rich in various trace elements, vitamins and other beneficial substances. Despite the benefits of the root vegetable, its use is not always appropriate.
According to most people, dairy cows should not be given potatoes, as the starch contained leads to a blockage of the milk ducts. In fact, this is a misconception, and the vegetable is good for them. It is not advisable to give a root crop to deep-bedded cows. Fully sprouted, green or rotten potatoes are not suitable for feeding. Frozen tubers should never be used. This can cause miscarriage in pregnant cows.
