Kenya is well known to be home to different breeds of beef cattle. Most people tend to ask questions about how to fatten a bull for slaughter. In this blog post, we will discuss how cattle fattening in 90 days can be achieved.
A high-quality diet is necessary for fattening bulls. This entails producing excellent hay and keeping it on hand; silage; a concentrate to boost protein and energy nutrition; and sources of minerals and vitamins that can be purchased as a premix. A total mixed ration feeding method is also recommended.
Follow These Steps to Fatten Your Bulls
The following are seven crucial steps one should follow for the bull-fattening process to succeed:
1. Select the Type of Bull to Fatten
Compared to Zebu types, British and continental breeds, including Angus, Sussex, Hereford, Charolais, and Limousine, and their crossbreeds, perform better throughout the fattening process. Therefore, you should consider one of these breeds as they will be easier to fatten and cost you way less.
2. Have a Constant Feeding Plan or Formula
For maximum results, the feed rations must be balanced regarding nutrient content and matched to the type of animal fed. Feed composition, digestibility, palatability, and consumption are dietary factors that affect bull fattening success.
Maize grain, snap corn, sorghum, wheat bran, and maize bran are all energy sources. Obtaining a 13% crude protein diet will produce the best performance in bulls.
Your cow fattening feed formula should also comprise 20% roughage, as is needed in diets based on maize for optimal performance. For older animals or animals that are prone to laminitis, it can be added at greater levels of 30–35 percent.
3. Adopt a Feedlot Farming System
A farming method known as a feedlot confines livestock to an enclosure until they reach a specific age and weight. They are then fed heavily on high-quality, balanced feed to quickly gain the predetermined slaughter weight.
The main benefit of a feedlot system in Kenya is that it is the most cost-effective way of fattening bulls. Feedlot animals are raised on less acreage, which reduces costs. They are fed corn or corn products primarily. Factory farming enables maximum output at the lowest possible price. For further inquiries, you may contact Pioneer Feedlot Kenya concerning feedlot farming.
4. Use Bull Fattening Drugs
Some of the cattle fattening drugs in Kenya include Amoxicillin and Zilmax. In Kenya, however, the Zilmax drug is the most preferred.
Zilmax is a pharmaceutical feed additive for beef cattle that is a member of the beta-agonist medication class, which is also used to treat asthma in people. A weight-gaining supplement called Zilmax, which contains the active component zilpaterol hydrochloride, has received government approval.
5. Include Molasses in Your Bulls Diet Everyday
Even while hay and grass forage make up most of your cattle’s diet, adding some molasses might help them gain weight over time. Although molasses won’t be your herd’s primary source of nutrition, the high-calorie diet can increase cattle weight.
Molasses for cattle fattening has proved to be the simplest way to provide a good source of fermentable energy and sugar, both of which are essential in any well-balanced diet. A molasses blend improves herd health, performance, and fertility by optimizing rumen function, stimulating fiber digestion, and increasing dry matter intake, leading to a faster fattening process.
6. Choose a Suitable Location to Set Up Your Fattening Farm
The area you decide to set up your bull fattening farm will significantly influence your animal’s fattening process. It is highly recommended to pick a location with plenty of pasture and a good water supply. The weather conditions should also be humid. In Kenya, places such as Nanyuki are highly recommended for setting up a fattening farm.
7. Provide Proper Housing for Your Bull
A successful bull fattening procedure requires adequate housing and equipment. Bulls must be protected from extreme heat and cold. A roof would provide shade during hot weather, lowering the dehydration rate. The room should also be spacious and well ventilated for efficient oxygen supply, avoiding any chances of suffocation and providing comfort.
