Care of Pregnant Animals

• Adequate health care and nutrition can ensure rapid growth of female calf as well as attaining puberty at an early age. Timely insemination of such animals can help them to calve at 2 to 2 ½ years of age.
• As foetus develops rapidly during last 3 months of pregnancy, adequate care needs to be taken during this time.

RECOMMENDATION

• Animals in the last trimester of pregnancy should not be taken far away for grazing, uneven paths should also be avoided.
• A lactating animal should be dried within a period of 15 days after the 7th month of gestation.
• Pregnant animals should have enough space for standing and sitting comfortably.
• Pregnant animals need suitable ration to reduce the possibility of diseases like milk fever and ketosis at the time of calving and also to ensure adequate milk production.
• Water should be provided round the clock to pregnant animals with a minimum of 75-80 litres of fresh and clean drinking water daily.
• A heifer after 6-7 months of gestation should be tied with milking animals; and its body, back and udder should be massaged.
• 4-5 days before calving, the animal should be tied in a separate clean and airy area having sunlight. Bedding materials like paddy straw should be spread on the ground

DAILY FEED REQUIREMENTS OF A PREGNANT ANIMAL