To earn more from rearing cattle, farmers need to pay attention to balanced feed. Without it, cattle do not grow well.

A balanced feed for cattle is one that contains protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals, vitamins and water in the right proportions. It is vital for the animal's growth and body structure. Without it, animals become malnourished and fall prey to various diseases.

Protein is digested in the gut into amino acids, which are absorbed into the blood to repair and build the body. The body needs protein at every age, but the need is greater during growth.

Protein helps the body produce enzymes, organic catalysts such as pepsin and trypsin. These enzymes break down protein, lipids and carbohydrates in feed into easily digestible nutrients that cells can readily absorb and use. Most of an animal's blood, muscle and connective tissue is made of protein. Protein beyond what the animal needs is used as a source of energy and fat.

Carbohydrate supplies working energy. It is broken down in the gut into glucose, which is absorbed into the blood to do its work. Surplus carbohydrate is stored in the body as glycogen, which supplies energy when feed is short of carbohydrate.

Fat is an important component of body tissue and is stored in cattle mainly as a source of heat and energy. Cattle concentrate feed generally needs to contain 4 per cent fat.

Minerals play a very important role in forming new bone and tissue in growing animals. They maintain the shape and strength of the skeleton and are needed to form hair, hooves and horns. Iron helps carry oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, while potassium maintains the acid-base balance of body fluids.

Vitamins are organic compounds needed in small amounts for normal growth and health. Even with enough protein, carbohydrate, fat and minerals in the feed, life cannot go on without vitamins.

They are essential for normal tissue growth, body growth and health. If feed lacks vitamins, or they are not properly absorbed or used, specific diseases follow: a lack of vitamin A causes night blindness and loss of reproductive capacity, a lack of vitamin K causes problems with blood clotting, and a lack of vitamin E leads to reproductive failure.

Water makes up 70 to 90 per cent of an animal's body. Concentrate feed usually contains 10 per cent water and straw 15 per cent, while green grass is 90 per cent water. Even so, animals must be given water separately, because water keeps the body's cells firm and elastic and so keeps the body's structure intact.

Source: Staff Correspondent. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.