Optimal feed ration
In order for the weight of the cattle to increase and for all life processes to run normally, you need to provide the animals with feed.
Each clone has a feeding trough in the barn, from which the cattle belonging to that clone will be fed. If your bulls and cows belong to more than one clone, make sure each clone has feed in the troughs. In the barn is organized a common feeder for all animals in the account (if sufficient capacity of the barn). Once the barn is built, the animals will eat in one place, and you will be much more comfortable to monitor the process.
Feeding the feeder can be stockpiled for several days or even months. If necessary, you can remove excess feed from the feeder back into the clone's inventory.
Deviations from the optimal feed ration will result in lower weight gain in your animals. The greater the deviation from the optimal feed ration, the slower the animal will gain weight. In addition, sub-optimal (incomplete) feeding will reduce production, and the period of readiness for mating and the period of pregnancy will be increased.
You may not feed your cattle at all for a while. Cows and bulls don't starve to death. However, animals will lose weight if there is no food at all. Hungry animals will not produce, and the rate of pregnancy and mating preparation processes will drop to zero.
Warning. If the animals receive very little (relative to the optimal diet) amount of feed, close to zero, or no feed at all, their weight will decrease. In this case, the animals will lose 1/3 of the weight they would have gained with an optimal feed ration on a given day. This rule does not apply to cattle 421-480 days old: such animals do not lose weight.
If your animal's weight drops to 0 kg, it will die.
You can feed your cattle with Superfood. Superfood is not a substitute for a regular diet, it serves as a useful supplement.
Animal age from 1 to 60 days
Animals between 1 and 60 days of age (inclusive) are considered young. They gradually and evenly increase the consumption of all types of feed - from 0.1 kg of each type of feed on the first day to the maximum amount, as indicated in the table about the last day.
The weight gain of the animals also increases proportionally (from the minimum value on the first day to the maximum value on the last day of this age period). Provided the animals receive an optimal feed ration, the heifer will increase in weight from 0.5 kg on the first day to 13 kg on the last day, and the steer will increase in weight from 0.5 kg on the first day to 16 kg on the last day of this age period.
Table. Maximum feed intake on the last (60th) day at optimal feed ration
| Resource | Bull (kg/day) | Cow(kg/day) |
|---|---|---|
 Milk | 8 | 8 |
 Mixed fodder | 10 | 10 |
 Lucerne | 6 | 6 |
 Turnips | 6 | 6 |
 Fodder beet | 3 | 3 |
 Swede | 3 | 3 |
 Oats | 3 | 3 |
Table. Weight gain of animals 1 to 60 days of age given an optimal feed ration
| Day | Bull | Cow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0,5 | 0,5 |
| X | W= 0.5 + (X-1) - (16-0.5)/ 59 | W=0.5+(X-1) *(13-0.5)/59 |
| 60 | 16 | 13 |
Animal age from 61 to 240 days
Beginning on the 61st day of life, cows and bulls are considered adult animals.
Animals between 61 and 240 days of age (inclusive) consume a constant amount of feed daily
Table. Feed intake at 61-240 days of age at optimal feed ration
| Resource | Bull (kg/day) | Cow(kg/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed fodder | 45 | 35 |
| Lucerne | 4 | 4 |
| Turnips | 4 | 4 |
| Fodder beet | 2 | 2 |
| Swede | 2 | 2 |
| Oats | 2 | 2 |
Provided the animals receive this optimal feed ration, the cow will increase her weight by 1.083 kg daily and the bull by 1.583 kg daily.
In this age group of animals, you can reduce weight loss in the absence of food if you use superfood as a supplement.
Animal age from 241 to 420 days
Adult animals between 241 and 420 days of age (inclusive) consume a constant amount of feed daily, according to the table.
Table. Feed intake at 241-420 days of age at optimal feed ration
| Resource | Bull (kg/day) | Cow(kg/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed fodder | 40 | 30 |
| Lucerne | 3 | 3 |
| Turnips | 3 | 3 |
| Fodder beet | 2 | 1,5 |
| Swede | 2 | 1,5 |
| Oats | 2 | 1,5 |
Provided the animals receive this optimal feed ration, the cow will increase her weight by 0.275 kg daily and the bull by 0.4 kg daily.
In this age group of animals, you can reduce weight loss in the absence of food if you use Superfood as a supplement.
Animal age 421 to 480 days
Animals between 421 and 480 days old (inclusive) are considered old. They gradually and evenly reduce the consumption of all types of feed - from the maximum amount shown in the table on day 421, and up to 0.1 kg of each type of feed on day 480.
Table. Maximum feed intake at day 421 at optimal feed ration of cattle
| Resource | Bull (kg/day) | Cow(kg/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed fodder | 30 | 30 |
| Lucerne | 3 | 3 |
| Turnips | 3 | 3 |
| Fodder beet | 2 | 2 |
| Swede | 2 | 2 |
| Oats | 2 | 2 |
Animals at this age are no longer gaining weight. They do not produce milk and cannot mate. But if a cow has successfully mated with a bull before reaching the age of 421 days, she will bear and give birth as usual.
It is helpful to remember that not only do animals at this age not gain weight, but they also do not lose weight if left hungry. Older animals can live quite well on subsistence food. You don't have to feed them to keep them alive. However, if they are not fed, they will stop producing manure, and the pregnancy period will increase.