Question

Normally the feed intake in terms of dry matter by cow is _________ of its body weight

• A. 2.5%
• B. 5%
• C. 10%
• D. 20%

Hint:

Memorize these reference ranges:
- Large Ruminants (Cattle/Buffalo): 2.0% -- 2.5% of body weight.
- Small Ruminants (Goat/Sheep): 3.0% -- 4.0% of body weight (higher metabolic rate).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Dry matter intake (DMI) is the total quantity of feed consumed by an animal, excluding its moisture content.
It is commonly expressed as a percentage of the animal's total body weight.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
For cattle, dry matter intake rules of thumb are defined as follows:
- Non-lactating or dry cows consume roughly 2.0% of their body weight in dry matter daily.
- Lactating dairy cows typically consume 2.5% to 3.0% of their body weight in dry matter, depending on milk yield.
- Buffaloes consume a similar baseline of 2.5% to 3.0% of body weight.
Thus, the standard representative average for normal feed intake of a cow is 2.5% of its body weight.

Step 4: Final Answer
The normal dry matter intake for a cow is 2.5% of its body weight.