“Importance of Fodder Production”

It is a matter of great pleasure that India ranks first in world’s milk production since last 30 years. However, it is necessary to note that every year fodder scarcity is recorded in the country. It is estimated that average shortfall of yearly 65% dry fodder and 45% of green fodder is limiting milk potential of animals.

Fodder or roughages constitute major bulk of animal diet. The carry less digestibility and more fibre contents. Leguminous powder carries maximum non protein nitrogen up to 20% whereas non- leguminous fodder contents 4% proteins. Animal blood mineral content is always mirror of soil minerals.

Fodder is regular and daily requirement of livestock. Mature and full grown dairy animal requires 8 to 10 kg of dry fodder carrying 10-15% water and 15 to 18 kg of green fodder having 75-80 % water contents. Ideal dairy management systems include minimum three months fodder planning.

Cultivation in one acre throughout the year provides sufficient fodder for five dairy animals.

Type of foddder to be cultivated, specially for dairy animals, should be considered on yield, variety of seed, season, soil condition, irrigation availability. Seasonal and perennial fodder varieties are important for livestock feeding, as each feeding essentially requires minimum three types of green and dry fodder scientifically. Maize is king and Lucern is queen for fodder in the world. Berseem, Napier, Oat, Sorgham, Cowpea, Bajara etc. are well known fodder varieties.

Compound stomach ruminants can digest fodder, hay or grasses for growth, maintenance, reproduction, lactation and health. Fodder provides bulk requirement of rumen to satisfy hunger.

Rumination is first step in process of digestion of fodder, for which resting comfort of 16 to 18 hours and 14 to 16 hours of rumination is essential daily in dairy animals.

Fodder cultivation, production, storage and proper utilisation is basic requirement in rearing of dairy animals. Chaffing of fodder helps for avoiding wastage, use through silage preservation and easy rumination by animals. Fresh green fodder needs to be air and sun dried, before feeding to the animals. Proper storage of fodder in godowns for protection and avoiding spoilage is equally important.

Indian farming system is highly oriented towards sugarcane production; hence excess sugarcane is used as animal fodder throughout the country regularly. It is important to know that single type of fodder should not exceed more than 33% and the quantity of sugarcane needs to be 1% lime solution treated and sufficiently air and sun dried for 2 days before feeding. Total and only use of sugarcane as fodder leads to oxalate poisoning in animals.

Deficiency of green fodder can be compensated through hydroponic technology and increasing concentrates can also suffice the purpose. Regular dry fodder provision is essential for milk fat percentage. Alternate sources for both green and dry fodder can also be tried in dairy animals, but maximum level of 15% is essential. Urea -Molases treatment is useful to improve quality of alternate dry fodder sources.

Fodder availability, market, demand, scarcity, rates regularly increases during summer months and continues for first two months of rainy season. Fodder banks, fodder cafeteria, fodder museum recent concepts to propagate importance of fodder production. Profitability has been increased for farmers involved in fodder production, then that of dairy business. Farmer producer organisations are being established to overcome fodder scarcity in the country.

Indian livestock farming system is speedily changing to stall feeding due to vast reduction in grazing land availability and improved animal rearing practices. Providing chaffed fodder to dairy animals in sufficient quantities is only possible when fodder cultivation is assured. Majority state welfare schemes are promoting fodder production through seed distribution, water retention tanks, chaff cutter distribution schemes.