Green Fodder Production

Introduction

Agriculture and animal husbandry in India are interwoven, with mixed farming and livestock rearing being integral to rural livelihoods. Although the agriculture sector’s contribution to the Indian economy is steadily declining, both the agriculture and livestock sectors provide employment to 52% of the work force.

Livestock producers meet their fodder needs through a combination of crop residues, grazing (on common and private lands, forests, and fallow and harvested agricultural lands), and cultivated forage crops (grown mostly by large landholders), while some of them purchase fodder. However, the livestock sector has been grappling with issues of improving fodder production. Green fodder is critical as it provides nutrients for livestock health, which ultimately has a bearing on livestock output and the sector itself.

Fodder production in India

Growing livestock numbers and evolving animal husbandry practices require a corresponding increase in fodder to meet livestock needs. Current fodder availability in the country is well below its demand.

Given the large number of resource-poor households dependent on open grazing for their livestock, revitalizing degraded common fodder and pasture resources and improving their productivity are imperative. Various studies have been carried out to assess the demand and supply of green and dry fodder resources. In this context, the Planning Commission’s Working Group on Animal Husbandry and Dairying’s estimation of the demand and supply of fodder resources in India are given in Table 1.

Fodder production and utilization depend on cropping pattern, climate, type of livestock, and socio-economic conditions. Deficit in fodder, dry crop residues and feed have to be met by either increasing productivity, utilizing untapped feed resources, increasing land area or through imports (Table 2).

The situation is aggravated by growing livestock numbers, particularly genetically improved ones. Moreover, available forage is poor in quality and deficient in energy, protein, and minerals.

Package of practices and fodder classification

A combination of soil types, climatic conditions, and large number of forage species suited to different agro-ecological conditions and input situations enable intensive forage production in India. Forage production per unit area is a consequence of the interaction between genotypes and the environment. Selecting better varieties, seeds, application of fertilizers, and adoption of agronomic practices can lead to a significant increase in productivity.

Fodder crops can be grouped as follows:

Cereal fodder:

Cereals are grown for their edible starchy seeds known as ‘caryopsis’. Cereal fodders have a determinate growth habit and their herbage quality starts deteriorating after flowering. They have wider adaptability and variability in terms of growth, regeneration potential, yield and quality of herbage. Maize, sorghum, pearl millet, and oat provide energy-rich herbage to livestock.

Legumes fodder:

Legumes by and large are indeterminate in growth and maintain quality traits over longer periods. They have high herbage protein and nitrogen fixing ability.

Grass fodder:

These include introduced and native grasses for pasture, grazing, and hay and can be either annual or perennial and either single cut or multi-cut.

Fodder trees and shrubs:

Shoots or sprouts, tender twigs and stems of woody plants along with their leaves, flowers, fruits or pods are raised to feed livestock. They are hardy and provide year-round fodder for use during lean periods. Their leaves are high in protein, with 10-30% of Dry Matter (DM) and can replace concentrates. However, while the availability of tree leaves is seasonal, concentrates are available all year round.

In dry periods, trees and shrubs remain green longer than grasses because of their deep root system which can tap water. When grasses are scarce, fodder trees stay green and provide the required energy and protein. Some fodder tree species improve soil fertility by providing green mulch or by fixing atmospheric nitrogen and even provide construction material, firewood, shelter, shade or edible pods.

Other crops:

Root crops such as turnip, carrot and fodder beet, Brassica spp., and vetches are supplementary sources of feed. Due to early bulking capacity and short duration, they are often grown as catch crops.

Fodder crops can also be classified based on their nature and growth. Annuals such as maize and cowpea complete their life cycle in one season while perennials such as Guinea grass and Lucerne provide fodder for more than one season or year. Their classification based on family, splits them into leguminous (guar, berseem, cowpea, lucerne) and non-leguminous crops (maize, pearl millet, sorghum, and oat). There are also rainfed fodder crops (fodder pearl millet, Stylosanthes) and irrigated fodder crops such as Hybrid Napier, guinea grass, Lucerne, etc. Range species/grasses comprise of Dharaf grass, marvel grass, setaria grass, anjan grass, etc.

Characteristics of green fodder

Quick growth

Close spacing with optimum seed rate

Dense plant stand smothers weeds and prevents soil erosion

Improves soil health by adding organic residues

Adjustable crop duration that minimizes risk due to aberrant weather

High regeneration capacity reduces the need for frequent planting and tillage compared to perennial fodder crops

Crop management differs with type of fodder crop and mode of utilization

Wider adaptability: can grow under stress conditions

High nutrient and water requirement under intensive cropping

Multi-cut nature can provide fodder at regular intervals

Economic viability depends on secondary production (livestock products)

Storage, transportation, processing and conservation are cumbersome

Cost of cultivation decreases with subsequent cuttings in the case of multi-cut and/or perennial fodder as well as in fodder-cum-seed crops.

Systematic breeding of fodder crops at different research institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural and Veterinary Universities have led to the development and release of a large number of improved varieties suitable for different agro- ecological zones. Krishi Vigyan Centers (KVK) produce fodder seeds and stem cuttings/root slips, apart from delivering information on green fodder production. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services in state governments, dairy cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organizations, Non-Government Organizations, Self-help Groups, and Farmers’ Associations too are involved in this endeavor to benefit the farming community. The varieties released have led to substantial increase in the productivity and production of fodder in the country. This manual serves as a guide for field functionaries involved in promoting feed/fodder crops, and who are constrained by the lack of information about improved varieties suited to arid and semi-arid conditions. Together with details on the kinds of fodder crops suited to these areas, the accompanying agronomic practices provide a holistic look at improving fodder production.