Availability of adequate quantity of feed and fodder for livestock is essential for improving the livestock productivity. There exists a substantial gap between the demand and availability of fodder in the country, particularly during the lean periods and at the time of natural calamities including droughts/floods.
Following measures may be taken for ensuring maximum availability of fodder for sustaining livestock production.
The number of livestock is growing rapidly, but the grazing lands are gradually diminishing due to pressure on land for agricultural and non-agricultural uses. The area under fodder cultivation is limited to about 4% of the cropping area, and it has remained static for the last four decades. Owing to the importance of food crops and other cash crops, it is very unlikely that the area under fodder cultivation would increase substantially.
Therefore, the need of the time is to adopt the practice of land use with multiple crops in a sustainable manner. Adopting Silvi-pastoral and Horti-pastoral models suitable to the area can help in substantially enhancing the availability of forage for the livestock. About 29 million ha area in the country falls under the category of open forests with less than 0.4 canopy density which can be developed with fodder trees. This huge land resource can be utilized for growing fodder, not only as an under-storey on the partially shaded ground without affecting standing trees. Similar development is also possible in the area under horticulture orchards. While the forest department can undertake silvi-pastoral plantations through the Joint Forest Management Committees, the horti-pastoral activities can be initiated by incentivizing the farmers who are owners of the orchards.
Emphasis should also be laid on the non-cropped areas in the agricultural land which are not cultivated viz. bunds, pond embankments, slopes of nala course, basins of plantation and horticultural crops, hedges with fodder crops etc.
Use of quality fodder seeds including dual purpose grains like bajra, maize and jowar, etc., is essential for improving productivity. Some of the cultivated fodder species for different regions are indicated below (list is illustrative):
Type of Land | Rainfed | Irrigated |
---|---|---|
Arid Tracts | Jowar, Bajra, Moth, Guar, Lobia, Stylo spp Clitoria Ternatea | Lucerne, Berseem, Oats, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Barley, Fodder cowpea |
Semi-dry | Bajra, Jowar, Lobia, Moth, Guar, Velvet Bean, Field Bean, Guinea grass, Setaria sphacelata, Rhodes grass | Jowar, Maize, Lobia, Teosinte, Lucerne, Berseem, Sarson, Turnips, Hybrid Napier, Oats, Sudan grass, Guinea grass |
Semi-wet | Dinanath Grass, Jowar, Lobia, Rice Bean, Velvet Bean, Teosinte, Sunnhemp | Berseem, Oats, Sudan grass, Hybrid Napier, Guar, Jowar, Maize, Para grass, Rhodes, Setaria,Guinea |
Wet regions | Jowar, Dinanath, Rice Bean, Coix | Berseem, Oats, Hybrid Napier, Guinea, Lucerne, Berseem, Sarson, Turnips, Hybrid Napier, Oats, Setaria, Para grass, Jowar |
Lower hills | Jowar, Lobia, Bajra, Velvet Bean, Field Bean, Guar,Perennial Sorghum,Fodder Maize | Maize, Jowar, Oats, Berseem, Lucerne, Hybrid Napier, Sudan, Setaria, Rhodes |
List of Forage Grasses, Legumes, Shrubs And Trees For Grassland / Grazing Land Improvement on Agro-Ecological Basis
Agro-eco Regions | Grasses | Legumes | Shrubs/Treees |
---|---|---|---|
Western Himalaya, cold arid with shallow skeletal soils | Agrostis spp., Poa alpina, Trisetum spicatum | Medicago sativa / subsp sativa, M. sativa, subsp fslcuta | Hippophae rhamonides |
Western plains and Kaccha Penisula, hot arid with desert and saline soils | Cenchrus ciliaris, C. setigerus (Sandy plains), Lasiurus scindicus (Sandy interdunal plains), Panicum turgidum (Sand dunes) Chloris gayana, Sporobolus marginatus (salt affected lands) | Cassia rotundifolia | Acacia nilotica, A. tortilis, Albizia lebbeck, Ailanthes excelsa, Dichrostachys cinerea, Prosopis cineraria, Ziziphus nummularia, p. juliflora, Salvadora oleoides, S. persica (Saline soil) |
Deccan Plateau, hot arid with red and black soils | Andropogon gayanus, Chrysopogon fulvus (Red soil), Dichanthium annulatum, Bothriochloa intermedia (Black soil) | Clitoria ternatea, Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra | Acacia nilotica, Albizia amara, A.lebbeck, Desmanthus virgatus, Leucaena leucocephala, Tamarindus indica |
Northern plains and central highlands inclulding Aravallis, hot semi-arid with Alluvium | Bothriochloa intermedia, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon fulvus, Dichanthium annulatum, Sehima neroosum | Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra | Acacia nilotica, A. holosericea, Albizia amara, A.lebbeck, A. procera, Azairachta indica, Dichrostachys cinerea, Hardwickia binata, Leucaena leucocephala, Sesbania grandiflora, S. sesban |
Central (Malwa) highlands, Gujarat plains & Kathiawar Peninsula, hot semiarid with red loamy soils | Bothrichloa intermedia, Chloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, Pancium maximum | Arachis hagenbackii, Clitoria ternatea, Stylosanthes hamata, S.scabra | Albizia lebbeck, Artocarpus lackoocha, Dendrocalamus strictus, Gliricidia sepium, Faidherbia albida, Holoptelia integrifolia, Pithecellobium dulce |
Deccan Plateau, hot semi-arid with shallow and medium black soils | Bothriochloa intermedia, Brachiaria decumbens, Cenchrus setigerus, Dichanthium annulatum, Pennisetum pedicellatum, Panicum maximum | Arachis hagenbackii, Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra | Acacia nilotica, Albizia procera, Anogeissus pendula, Bauhinia variegata, B. purpurea, Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera, Pterocarpus marsupium, Sesbania sesban, Terminalia arjuna |
Deccan (Telangana) Plateau and Eastern Ghats, hot semi-arid with red and black | Andropogon gayanus, Bothriochloa intermedia, Chrysopogn fulvus, Pennisetum pedicellatum, Dichanthium annulatum | Atylosia scrabaeoides, Macrotyloma axillare, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes scabra | Albizia lebbeck, Gliricida sepium, Faidherbia albida, Holopteaia integrofolia, Leucaena leucocephala |
Eastern Ghats, TN uplands and Deccan (Karnataka) Plateau, hot semi-arid with red and black soils | Brachiaria decumbens, B. ruziziensis, Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatu, Bothriochloa intermedia | Arachis hagenbackii, A. glabrata, Stylosanthes guinensis, S. hamata | Ailanthes malabarica, albizia falcataria, Erythrina variegata, E. poppygyana |
Northern plains, hot sub-humid (dry with Alluvium derived soils | Bothriochloa intermedia, Cynodon dactylon, Chloris gayana, Dicanthium annulatu, Pennisetum pedicellatum | Clitoria ternatea, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes hamata | Albizia stipulata, Desmathus virgatus, Azadirachata indica, Ficus racemosa, Leucaena leucocephala, Robinia, pseudoacacia |
Central Highlands (Malwa, Bundelkhand & Satpura) noth subhumid with black and red soils | Andropogon gayanus, Pennisetum pedicellatum (red soil), Bothriochloa intermedia, Chrysopogon fulvus, Sehima nervosum, Dichanthium annulatum (black soil) | Atylosia scarabaeoides, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra | Albizia amara, A. lebbeck, Anogeissus latifolia, A. pendula, Dichrostachys cinera, Hardwickia binata, Leucaena leucocephala |
Eastern Palteau (Chhatisgarh), hot sub-humid with red | Bothriochloa intermedia, Cynodon dactylon dichanthium annulatum, Panicum maximum, Pennisetum pedicllatum, Setaria sphacelata | Arachis hagenbackii, Stylosanthes hamata | Bauhinia variegata, Dalbergia sissoo, Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera |
Eastern (Chhotangapur) Plateau and Eastern Ghats hot subhumid with red and laterite soils | Andropogon gayanus, Bothriochloa intermeida, chrysopogon fulvus, Pennisetum, pedicellatum, Urochloa mosambicensis | Atylosia scarabaeoides, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Macrotyloma axillare, Stylosanthes hamata | Artocarpus heterophyllus, A. lakoocha, Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera |
Eastern plain, hot sub-humid (moist) with Alluvium derived soils | Brachiaria brizantha, B. decumbens, B. mutica, Cynodon dactylon, Paspalum notatum | Arachis glabrata, A. hagenbackii | Bauhinia variegata, Dalbergia latifolia, D. sissoo, Desmanthus virgatus, Pterocarpus marsupium |
Western Him alayas, warm sub-humid with brown forest and Podzolic soils | Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne, Poa spp. | Trifolium pratense, T. repens, Lotus comiculatus | Quercus incana, Robinia pseudoacacia, Grewia optiva, Celtis australis, Fagus sylvatica, Celtis australis, Morus alba |
Bengal and Assam plains, hot subhumid (moist) to humid with Alluvium derived soils | Brachiaria decumbens, B. mutica, Paspalum notatum | Desmodium uncinatum, D. heterophyllum | Artocarpus heterophyllus, A. lakoocha, Ficus hookeri, F. nermoralis, Parkia roxburghii, Morus alba |
Eastern Himalayas, warm per-humid with brown and red soils | Coix lacryma-jobi, Pennisetum clandestinum, Tripsacum dactyloides | Desmodium spp., Pueraria phaseoloides | Celtis australis, Ficus hookeri, F. nemoralis, F. semicordata |
North-eastern Hills (Purvanchal), warm per-humid with red and laterite soils | Brachiaria decumbens, Pennisetum clandestinum, Tripsacum dactyloides | Arachis spp. Desmodium uncinatum | Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Parkia roxbrughii, Morus alba., Robinia pseudoacacia |
Eastern Coastal plain, hot subhumid to semi-arid with coastal Alluvium derived soils | Chloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, Pennisetum pedicellaum, Stenotaphrum dimidiatum, Urochloa mosambicensis | Stylosanthes guinensis | Ailanthes malabarica, Erythrina variegata, E. poeppigiana, Ficus retusa |
Western Ghats and Coastal Plain, hot humid per humid laterite and Alluvium derived soils | Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, Panicum maximum, Pennisetum clandestinum, P. polystachyon, Setaria sphacelata | Clitoria ternatea, Desmodium heterophyllum, Pueraria thunbergiana, Stylosanthes hamata, S. guiensis | Ailanthes malabarica, Erythrina variegata |
Islands of Andman Nicobar and Lakshdweep hot humid to per humid island with red loamy and sandy soils | Andropogon gayanus, Cynodon dactylon, Cenchrus ciliaris, Pennisetum pedicellatum, p. polystachyon, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Tripsacum laxum | Centrosema pubescens, Clitoria ternatea, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes guianensis, S. scabra | Bauhinia purpurea, Erythrina variegata, Leucaena leucocephala, Trema tomentosa, Pithecellobium dulce, Gliricidia sepium,Caliandra spp. |
Inadequate availability of quality fodder seeds is a major constraint. Fodder seed production is not remunerative in many of the fodder crops. State Governments may take initiatives to encourage farmers for taking up the production of high yielding varieties by providing sufficient incentives to farmers for production of fodder seeds of high yielding varieties by way of assured procurement with a remunerative price and assistance of inputs. State Governments can avail the benefit of the component of 'Fodder Seed Production, Procurement and Distribution' under the National Livestock Mission (NLM). Provisions under NFSM can also be utilized for this purpose.
Following high yielding fodder varieties may be considered for seed production programme for improving fodder yield per hectare in respect of existing area under fodder:
S.No | Name of the fodder crop | Name of varieties |
---|---|---|
1 | Maize | African tall, J - 1006, Vijay composite |
2 | Sorghum | SSG 59-3, PC-23, PC-9, PC-6, HC-136, MP Chari, CO-FS-29,SSV 74,SSV 84 |
3 | Hybrid Napier | IGFRI-6, IGFRI-10, CO-4, Yashwant, NB21,PNB-84,DHN6,CoBN5 |
4 | Bajra | Giant bajra, L-74, GFB-1, Raj. Bajra chari-2, HC 20, AVKB-19 |
5 | Cowpea | BL-1, BL-2, UPC-622, UPC-5286, UPC-4200, EC-4216,NP-3,MFC 08-14, MFC09-1 |
6 | Guar | BG-1, BG-2, BG-3, Bundel-2, HG 365, HG563, RG- 1003 |
7 | Berseem | Wardan, Bundel berseem-2, BL-1, BL-10 |
8 | Oats | JHO-851, JHO-822, UPO-212, Kent, OS-6, |
9 | Chinese cabbage | - |
Forage crops and their varieties suitable for waterlogged soil
Soil condition | Suitable crop |
---|---|
Standing water | Almon grass (Echinochloa polyptachya), Para grass, coix sps., Iseilema laxum, Chloris gayana, signal grass, karnal grass, congosignal grass |
Shallow water table | Teosinte (Zea mexicana), shevary (Sesbania sesban) |
Temporary water logged soil drained in rabi season | Sasuna (Medicago denticulata), teera (Lathyrus sativus), chatarimatri (Vicia sativa), oats and berseem |
Riverine flood waterlogging | Sorghum (PC-6), Teosinte (TL-6) |
Emphasis be also laid on availability of seeds of short duration and dual purpose crops, which can be used in emergency of drought/floods, for getting fodder in short period. States may ensure availability of such dual purpose quality seeds in consultation with respective Agricultural Universities.
Productivity potential of most lands can be best utilised through not only crop rotation, but also adopting suitable crop combinations. An indicative list of possible production under different combinations of fodder crops is in Below table which shows higher productivity for different crops.
Stratified fodder-production potential of the best fodder crop combinations
Best 2-3 rotations at various Centres | Green fodder yield (q / ha) |
---|---|
Jhansi | |
Hybrid Napier + Cowpea - Berseem + Sarson | 2,863 |
Maize + Cowpea - M.P. Chari - Berseem + Sarson | 1,972 |
M.P. Chari - Turnips - Oats | 1,256 |
Hyderbad | |
Hybrid Napier + Cowpea - Hybrid Napier + Cowpea - Hybrid Napier +Berseem | 1,334 |
Maize + Cowpea - Bajra +Cowpea + Berseem | 1,267 |
Madikattujonna + Cowpea - Jonna (Ratoon) + Cowpea - Berseem | 1,098 |
Anand | |
Hybrid Napier alone | 2,877 |
Hybrid Napier + Guar - Lucerne | 2,529 |
Maize + Cowpea - Maize - Cowpea - Oats - Maize + Cowpea | 1,685 |
Kalyani | |
Maize + Cowpea - P. Pedicellatum - Oats | 1,308 |
Maize + Cowpea - Rice Bean - Berseem + Sarson | 1,115 |
Maize + Cowpea + Jowar + Cowpea - Oats | 884 |
Kanker | |
Maize + Cowpea - Oats - Bajra + Cowpea | 1,206 |
Jowar + Cowpea - Berseem + Sarson - Maize + Cowpea | 960 |
Bajra + Cowpea - Berseem + Sarson - Maize + Cowpea | 959 |
Pantnagar | |
Napier + Berseem intercropped and cut at the optimum time | 2,141 |
Napier + Berseem intercropped and cut at the same time | 1,998 |
Napier +Lucerne intercropped and cut at the optimum time | 1,960 |
Jorhat | |
Hybrid Napier alone | 1,442 |
Maize + Cowpea - Maize - Jowar - Oats | 664 |
Guinea alone | 607 |
Hissar | |
Napier - Bajra Hybrid intercropped with Berseem | 2,117 |
Napier - Bajra Hybrid + Lucerne | 1,760 |
Berseem + Japan Rape - Jowar + Cowpea - Jowar + Cowpea | 1,705 |
Coimbatore | |
Sorghum + Cowpea - Maize + Cowpea - Maize + Cowpea | 1,107 |
Maize + Cowpea - Maize + Cowpea - Maize + Cowpea | 1,060 |
Guinea grass round the year | 935 |
Palampur | |
Maize + Cowpea - Lucerne + Oats + Sarson | 844 |
Maize + Cowpea - Turnip - Oats + Pea - Cowpea | 833 |
M.P. Chari + Cowpea - Oats + Pea - Cowpea | 782 |
Jabalpur | |
Hybrid Napier intercropped with Cowpea - Berseem and Cowpea | 1,761 |
M.P. Chari - Cowpea - Berseem + Sarson - Jowar + Cowpea | 1,686 |
Based on All-India Coordinated Project for Research on Forage Crops of ICAR
Cultivation of Azolla may be taken up on large scale as it is highly nutritious, rich in protein and ready within a week’s period and available every day thereafter.
The grassland development can be taken up in nonforest waste land, range land, grass land, non-arable land and forest land under NLM with 60% Central grant. Besides, other marginal lands like roadside land, canal side land, land along the railway tracks, etc., may also be utilized for forage cultivation. The forest department can also undertake silvi-pastoral plantations in degraded forest areas through the Joint Forest Management Committees for use of the communities as explained earlier. Wasteland like waterlogged areas, saline soils, sodic soils, etc., can also be utilized for cultivation of fodder varieties suitable for such areas.
The Milk Cooperatives and Panchayat may be assisted for keeping surplus fodder for use during crisis periods. Gaushalas may be encouraged and trained to popularize high-yielding fodder and forage crops and supported for creating fodder banks through silage or fodder blocks and enrichment of crop residues, etc. States with surplus dry fodder may indicate the quantity and type of fodder available with them, so that necessary arrangements for supply to scarcity area can be made.
Source: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Last Modified : 9/14/2023
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