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| FODDER : |
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FODDER TREES::
- During recent years, with the promotion of social forestry programme, cultivation of fodder trees to support dairy cattle feeding is becoming a possibility.
- These tree species can be established in rows on field bunds, under agro-forestry system.
- Trees and bushes can also be developed into plantations on marginal lands where agricultural productivity is extremely poor.
- Cultivation of fodder trees has several advantages over seasonal fodder crops, in terms of wide adaptability to harsh agro-climatic conditions, ability to utilize limited quantity of water and sustain fodder production for a long period.
Type of Fodder Trees:
Depending on the management of trees and the type of feed produced, the fodder trees can be categorized into the following groups. However, these groups signify only the method of management and a particular species can be put into any category depending on the situation. The categories are:
1. Trees for fodder hedges.
2. Trees for lopping side branches.
3. Trees for fruits and pods.
1. Trees for Fodder hedges:
- Trees like Leucaena, Albizia amara, Gliricidia, Pithecellobium dulce, Hedge lucern, (Desmanthus vergatus), Sesbania sesban (shevri) and Calliandra calothyrsus can be established closely in rows and managed in hedges by cutting the main trunk at a convenient height.
- Forage can be harvested regularly at an interval of 30- 50 days, depending on the soil fertility, moisture availability and climatic conditions.
- Under a high density plantation with a population from 50,000 to 1,00,000 plants per hectare, it is possible to harvest dry matter up to 20 tonnes per hectare per year, even on marginal soils with assured irrigation.
- Leucaena plantation can be maintained over a period of 15 - 20 years without any significant reduction in forage yield. While Calliandra and Gliricidia can be maintained for a period of 9- 10 years, Sesbania and hedge lucern can be managed as fodder hedge for 2 to 3 years.
- As all these species belong to the family of legumes, they have the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen and enrich the soil.
- The nutritive value of these fodder crops is high because of high protein content and higher digestibility.
- Regular supply of fodder throughout the year is another significant benefit of growing fodder trees.
2. Fodder trees for Lopping Side Branches:
Many tree species are browsed by livestock. However, it may not be very economical for growing these trees as fodder crops because of low fodder yield as well as poor tree regeneration capacity. Some of these species are ideal for poles, timber and other specialized use like oilseeds, medicines, etc. and in the process of shaping the trees, side branches can be lopped from time to time without causing any serious economical loss. Some of these tree species, which have the potential of providing fodder through side branches are:
- Ailathus excels (Maharukh)
- Albizia amara (Amara)
- Albizia lebbeck (Shins)
- Albizia falcataria (Albizia)
- Albizia procera (White Shins)
- Albizia saman (Rain tree)
- Azadirachta indica (Neem)
- Bauhina perpuria (Kanchan)
- Dalbergia sissoo (Shisham)
- Erythrina indica (Pangara, or Coral tree)
- Ficus Species (Peepal, Banyan, Umber)
- Hardwickia binata (Anjan)
- Leucaena leucocephala (Subabul)
- Pithecellobium dulce (Madras thorn)
- Prosopis cineraria (Khejdr)
- Mella azedarach (Bakain)
- Sesbania sesban (Shevari)
- Sesbania grandiflora (Agastha)
- Safvadora percica (Pilu)
- Terminalla arjuna (Arjun)
- Ziziphus mauritiana (Ber)
- Ziziphus numularia (Jagli ber) and many other species.
- Under this system, the supply of fodder is erratic and inadequate.
- Nevertheless, they help farmers by providing fodder in an emergency, when other fodder and feeds are in short supply.
It is advisable to keep foliage of these trees in reserve and use on days when farmers do not find adequate fodder for their livestock.
- Foliage of certain species such as Ailanthus, Neem and Melia are bitter in taste and cattle generally do not prefer them except during the period of fodder scarcity.
3. Trees Producing Edible Pods:
- Pods and fruits of several tree species are highly palatable and can become an excellent substitute for concentrate.
- Some of the tree species which produce edible pods are: Prosopis juliflora, Acacia nilotica, Albizia saman, Pitheceiobium dulce and Parkia speciosa.
- It has been estimated that a hectare of well maintained Prosopis juliflora plantation can yield 2 - 5 tonnes of pods every year. Information about the yield of pods of other species is not readily available.
- Species like Leucaena leucocephala produce 1 - 2 tonnes of seeds every year per hectare and the seeds can be crushed and used to feed the animals as a substitute for concentrate.
- Matured pods of Sesbania prandiflora, Sesbania sesban and almost all other legumes are highly nutritious and can be fed to cattle. The tender pods of
Sesbanias are also used as vegetable in many parts of India.
- Seeds of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and jackfruit are very rich in starch and can be used for feeding cattle. There are several trees which produce oilseeds of economic importance.
- Oils of Madhuca indica (Mahua) and Madhuca latifolia are edible and popularly used in tribal areas throughout the country. The cake is a source of animal protein.
- Cakes of neem, palas (Butea monosperm) and Pongamia are also fed in a limited way to livestock, particularly during the period of scarcity.
- Mahua flowers are fleshy, sweet and edible. The corolla drops down naturally after the fruit set and the villagers collect and consume the flowers directly or after drying.
FODDER CROPS:
AGRONOMICAL PRACTICES FOR PRODUCTION OF LEGUMINOUS FODDER IN DIFFERENT SEASONS:
|
S.No |
Name
of the crop |
Time
of sowing |
Ploughing |
Seeding |
Manuring and
irrigation |
Yield and
nutritive value |
Crop
rotations |
| 1. |
Cow pea
|
June-July |
After harvesting Rabi crop |
Broadcast @ 25-30 kg/hectare |
40-50 quintals/hectare. |
200-300 quintal/hectare.
30-45% DM
3-4% DCP
17-18% TDN |
1. Cow pea-sorghum-wheat.
2. Cow pea-maize-oat.
|
| 2. |
Guar |
End of march to July |
One ploughing and 2 harrowings |
25-30 kg/ha Green manure |
250-400 quintal/ha |
13-15% CP |
Guar-sorghum-wheat |
| 3. |
Berseem
|
September-October |
After harvesting kharif crop, 2 harrowings required |
20-25 kg/ha |
Kisan khad 150kg/ha.
Superphospahte 500kg/ha |
5-6 cuttings can be obtained.
500-600 Q/ha
16-21% CP
|
- |
| 4. |
Lucerne
|
October-November |
Disc plough with 2-3 harrowings |
15-18 kg/ha |
500kg/ha kisan khad and 100 kg superphosphate |
1000-1200 Q/ha |
Maize-lucerne
Paddy-lucerne |
| 5. |
Senji
|
September-October |
One ploughing and 2 harrowings |
20-25 kg/ha |
250kg superphosphate per hectare |
250-300Q/ha Productive ration |
- |
AGRONOMICAL PRACTICES FOR PRODUCTION OF NON-LEGUMINOUS FODDER IN DIFFERENT SEASONS:
|
S.No |
Name
of the crop |
Time
of sowing |
Ploughing |
Seeding |
Manuring and
irrigation |
Yield and
nutritive value |
Crop
rotations |
| 1. |
Maize |
March-September |
Disc plough with 2-3 harrowings |
30-40kg/ha |
Kisan khad 350 kg/ha. |
350-450 Q/ha
8-10% CP |
- |
| 2. |
Sorghum |
April-August |
Land is ploughed once |
55-60 kg/ha |
100kg nitrogen/ha in the form of urea |
250-450 quintal/ha 4-5% CP |
Cow pea-sorghum-wheat.
Cow pea-sorghum-oat |
| 3. |
M.P. Chari
|
February-March |
2 ploughings and a harrowing |
20-25 kg/ha |
100kg nitrogen/ha in the form of urea. |
700-800 Q/ha. 6-8% CP |
M.P. Chari-Berseem.
M.P. Chari-Lucerne |
| 4. |
Mak-Chari |
March-September |
Disc plough with 2-3 harrowings |
35-40 kg/ha |
350kg/ha kisan khad |
350-500 Q/ha |
- |
| 5. |
Pearl millet
|
March-August |
One ploughing and 2 harrowings |
30-40 kg/ha |
100 kg/ha nitrogen in the form of urea. |
250-400Q/ha
4-5% CP |
- |
| 6. |
Oats |
September |
One ploughing and 2 harrowings |
75-80 kg/ha |
250 Quintals of farm yard manure |
400-500 Q/ha. 7-9% CP |
Cow pea-Oat Sorghum+Guar-Oat |
PERENNIAL FODDERS:
|
S.No |
Name
of the crop |
Time
of sowing |
Propagation |
Seeding |
Manuring and
irrigation |
Yield and
nutritive value |
Utility |
| 1. |
Pusa giant napier grass |
February-August |
Stem and root cutting |
- |
Kisan khad 250 kg/ha. |
Grass assume a height of 12 feet.
4% CP |
Hay making |
| 2. |
Buffal (Anjan) grass |
Monsoon months |
Land is ploughed once |
4-5 kg/ha |
100kg nitrogen/ha in the form of urea |
450-500 quintal/ha 4-5% CP |
Hay and silage making |
| 3. |
Blue panic |
Dry spells |
- |
- |
100kg nitrogen/ha in the form of urea |
400-500 Q/ha.
8% CP |
Silage making |
| 4. |
Jerga grass |
Monsoon months |
Root stumping |
- |
- |
500-600 Q/ha
7% CP |
Silage making |
| 5. |
Doob grass |
Spring season |
Creeping growth through roots |
- |
- |
300-350 Q/ha
10-12% CP |
Silage making |
| 6. |
Para grass
|
Summer season |
Root and stem cuttings |
- |
- |
400-500 Q/ha. |
Hay making |
| 7. |
Guinea grass |
Summer season |
- |
- |
- |
120-150 ton/ha |
Hay making |
| 8. |
Sewan |
Summer season |
Root and stem cuttings |
- |
100kg superphosphate and 300 kg ammonia per
hectare |
10 ton/ha |
- |
SCARCITY FODDERS:
- India is a facing a shortage of feeds and forages for feeding the livestock population.
- Moreover this situation aggravates due to natural calamities like droughts and floods.
- Although the feed reserves in the form of hay and silage can bridge these gaps but owing to the large livestock population of the country,
the need arises to search for an alternate resource in feed sector which comes through non-conventional feeding of various by-products emerging from different industries.
- Although these by-products consist of different toxins and these toxins are to be neutralized before they are being fed to the livestock.
- These resources form a category of feedstuffs called as scarcity feeds or lean period feeds and are enlisted as:
1. Agro-industrial by-products:
a. Mango seed kernel
b. Mahua cake
c. Babul
d. Tamarind seed
e. Rain tree
f. Sun hemp
g. Date stones
h. Maize gluten feed
i. Virginia tobacco seed cake
j. Silk cotton seed
k. Rubber seed cake
l. Tapioca waste
m. Neem seed cake
2. Sugar industry waste:
a. Molasses
b. Bagasse
c. Sugarcane tops
3. Inferior quality roughages:
a. Wheat straw: can be fed after urea molasses treatment.
b. Sunflower straw
c. Spent straw: can be fed to animals after mushroom cultivation
d. Sorghum ear husk
e. Cotton seed hull
f. Mustard straw: after treating with urea
g. Paddy straw
4. Root crops:
Root crops like turnips, carrots, and fodder beet can be best used for feeding during winter season when other succulent fodders are not available. They have low crude fibre and are easily acceptable by the animals.
5. Grasses and weeds:
Water hyacinth can be used as a feed. Various weeds van be neutralized by ensiling and can be fed to the animals during lean periods.
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Developed by :
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Jaspal Singh
(Ex. M.V.Sc Scholar ) |
Dr. Pranav Kumar
(Assistant Professor)
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Amandeep Singh
(Final Year B.V.Sc & AH student) |
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Division of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education
Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, SKUAST Jammu |
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