Green Fodder crops Important feed stock for Livestock
Basanti Brar1, Sumnil Marwaha2, Prasad Minakshi3*
1HABITAT, GIPPCL, Biofertilizer Production and Technology Centre, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India; 2ICAR- National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner; 3*Department of Animal Biotechnology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, India
Corresponding authors email: minakshi.abt@gmail.com
Abstract
In animal husbandry, one of the constraints is the supply of feed. The primary focus of organic husbandry should be on the farm’s own production of fodder. There is a clear connection between the food and the health of the animals, just as there is with humans. A diverse and well-balanced diet is a requirement for optimum animal health. Both grazing and feeding from sheds have benefits and drawbacks. The production of crops can coexist peacefully on the farm while fodder is grown. Soil fertility is seriously threatened by overgrazing. Farm animals must be fed properly and in adequate quantities if they are to produce milk, eggs, meat, and other products. If farm animals are to be productive (milk, eggs, meat etc.), it is important that they get suitable food in sufficient quantities. It might be economically sound to retain fewer animals while still providing them with enough food if one’s farm’s ability to produce fodder is constrained (which is typically the case). Green fodder plays a significant role in the diet of dairy animals since it offers the nutrients required for both maintaining health and producing milk. In order to feed animals, producing green fodder is seen to be preferable to purchasing an alternative, particularly for sheep, goat, and dairy farmers. Similar to any other crop, farmers also raise green fodder with the express intent of selling it in the market. This article offers useful information for farmers on several types of fodder crops, their cultivation, and different reasons for their importance and different methods of production.
Introduction
In India, crop wastes are mostly used for the rearing of dairy cows. There is a 36%, 40%, and 44% deficit in the availability of cultivated feed, dry fodder, and concentrates, respectively. Increased fodder crop cultivation is therefore required. Maize, sorghum, millet, stylohemata, seratro, anjan, cow-pea, pawna, and marvel are examples of rain-fed crops. Oats, burseem, lucerne, and maize can all be cultivated throughout the Rabi season. Depending on the kind of soil, sorghum, cowpeas, and maize can also be grown during the summer. A basic chaff cutting machine can also be used to cut some types of grass into smaller bits. When there is a drought or other adversity, these pieces can be preserved for a very long period and utilised as feed. Green fodder can be grown hydroponically or in open fields using the appropriate hybrid perennial type. Growing green fodder crops results in a significant reduction in the cost of feed and production time. Because most varieties of green fodder are perennial, it can be utilised for a long time. It serves as an organic means of giving the animals nutrition. For later usage, it can be made into silage.
Systems for producing fodder
Multiple cropping
In order to significantly improve herbage quality and increase forage productivity per unit area, it entails growing 3-4 suitable annual forage crops as the only crops in mixed stands (graminaceous and leguminous) during a calendar year. Due to the addition of root organic matter, it also contributes to long-term soil fertility maintenance. The agro-climatic conditions, the crop and soil management techniques used, and the availability of inputs all affect how successful it is. The right crops and kinds are chosen, and dispersed sowing and harvesting schedules are used to guarantee a steady supply of high-quality forage.
Intensive irrigation techniques
The main goal of an intensive forage production system is to utilise the limited land resources and other agricultural inputs as effectively as possible to obtain the best possible harvest in the form of herbage per unit area and time. In addition to producing larger yields and making the best use of available resources, a perfect system would also increase soil productivity and ensure the production system’s sustainability. Actually, the only alternative to increase forage output from irrigated lands and total productivity, which accounts for around 30% of the country’s cultivated area, is intensive cropping. To improve cropping/harvesting frequency, qualities like the multi cut nature and adaptability in adjusting duration are important.
Production of fodder all year round using a combination of annual and perennial forages
At the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi, overlapping cropping systems were created to meet the needs of small farmers who needed the most forage possible from a given plot of land as well as dairy farmers who needed green fodder all year round. After the last harvest of berseem, it entails growing berseem that is interplanted with hybrid Napier in the spring and intercropping cowpea in the interrow spaces of the grass in the summer. In terms of output and financial gains, this strategy was proven to be superior to multiple crop sequences. Where necessary, it is possible to successfully substitute perennial grasses such as Setaria, guinea grass, and berseem with lucerne in place of the hybrid Napier.
Association of perennial grass and legume components
In an effort to eliminate the need for recurrent sowing and tillage and to conserve irrigation water in the system, suitable ideotypes of perennial grass and forage-legume components were sought out. This led to the discovery of an erect, leafy, and compact hybrid subabul of the napier- IGFRI No. 3 and K 8 varieties (Leucaena leucocephala). 200 tonnes of nutrient-rich green fodder were produced per hectare per year when these crops were cultivated in alternate pairs of rows (2:2). Such systems are better suited to southern regions where both components thrive all year round since they are less sensitive to changes in soil moisture. The related legumes increase the protein and mineral content of the herbage, which also reduces the need for nitrogenous fertilisers. Additionally, these production methods are less expensive and have the potential to create ongoing employment. Depending on the availability of the inputs and the yield indices of the crops in a location, the system’s component crops can be altered. Similar to how crop geometry, spacing, planting pattern, and other cultural management approaches could be altered to encourage the use of suitable farm equipment and efficient irrigation water use.
Different green fodder crops
Fodder Grass
There are several types of high-yielding, high-quality fodder grass available. Fodder grasses are often grown as rain-fed crops. Additionally, irrigation is required for a consistent and large output of feed. When in abundance, fodder grasses can be stored as silage for the wet season. Despite the many advantages of silage, farmers still favour feeding fresh fodder to dairy animals. Check to see whether there are fewer hairs and no bumps on the fodder grass to determine its highest grade. The stem should be short, and the leaves should be large. It must be harvested at the proper time to avoid becoming coarse. Oxalic acid and other harmful chemicals should not be present. Once correctly planted, it can produce a good crop for three to four years.
Guinea grass
It doesn’t need a lot of sunlight to grow guinea grass. Even in the partial shadow of plantations, they can flourish. It comes in three different sizes. Guinea Hemil is the most well-liked. This variety aids in raising dairy animals’ milk production. Guinea grass is smaller in size than other types. On the other hand, it produces about 30 tonnes of fodder per acre each year. Goats and lambs eat it as their preferred meal. For every acre of land, 5 to 6 kg of seeds are needed to cultivate Guinea grass. Additionally, root slips can multiply this. Plant seedlings that has reached their 25th day on the main field after sowing the seeds in the seedbeds.
Cowpea
The cowpea crop, which grows quickly, requires a warm summer climate to flourish. It may thrive in all kinds of soil. These types of fodder crops are mostly used for grazing, hay production, and green feeding. Both applications are possible for cowpea. Its fully formed green pods are edible to humans, and the leftover fodder can be used to feed cattle. Feeding cowpea can help produce a milk output of 6-7 kg per day without the need of any additives. Its newly grown leaves have 3% ether extract, 18.0% crude protein, and 26.7% crude fibre. Freshly harvested cowpeas can provide up to 59% of the total amount of digestible nutrients and 58% of mature feed. It also contains 1.40% calcium and 0.35% phosphorus.
Fodder Maize
When properly irrigated, fodder maize can be grown at any time of the year. Additionally, it is regarded as smooth and pleasant by animals. However, because the stem is typically thick, it must be sliced before feeding. Maize fodder cultivation should be completed in fewer than 90 days. Its quality will decline otherwise. 20 tonnes of fodder can be produced per acre from a single crop. For dairy cows, it is the ideal option because it increases milk production. The popular fodder maize type is called African tall. It can reach heights of between 8 and 10 feet. The land needs to be sufficiently fertilised with organic manure in order to produce tall African plants. Then plant seeds in the rows. For one acre of land, 25 kilos of seeds are needed. The inter-row space between each seed should be exactly 1 foot.
Napier Adaptive
There are several leaves on the hybrid Napier grass. It is therefore recognised as the best cattle feed crop. This kind of plant is hardy and versatile, thriving in a variety of soil conditions. Propagation can be done using planting slips. About 40,000 slips are required for a hectare. The plant will grow to a harvestable size after planting in around 45 days. Its crude protein concentration ranges from 8% to 11%.
Conclusion
There are numerous types of green fodder that are raised for diverse uses. Understanding why you are producing green fodder and which type is appropriate for you based on the soil and climate of your surroundings is crucial for the development of green fodder crops in order to achieve optimum fodder crop yield. This article offers information on several types of fodder crops, their cultivation, the reasons why they are important, and different types of fodder crop production techniques, all of which are highly helpful to farmers.
