Seasonal availability of feeds and fodder

 

Seasonal availability of feeds and fodder and its importance for livestock production.

Introduction:

India has a wide variety of climatic conditions. Different areas of our country face many variations in climate in a day. So, feed and fodder are significant problems for our livestock. Mainly during the dry season (July to October), there is a lack of availability of green feeds to animals. Dairy farmers usually store maize stover for the dry season for their cattle.

In the wet season, grasses like Natural pasture and Napier grass are the most important feed for our livestock.

Some Seasonal Fodder Crops:

Ø    Kharif Crops         :  Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Cowpea

Ø    Rabi Crops            :  Oats, Berseem

Ø    Fodder Grasses     :  Napier, Guinea, Para, Anjan

Ø    Fodder Trees         :  Babul, Subabul, Sesbania

Ø    Improved Begums :  Berseem, Lucerne

Importance of Feed and Fodder for livestock:

Dairy farmers keep livestock to obtain milk, wool, meat etc. Feed is the source for production for all such products and for producing offspring. As we know, food is vital for all living organisms. Such as feed and fodder as necessary for keeping our cattle healthy and strong.

Without proper feed, animals cannot grow well, cannot keep good health, nor can they produce products and young ones properly. That is why we must feed animals with nutritionally balanced and adequate quantities of feedstuffs.