Fodder Production

Green fodder production is the most challenging activity in a dairy enterprise. Acute fodder scarcity is faced in our country in general and in Andhra Pradesh state in particular. It is due to the fact that only 3.5% of total cultivated land is under fodder crops as against the requirement of 8% because of fragmented land holding and priority attached to food and cash crops by farmers. Hence every farmer is advised to earmark a portion of land for fodder crops. Further, growing fodder trees like Subabul, Glyrecidia around residence, animal sheds and on boundaries of his farm land will help to ease the situation to a greater extent.

Green fodder production in fact not only reduce the feeding cost but also keeps the animals healthy, reduce deficiencies and increase milk production. There are many legume and non-legume fodder varieties available for cultivation. Ideal characteristics of good fodder varieties are

• It should be short duration variety
• It should have good yield potential
• Nutritious and tasty
• Suitable for preservation
• It should not have any anti- nutritional factors

Green Fodders are three types:

1. Cereal fodders ( Non legume fodders): Again they are two types –
   1. Annual fodders: One or few cuttings may be taken after sowing. They can not be retained for more than one year. eg: Single cut varieties: Maize, Sorghum, Bajra etc. Mutli cut varieties: Maize, Sorghum, Bajra etc.
   2. Perrenial fodders:All bajra – napeir varieties fall in this category.
2. Legume fodders: All legume varieties are annual type suitable for single cut or mutli cut Lucern, Burseam , Cow pea etc,.
3. Fodder trees: like Subabul, Glyrecidia can also be extensively grown around farmers’ house, animal sheds, un-cultivable areas like piece of land with boulders, farm bunds and farm boundaries.

Fodder production options:

We have fodder verities suitable for irrigated areas, rain fed areas and fodder trees. Small and marginal formers should ear mark certain piece of land for perennial fodders. They should also concentrate on growing fodder trees around their house, animal shed and on boundaries and internal bunds.

Small, medium and large size dairy farmers should have a special focus on fodder production. They should grow annual, perennial fodders and fodder trees of legume and non-legume varieties. A year long fodder production plan has to be drawn.

• Allocate irrigated land for production of perennial fodder crops and rain fed land for annual fodder crops. Here also, allocate land for non-legume and legume crops proportionately.
• Plan for a staggered sowing and harvest such that constant quantity of green fodder is produced round the year.
• Grow fodder trees like subabul and glyrecedia in uncultivable waste land like rocky areas, around animal houses, bunds and boundaries.
• It is very important to train the trees. They should be cut at six feet hight and lopping of branches should be done before pod formation to avoid auto seeding.
• If more rain fed area is available, grow fodder crops suitable for hay making and preserve for off-season usage.
• Every day required quantity of non-legume, legume fodder and tree fodder should be harvested.

Non-legume fodder varieties: Annual type:

1. Single cut : Maize – African tall, APFM-8
2. Multi cut – MP chair, SSG-3,SSG-53,HC-17,PC-23 etc.
3. Perennial : Napier varieties - APBN -1, Co-1, Co-2, Co-3, NB-21, BH-18, Guinea gross, Para grass etc.

Legume Verities: Lucern, Berseam, Cow-pea, Chicken Pea, horse gram, jute, Stylo hamata etc.

1) KHARIF

a) CEREALS Click Here
b) GRASSES Click Here
c) LEGUMES Click Here

2) RABI
CEREALS LEGUMES AND BRASSICA Click Here

3) FODDER TREES & SHRUBS Click Here

SUITABLE FORAGE CROPS ROTATIONS FOR CENTRAL DECCAN REGION Click Here

Fodder Preservation Techniques

Fodder production is a seasonal activity and face with twin problems of surplus during production season and scarcity during lean season. To avoid this problem we have certain fodder preservation techniques like hay making and silage making.

Preparation of Hay:

Fodder verities which have luxurious growth, plenty of foliage and thin stems are suitable for hay making. They include cereal varieties like Sorghum, Bajra, Maize and legume varieties like cow pea, chicken pea, horse gram, jute, lucern, stylohamata etc.

• Hay making should be taken up during sunny days only.
• Cut the crop when it is in flowering stage.
• Sundry the cut crop by keeping them upside down.
• Turn the fodder frequently for even drying and to avoid mold formation on lower side.
• Take care that not much leaf portion is fallen which is nutritious.
• When moisture is reduced to 15%, properly stake it in such a way that rain water will not seep inside and spoil the entire hay.
• Cut into pieces in chaff cutter and feed to animals to avoid wastage and proper utilization of hard portion also.
• While feeding, balance legume and non-legume hays.

Silage making:

Preservation of cereal green fodder in silos or bin or trenches under anaerobic condition is called silage. In this process, under anaerobic condition, the starch present in chapped fodder is used for bacterial fermentation and release lactic and acetic acid. Such fermented fodder will have alcoholic smell, sweet taste and retain all nutrients.

Process of silage making:

• Use only cereal fodders. Don’t use protein rich legume fodders.
• Though silage can be prepared in trenches, bins and pits (silos), keeping in view the scale of operation, pit type is advocated in our country for small and marginal formers with few milch animals.
• A pit admeasuring 25 feet (length) x 8 feet (width) x 5 feet (depth) is sufficient for five animals to feed for 3 months.
• The pits should be in an elevated area where ground water seepage is not there.
• Construct only side walls with cement and brick / cut stone. Lining should not be done in bottom to facilitate excess water released in the process of silage to percolate.
• Fill the silage pits with chaffed fodder layer by layer.
• After filling every layer with a thickness of one feet, add 2-3 kg joggery water/ molasses and 2 kg salt.
• Trample properly with legs or rolling heavy stone to remove trapped air between fodder peaces.
• Once the pit is filled one feet above ground level, gradually reduce the length and width of layers so that a hump of 4-5 feet above ground level is farmed.
• Now cover the fodder hump with dry grass or neam leaves or polythene sheet. Then seal the pit with mud and dung for air tight packing.
• The process of fermentation completes in about three months and will be ready for use.
• Once the silage pit is open, use it within a month or two. Other wise molds may grow.
• Cover the pit with tarpaulin or plastic sheet every day after taking out required quantity of silage. Protect it from rain.

Silage Making Video Presentation Telugu ( Source:KEMIN)