Fodder Production for Livestock

Particulars of the variety Co-5:

• Green fodder yield: 18 to 20 t/ha

• Dry matter content: 14.64%

• Crude protein content: 20.00%

• Plant height: 93.00 cm

• Number of branches: 2-3

• Number of leaves: 12

• Leaf length: 12.1 cm

• Leaf width: 8.2 cm

• Leaf stem ratio: 8.3

• Plant Habit: Semi spreading

• Plant type: Indeterminate

Desmanthus - Hedge Lucerne

• Grown throughout the year under irrigation and from June to October as a rainfed crop.

• Sow seeds at 20 kg/ha in solid stands on the side of ridges where fertilizers are applied, at a depth of 2 cm, and cover with soil.

• Irrigate immediately after sowing, with a life irrigation on the third day, and thereafter once a week.

• First cut on the 90th day after sowing at 50 cm height, and subsequent cuts at intervals of 40 days at the same height.

Lucerne

• Also termed 'Queen of forages'.

• A deep-rooted perennial forage legume adapted to a wide range of conditions from tropical to alpine.

• Very palatable and nutritious, containing 15-20% crude protein on a dry matter basis.

• Adds nitrogen to the soil and improves soil fertility.

• Grown for green fodder, hay, and silage, but does not tolerate close grazing.

• Varieties: Anand 2, Sirsa - 9, IGFRI S - 244, and Co 1.

• Variety Co1 is suitable for growing during July - December.

• Not suitable for very hot and very cold climates.

• Recommended seed rate: 20 kg/ha.

• First harvest 75-80 days after sowing. Subsequent harvests at intervals of 25-30 days.

Characters of Variety Co-1:

• Green fodder yield: 70-80 t/ha/year (In 10 harvests)

• Seed yield: 200-250 kg/ha

• Protein content: 20-24%

• Dry matter: 18-20%

• Plant height: 60-80 cm

• Mean clusters per tiller: 12-15

• Mean No. of pods per tiller: 22-25

• Mean No. of seeds per pod: 4-6

Stylo

• An erect growing forage legume native to Brazil, growing 0.6 to 1.8 m tall.

• Adapted to tropical climates and tolerant to low fertility, drought, acidic soils, and poor drainage.

• Drought-resistant, growing well in areas receiving 450-840 mm annual rainfall.

• Can be grown in a wide range of soils.

• Crude protein content ranges from 15 to 18%.

• Season: June - July to September - October.

• Seed rate for line sowing (30 x 15 cm): 6 kg/ha; for broadcasting: 10 kg/ha.

• First harvest 75 days after sowing at the flowering stage; subsequent harvests depend on growth.

• Establishment is slow in the first year, with low yield. Yields 30 to 35 t/ha/year from the third year onwards due to self-seeding.

Cereal Grass Fodders

Fodder Maize

• Grown on a variety of soils, with well-drained fertile soils being best.

• Mostly grown as a KHARIF crop (sowing in June-July). In South India, it grows best in RABI and SUMMER.

• Can be grown throughout the year with irrigation.

• Important varieties: African tall, Vijay composite, Moti composite, Ganga-5, and Jawahar.

• Seed rate: 40 kg/ha. Dibble one seed at a spacing of 15 cm between seeds in rows that are 30 cm apart.

• Average green fodder yield: 40-50 t/ha; dry matter yield: 10-15 t/ha.

• Staggered sowing is recommended for a continuous supply of green fodder.

• Harvest the crop when the cob is in the milky stage.

Fodder Sorghum

• Cultivated mainly for grain and fodder.

• A drought-resistant crop thriving in tropical climates with temperatures of 25-35°C.

• Not suited to higher elevations (above 1200 m).

• Can be grown with 300-350 mm annual rainfall.

• Can be grown on any soil except very sandy soils.

• Suitable varieties for Irrigated (Jan-Feb and Apr-May): Co.11, Co. 27, Co.F.S. 29.

• Suitable varieties for Rainfed (Jun-Jul): Co.11, Co27, Co.F.S.29.

• Suitable varieties for Rainfed (Sep-Oct): K7, Co.27, Co.F.S. 29, K10.

• Co.F.S. 29 is a multicut variety released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 2001.

• Seed rate: 40 kg/ha (12.5 kg for Co.F.S. 29 only).

• Harvest for green fodder after the flowering stage.

• Single cut: harvest at 60-65 days (50% flowering) after sowing.

• Multicut: first cut at 60 days after sowing, second cut 40 days after the first.

• For Co. F.S. 29, each harvest at 65-day intervals (5 harvests per year).

Grass Fodders

Hybrid Napier / Cumbu Napier / Bajra Napier Hybrid

• Possesses more tillers and leaves than Napier, is more vigorous, and yields higher quality fodder.

• Crude protein ranges from 8 to 11%.

• Co.CN4: Released by TNAU, Coimbatore. Yield: 380-400 tons/ha. Produces more tillers with soft, juicy stems, is pest and disease-free, and non-lodging. Can be cultivated year-round under irrigation.

• KKM-1 Cumbu Napier: Average green fodder yield: 288 tonnes/ha/year. Good quality with high calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and very low oxalate content.

• Superior hybrids developed in India: Pusa Giant, NB 21, NB 37, IGFRI 5, IGFRI 7, and IGFRI 10.

• Superior varieties released from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University: Co 1, Co 2, Co 3, Co 4 & KKM 1. Suitable for year-round cultivation in all districts of Tamil Nadu.

• 40,000 slips required per hectare.

• First harvest 75-80 days after planting; subsequent harvests at 45-day intervals.

Guinea Grass

• A tall (1-4.5 m), tufted, fast-growing, highly palatable perennial grass with a short creeping rhizome.

• Establishes readily from seed or rooted slips.

• Crude protein ranges from 4 to 14%.

• Varieties: Hamil, PPG-14, Makuni, Rivers-dale.

• Co 1 and Co 2 are varieties released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

• Suitable for all soil types with good drainage. Does not perform well on heavy clay soil or in waterlogged conditions.

• Seed Rate: 2.5 kg/ha; Slips: 66,000 nos./ha.

• Spacing: 50 x 30 cm.

• First cut 75-80 days after germination or 45 days after planting slips. Subsequent cuts at 45-day intervals.

• Yield: 175 tonnes/ha/year in 8 cuts.

• Can be intercropped with Hedge Lucerne (Velimasal) at a 3:1 ratio.

Para Grass

• Suitable for cultivation in humid areas, seasonally flooded valleys, and lowlands.

• Withstands waterlogging and long-term flooding but cannot grow on dry lands in arid or semi-arid areas.

• Sensitive to cold, with little or no growth during winter in sub-tropical regions.

• Waterlogged soils are best suited; can grow on sandy soils with sufficient water.

• Propagated exclusively by stem cuttings due to poor seed setting.

• Planting can be done anytime in South India, but June-July is advisable for rainfed conditions.

• No improved varieties (only local).

• Thin shoots with 2-3 nodes are planted in rows 45-60 cm apart at 20 cm spacing, pressed into wet soil.

• 800-1000 kg of stem cuttings needed per hectare.

• First cut 75-80 days after planting; subsequent cuts at 40-45 day intervals.

• 6-9 cuts per year with an average green fodder yield of 80-100 t/ha.

• Fed in green form; not suitable for hay or silage conservation.

Blue Buffel Grass

Neelakolukattaipull Var. Co-1:

• A promising green grass for dryland cultivation under rainfed conditions.

• Commonly grown species: Cenchrus cilliaris (Anjan grass) and C. setigerus (Black anjan grass), which are low yielding.

• Cenchrus glaucus grows well in dryland areas and is superior to other species.

• Suitable for well-drained soil with high calcium content.

• Seed requirement: 6-8 kg/ha.

• Harvest first cut on the 70th or 75th day after sowing; subsequent cuts (4-6) depend on growth.

• Pure crop yields 40 t/ha/year in 4-6 cuts.

Tree Fodders

Subabul

• Has seasonal varieties.

• Jun-Jul: Hawaiian giant (Ivory coast), Co1.

• Rainfed (Sep-Oct): K 8, Giant ipil-ipil, Co 1.

• Plants can be harvested as early as 6 months after planting, but the initial cutting should not be done until the trunk has attained at least 3 cm diameter or the plant has completed one seed production cycle.

• Harvests can be repeated every 40-80 days depending on growth and season.

• In drought-prone areas, allow trees to grow for two years before harvesting to ensure deep root penetration.

• Trees can be cut at 90 to 100 cm height from ground level.

• As green fodder under irrigated conditions, a pure crop yields about 80-100 t/ha.

• Under rainfed conditions, 40 t/ha is obtained after 2 years of initial growth and pruning to 100 cm height.

Glyricidia

• A small, semi-deciduous tree with pale bark.

• G. sepium tolerates a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. Growth is most rapid where annual rainfall exceeds 900 mm, but it grows with as little as 400 mm.

• Grows in soils from heavy clays to sands and on rocky eroded sites; intolerant of waterlogging.

• Used for fuel wood, animal feed, green manure, shade, poles, living fences, and as support plants. Also used ornamentally and as a shade tree for coffee.

• Propagated through seed or cuttings.

• Species: Glyricidia sepium and Glyricidia maculata.

• G. maculata is more useful as green leaf manure, fixes atmospheric nitrogen, and improves soil fertility.

• Produces profuse branching and fresh growth after every cutting.

• Cultivating along borders can supply enough green leaf manure for 2 to 2.5 hectares of land.

Sesbania

• Leaves are highly palatable, especially to goats.

• Protein content is about 25%.

• Grown throughout the year under irrigation.

• Grows in soils with good drainage.

• Seed rate: 7.5 kg/ha. Sow seeds at a spacing of 100 cm x 100 cm.

• First cut after 8 months; subsequent harvests at 60-80 day intervals.

• Green fodder yield: 100 tonnes per year per hectare.

Azolla - As Livestock Feed

About Azolla

• A floating fern resembling algae.

• Normally grown in paddy fields or shallow water bodies.

• Multiplies very rapidly.

Azolla as Fodder/Feed

• Rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (A, B12, Beta-Carotene), growth promoter intermediaries, and minerals (calcium, phosphorous, potassium, ferrous, copper, magnesium).

• On dry weight basis: 25-35% protein, 10-15% minerals, 7-10% amino acids, bio-active substances, and bio-polymers.

• Easily digestible by livestock due to high protein and low lignin content.

• Can be mixed with concentrates or fed directly.

• Can also be fed to poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, and rabbits.

Azolla Production

• Clear and level the soil in the area.

• Line bricks horizontally in a rectangular fashion.

• Spread a UV-stabilized silpauline sheet (2m x 2m) over the bricks, covering the margins.

• Spread 10-15 kg of sieved soil uniformly over the silpauline pit.

• Pour a slurry of 2 kg cow dung and 30 g superphosphate mixed in 10 liters of water onto the sheet. Add more water to reach a depth of 10 cm.

• Spread 0.5-1 kg of pure mother azolla culture seed material uniformly over the water after mild stirring of soil and water. Sprinkle fresh water over the azolla immediately after inoculation to make the plants upright.

• Within a week, azolla spreads to form a thick mat.

• Add a mixture of 20 g superphosphate and about 1 kg cow dung every 5 days to maintain rapid multiplication and a daily yield of 500 g.

• Add a micronutrient mix (magnesium, iron, copper, sulphur, etc.) weekly to enhance mineral content.

• Replace about 5 kg of bed soil with fresh soil every 30 days to avoid nitrogen build-up and prevent micro-nutrient deficiency.

• Replace 25-30% of the water with fresh water every 10 days to prevent nitrogen build-up.

• Clean the bed, replace water and soil, and inoculate new azolla every six months.

• Prepare a fresh bed and inoculate with pure culture when contaminated by pests and diseases.

Harvesting

• Azolla fills the pit within 10-15 days. Harvest 500-600 g daily thereafter.

• Harvesting can be done daily from the 15th day onwards using a plastic sieve or tray with holes.

• Wash harvested azolla in fresh water to remove cow dung smell.

Alternative Inputs

• Fresh biogas slurry can be used.

• Wastewater from bathrooms and cattle sheds can be used. Water from washing clothes (after the second rinsing) can be used where fresh water is scarce.

Environmental factors for growth

• Temperature: 20°C - 28°C

• Light: 50% full sunlight

• Relative Humidity: 65 - 80%

• Water depth: 5 - 12 cm

• pH: 4-7.5

Points to note during cultivation

• Washing in a net allows small plantlets to escape and be returned to the pond.

• Maintain temperature below 25°C.

• Use shade nets to reduce light intensity.

• Remove azolla biomass daily to prevent overcrowding.