19 Jun Fodder Production and Livestock Feeding Management in Eastern India
पूर्वी भारत में चारा उत्पादन और पशुधन आहार प्रबंधन Feed and fodder production for livestock feeding is an important aspect for the sustainability of the system because agriculture and animal husbandry are complementary and not competitive to each other. The feed resources are by and large the crop residues, fodder, agro by-products and some indigenous feeds. The farmers feed their livestock with available feed resources, which are not balanced in terms of protein and energy to meet the nutrient requirement leading to poor performance. Therefore, it is felt as need of the hour to explore the possibility of improved fodder production for feeding to livestock in better way. Livestock nutrition and some of the encouraging fodder production system and their feeding practices are discussed below for proper management and sustainability of the production system. Livestock Nutrition Shortage of concentrate feed (84%) and green fodder (88%), low land holding, negligible area under fodder cultivation and poor husbandry practices with imbalance feeding in terms of total dry matter and nutrients intake are considered to be the main reasons for less production in the eastern region of India. Feeding animals as per the requirement and avoiding wastage is the key in exploiting the production potential of livestock for economic viability and sustainability since feed costs are the...