Fodder management for dairy farms

B.S.Meena
bmeena65@gmail.com
NDRI,Karnal-132001 (Haryana) India
Innovative Approaches to Augment Milk
Production through Feed and Fodder Management

Productivity
of animals
Breeding
Aspect
Feeding
Aspect
Management
Practices
Health Care
Practices
Marketing
Green Fodder production 3

Feeding Management
Requirement of
the animals
according to the
milk yield and
lactation stages
Nutrient
composition of
variable feeds
How to combine
different feeds to
match the
animals
requirements
An art that need to know:-

Type of cattle
Stage of the cattle Green fodder
(kg/day/animal)
Dry fodder
(kg/day/animal)
Concentrates
(kg/day/animal)
Cow
(Av. weight 250 kg)
Milk: 5 litres/day 15 5.0 2.0
Milk : 5 to 10 litres/day 17.5 5.5 3.0
Milk:10 to 15 litres/day 20.0 6.0 4.0
Cow in gestation - 15.0 5.0 1.5
Buffalo
(Av.weight 400 kg)
Milk: 5 litres/day 15.0 5.0 2.5
Milk:5 to 10 litres/day 20.0 6.0 4.0
Milk: > 10 litres/day 25.0 7.0 5.0
Bull
(Av. weight 300 kg)
Working days 20.0 7.0 2.0
Non-Working days 15.0 5.5 1.0
Feeding allowances for dairy cattle and buffalo

Feed and fodder requirement & availability
Year Supply Demand
Deficit as % of demand
(actual demands)
Green Dry Green Dry Green Dry
1995 379.3 421 947 526 59.95 (568) 19.95 (105)
2000 384.5 428 988 549 61.10 (604) 21.93 (121)
2005 389.9 443 1025 569 61.96 (635) 22.08 (126)
2010 395.2 451 1061 589 62.76 (666) 23.46 (138)
2015 400.6 466 1097 609 63.50 (696) 23.56 (143)
2020 405.9 473 1134 630 64.21 (728) 24.81 (157)
2025 411.3 488 1170 650 64.87 (759) 24.92 (162)

Factors to be consider for selecting feed for animals
 Consistency in availability
 Nutrient composition and nutrient availability
 Consistency of composition
 Suitability
 Perishability
 Freedom from health hazards
 Micro nutrient and feed additives
 Cost and effect on end product

Maintenance
Growth
Fattening
Production &
Reproduction
Work

Fodder (Animal Food)
Food that is given to domestic animals

Forage: The plants used for feeding domestic animals.
This includes both fodder plants and pasture plants.
Fodders: Plants which are cultivated as forage crops and
they are cut and fed to animals in the stalls.
e.g. Maize, Sorghum, Bajra, Cowpea, Guar, Napier, Guinea grass, Para
grass, Oats, Barley, Berseem, Mustard, Lucerne, Chicory
Pastures: Grasses and legumes were grown in pasture
lands where the animals are led to graze them.
e.g. Cenchrus, marvel grass, spear grass, cowpea.
Concept of fodder

Sources of fodder
 Crop residues (Straw, stoves, haulms, etc.)
 Cultivated fodder
 Fodder from common property resources like forests,
permanent pastures and grazing lands.
 Non-conventional feeds, coarse grain, Oil meals, Cereal
bran, hulls, husks, Agro by products, Fish meals and
bone meals.

Quality of Feed and Fodder: Need of the Hour
Particulars Roughage Concentrates
Weight per
unit
Natural Feed of ruminants -
low in weight per unit
More in weight per unit
Price Less price High price
Crude fibres High fiber (more than 18%) Low fiber (up to 18%)
Energy Low in Energy High in energy
Digestibility Slow Comparatively Fast
Nutrients High in Ca, K, trace minerals
and fat-soluble vitamins
Respective nutrients in
individual ingredient
Sources Grasses, cultivated fodder,
crop residues
Grains, Cakes, Agro
byproducts, by pass fat
& Protein, etc.
Availability Naturally grown & cultivated
but availability is reducing
Have to prepare
but availability can be
maintained

Thumb rules of dairy stock feeding
Growing heifers - 250-350 g per 100 kg BW of concentrate in addition
to legume roughage at will.
Dry cows/buffaloes pasture grazing is sufficient alongwith They can
be fed 9 kg silage along with other roughage. Alternatively, 1.8 kg
concentrate and roughage at will can be provided.
For milking cows - 2 kg legume hay and 3 kg silage per day can be
fed per 100 kg BW along with necessary concentrate mixture as per
milk production level.
In addition to the roughages, milch cows/buffaloes can be fed
1 kg concentrate per each 2.5-3 kg milk of high fat content daily
1 kg concentrate per each 4 kg milk of low fat daily.
On good pasture, 1 kg concentrate is sufficient for every 5-6 kg milk
for good producers.
One kg concentrate mixture can be fed for every kg butter fat
produced in a week along with the roughages of prescribed
quantities.
A cow or buffalo eats her weight of fodder per month.
(Average 450 kg month @ 15kg/day)

Ration formulation for dairy animals
Green fodder 18-20 kg
Dry fodder 5-7 kg
Concentrate 4-6 kg
Water 50-80 litre

Fodder Production Systems
 Intensive irrigated systems
 Multiple cropping
 Year-round forage production through combination of
perennial and annual forages
 Association of perennial grass and legume components
 Intensive forage sequences recommended for different
regions

WHY GREEN FODDER?
 The feeding of green fodder (grass, legume or cereal fodder) is
always economical.
 In most of the farming situations, feeding concentrates or
compounded feed will increase the cost of feeding which in turn
raise the cost of production.
 If the land resource is scarce, a farmer can have suitable
agroforestry models to increase the forage production per unit area.
 Almost all essential nutrient can met out from green fodder.
 Digestive problems of dairy animals can be solved by feeding
green fodder.

Advantages of Green Fodder
Reduced somatic cell count
Reduced occurrence of acidosis and mastitis
Lowered pH in rumen
Increased digestibility
Earlier breeding and higher conception rates
Faster weight gain and easier weaning
Increased longevity in dairy cows
Higher milk production and butterfat content
Improved hoof health

Classification of Fodders
Classification of fodder on the basis of season of cultivation
Kharif fodder (June – September) : Eg . Cowpea, Field
bean, Bajra, Sorghum, Maize
Rabi fodder (October – Dec/Jan) : Eg. Berseem,
Lucerne, Oats, Barley etc.,
Summer fodders (April – June) : Eg. cowpea, Maize,
Field bean, Sorghum, Bajra etc.
Classification based on Plant family and duration of the crop
Legumes (Annual and Perennial) : Eg. Berseem,
Cowpea, Stylo, HedgeLucerne
Non – legumes (Annual and Perenial) : Eg. Hybrid
Napier, Guinea grass, Fodder maize, Fodder sorghum etc.

Legumes Vs Non-legume
Characteristic Legume Non-legume
Crude protein 20-25 % 8 – 12%
Main Nutrient Protein energy (carbohydrates)
Quantity of
feeding
1-2% of body weight about 10% of body weight of
the animal
Poising Excess feeding create
problems like bloat
HCN in sorghum at early stage
Crops Cow pea, Guar, Berseem,
Lucerne, Stylo, etc.
gramineae comprising 450
genera and more than 6000
species throughout the world
Leaves Wide and short in size Narrow and long
Minerals Accumulate more macro-
and micro-minerals and
ash than grasses
Accumulate less macro- and
micro-minerals and ash than
legumes
digestible
nutrient
Palatable higher less palatable and
less percentage

Sources of green fodder
Cereal Legume Grasses Trees fodder
Sorghum Cowpea Napier Subabul
(Leucaena leucocephala)
Maize Guar Guinea Khejri
(Prosopis cineraria )
Bajra Berseem Para Agasthi
Oats Lucerne Setaria Ardu neem
(Ailanthus excelsa)
Chicory Buffel Bhimal
(Grevia optiva)
Stylo
Dhaman Gliricidia
(Gliricidia sepium)
Clitoria
Desmodium Babool
(Acacia nilotica)

Sl. No. Name of the crops Time of sowing Time of harvesting Yield/tones/ha.
1.
A. Berseem
Mid. Oct. to 1st
week of Nov.
Mid. Dec. To 1st week
of March
25-30
B. Maize and Cowpea Mid. of March
Mid. May to 3rd week
of June.
30-35
C. Sorghum and
Cowpea
Last week of June
1st week of Aug. to
mid. Oct.
45-50
2.
A. Ricebean Mid. August
1st week of Nov. to
3rd week of Jan.
15-20
B. Maize and Cowpea
Last week of
January
1st week of April, to
last week of May
30-35
C. Cowpea 1st week of June
1st week of Aug. to
mid. August.
20-25
3.
A. Berseem and
Mustard
1st week of Nov.
1st week of Jan. to
last week of Feb.
30-35
B. Maize and Cowpea 1st week of March
1st week of June to
1st week of July.
40-45
C. Sorghum and
Cowpea
Mid. of July
1st week of Sept. to
mid. October
45-50
4.
A. Hybrid Napier Mid. February
Mid. May to mid.
Sept.
120-130
B. Berseem
(in between Hyb.
Napier)
1st week of Oct.
1st week of Dec. to
last week of Jan.
120-130
FODDER PRODUCTION ROUND THE YEAR

Fodder crops
Cowpea
Sorghum
Maize
Stylo (Stylosanthes spp.)
(S. hamata, S.scabra

Maize (Zea mays)
Green forage has a relatively low protein content (3-13% DM) and
a high fibre content (crude fibre 19-36%DM).
 Rich in starch (up to 30% DM or more) a source of energy
It can be grown throughout the year with irrigation facility.
The prime varieties are African tall, Vijay composite, Moti
composite, Ganga-5 and Jawahar.
Seed rate 40 to 45 kg/ha.(seed to Seed :15cm, row to row 30 cm.
Average green fodder yield : 45-50 tons/ha
Dry matter yield is 10-15 tones/ha can be obtained.
Staggered sowing is recommended for supply of green fodder for
a long period.
Usually it comes to harvesting stage in 2 months when the cob is
in the milky stage.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)
Sorghum is native to East Africa, probably from Ethiopia (Ecoport,
2011), but was also grown in India before recorded history and in
Assyria as early as 700 BC.
Sorghum is tolerant to drought because of its root system. It
performs better than maize in drought conditions and thus grows in
stress-prone semi-arid areas unsuitable for maize
• Protein : 4-5% (Some varieties 8-10%), Calcium:0.5 and phosphorus:
0.2%, digestible of nutrients: 58.0%.
For human consumption, the gluten-free grain is usually ground into
a meal that is made into porridge, flatbreads, and cakes.
The grain is also used in making edible oil, starch, dextrose (a
sugar), paste, and alcoholic beverages.
Sweet sorghums, are grown mainly in the United States and
southern Africa for forage and for syrup manufacture and are
sometimes used in the production of ethyl alcohol for biofuel.

Seed rate 40 to 45 kg/ha.(seed to Seed :15cm, row to row 30 cm.
The prime varieties are:
 Single Cut: PC-1, PC-6,PC-9, PC-23, HC-136, HC-171, PSC-1.
 Multi cut: SSG 59-3 (Meethi Sudan), Ruchira Maldandi,
Jawahar Chari-69, Proagro Chari (SSG-988), PCH-106 (Hybrid),
Punjab Sudex Chari-1, Harasona 855, Safed Moti (FSH-92079),
Pant Chari-5 (UPFS- 32), COFS- 29.
Average green fodder yield : about 20 t /ha in single cut and in
multi cut varieties may reach 75 t/ha under optimal growth
conditions.
Danger of (wilting stage) when drought kills the top-growth.
Hence before 45 days of sowing crop not be harvested for
animal. To avoid toxicity (HCN, prussic acid or cyanide) to livestock, the
crop should be harvested at about 50% flowering or after irrigation at the
pre-flowering stage

• Grain sorghums. Dual-purpose varieties can be directly used as fodder, or
livestock can eat the straws or stubble from all varieties after the grain has
been harvested. Many sorghums used for forage in the tropics belong to
the tall (2 to 4 m), thick-stemmed landrace types and are used as dual-
purpose (grain and forage) crops (Magness et al., 1971).
• Sweet sorghums. Their stems contain a sweet juice used on a small scale
for sugar making. They are grown as fodders, especially in the USA, and
are used in the development of fodder hybrids. In more intensive
production, fodder cultivars are usually crosses between grain and sugar
sorghums. These have a higher sugar content than ordinary sorghums and
are less liable to cause HCN poisoning. They can also be used for silage or
hay (Suttie, 2000).
• Sudan grass (Sorghum × drummondii) and Columbus grass (Sorghum ×
almum). These species are described in their respective datasheets.
• Commercial hybrid fodder sorghums, usually based on Sudan grass
and grain sorghum. They retain the multi-cut qualities of Sudan grass but
have a much higher yield potential. They are becoming popular for green
fodder in some developing countries and seeds are internationally
available.

The crop is cultivated for grain as well as fodder in the semi
arid tropical regions of Africa and Asia including India.
It is quick growing, disease resistant, high tillering
fodder crop, suitable for sowing in arid and semi arid
regions.
It can be sown early in spring under irrigated conditions and in
kharif under rainfed condition.
It is not suitable in high rainfall areas and It does well even on
light soils.
Fresh and mature pearl millet contains 7-10% crude protein
and 36% crude fibre.
Varieties: Giant Bajara, APFB-2, Rajco, HB 3, 4, 5 are grain
hybrids suitable for fodder production
Pearl millet, Bajra (Pennisetum typhoides)

Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum)
Berseem probably originated in Syria. It was introduced into Egypt in
the 6th century, into India in the 19th century and into Pakistan, South
Africa, the USA and Australia in the 20th century.
Berseem has a shallow taproot. Its stems are hollow, branching at the
base, with alternate leaves bearing 4-5 cm long x 2-3 cm broad
leaflets. Flowers are yellowish-white and form dense, elliptical
clustered heads about 2 cm in diameter.
Berseem contains 17% crude protein and 25.9% crude fibre. The total
digestible nutrients content is 60-65%.
Berseem contains saponins, if fed in high quantity to ruminants leads
to bloat.
Berseem should be cut 50 to 60 days after planting and then every
30-40 days The highest yield of protein with a relatively low yield of
fibre was obtained by cutting the plant at a height of about 40 cm.
Varieties: Wardan, Mescavi, JB-1, 2 and 3, UPB 103, Pusa giant,
Khadarvi, Chindwara, JHB-146, BL-10, BL-12, BL-22, BL-42
Yield: The total yield obtained may vary between 600 to 1200 quintals/
ha
“King of fodder crops”

Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
Perennial forage, Nitrogen-fixer, Highly palatable
Digestible and nutritious
Crude protein: 18-22% and crude fibre:25-35%
Extremely drought tolerant
Fast growing (can be cut after 30 days of 1st cutting)
Susceptible to a range of pests and diseases
Rabi fodder crop(sown in winter, October to November)
Variety :T-9, A-2, A-3, RL-88, CO-1 and LL
The crop can give seven to eight cuts from November to June
Yield : Average green fodder yield of 600 to 800 quintal/ha
Lucerne contains saponins and continuous feeding with early
morning dew on, may lead to the risk of bloat or tympanitis in
ruminants
Queen of forage crops

Oat (Avena sativa)
Whole-crop green oats may be grazed, cut-and-carried,
ensiled or made into hay
7-9% crude protein, can be increased up to 11% by nitrogen
Winter crops
Variety : Kent, Green Mountain, OS-6, OS-7, JHO-822, JHO-851
Yield :450-550 quintals/ hectare

General habit, yield, other characters etc. of forage grasses
Name Common
Seed rate
Kg/ha
Rainfall
(mm)
Soil
Preference
Fertilizer
Yield
TDM/ha
Green
Tons/ha
Brachiaria
mutica
Para
grass
By slips
40,000/ha
1250
Versatile,
good on
heavy
types
N-60 after
each cut
12-16 60-80
Cenchrus
ciliaris
Buffel 3-4 300
Light
medium
textured
N-60 after
each cut
12-14 60-70
Panicum
maximum
Guinea 4-7 750 Versatile
60kgP
40kgK 16-18 80-90
Pennisetum
typhoideu
Hybrid
Napier
50x50 750 Versatile
60kgP
40kgK
35-40 175200
Setaria
anceps
Setaria 3-5 750 Versatile
60kgP
40kgK 16-20 80-100
Desmodium
uncinatum
Desmodi
um
3-5 900 Versatile
60kgP
40kgK
5-6 25-30

Name Common
Seed
rate
Kg/ha
Rainfall
(mm)
Soil
Preference
Fertilizer
Yield
TDM/ha
Green
Tons/ha
Lab lab
purpureus
Lablab 20-25 600 Versatile PK 60:30 7-8 35-40
Macroptilium
atropurpureum
Siratro 3-5 600 Versatile PK 60:30 4-5 20-25
Stylosanthes
guianensis
Stylo 7-8 800 Versatile 60:30 7-8 35-40
Vigna sinensis Cowpea 25-30 1000 Versatile 60-40 5-6 25-30
Zea mays Maize 25-30 3000 Versatile 30:60:40 9-10 45-50
Leucaena
leucocethala
Subabul 4-5 500 Versatile PK 60:40 8-10 40-50
The general habit, yield, other characters etc. of forage legumes and cereals

Sowing Method
Plant to plant 0.50m
Row to row 1.00m
Sowing Time
Irrigated Rainfed
Feb-April Last June to August
Last June to September

Hybrid Napier
(Pennisetum typhoides x P. purpureum)
Napier grass is also called as elephant grass due to its
tallness and vigorous vegetative growth.
Native of Zimbabwe in South Africa
It grows up to four meters with thick growth which gives its
name “elephant grass”.
It is said to have been Introduced to India by about 1915 in
Bombay.
Perennial grass, protein 6-8%, good for hay making, comes
up well in sewage water.
Varieties: Pusa Giant Napier, Gajraj, NB-5,
NB-6, NB-21,NB-35, C0-3, IGFRI-3, IGFRI-
6, IGFRI-7, IGFRI-10

Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum)
• Guinea grass is a popular fodder grass of the tropics suited to
the agro-climatic conditions of India.
• Most popular fodder grass under irrigated condition.
• It appears to have been cultivated in West Indies and Jamaica
before its introduction to India.
• It can be profitably grown as a component of agro-forestry
systems and comes 'up well under coconut and other trees.
• As an excellent fodder it is much valued for its high
productivity, palatability and good persistence.
• Indian conditions, the best season of planting is with the onset of
southwest monsoon
Varieties : Makueni, Hamil, PGG-4, FR-600,
Bundel Guniea-1, Bundel Guniea-2, Gattan.

Setaria Grass (Setaria anceps)
• Nandi grass is a popular fodder grass of the tropics suited to
the agro-climatic conditions.
• It can be profitably grown as a component of agro-forestry
systems and comes 'up well under coconut and other trees.
• As an excellent fodder it is much valued for its high
productivity, palatability and good persistence.
Varieties:
Nandi, Narok, Kazungula.

Para Grass (Brachiaria mutica)
• This grass is also known as buffalo grass, water grass, Angola
grass, Mauritius grass.
The crop responds well to sewage irrigation and is usually
grown near large sewage disposal farms.
Highly palatable grass, with high dry matter content (15%-
20%),free from all toxic principles.
Protein 6-8 percent, with well balanced calcium and
phosphorus.
Good soil binder.
Harvest can be done once in 30-40 days.
Can be grazed, cut and fed used for hay silage
Making Ideal for sewage farming.

Rich in protien, can be fed to animals in small quantity(2 to
5 kg/day depending on body weight).
Rich in vitamins.
Easily digestible and highly palatable.
Combines well with other grasses in
mixed or intercropping conditions so a balanced
diet is made.

Clitoria
Clitoria ternatea-sangu pushpam.
Suited to dry land pastures,
Highly self sown crop,
Grows well with cenchrus seeds and roots have medicinal
value, Protien 16-18%.

Cowpea / Lobia - Thattaipayuru / Karamani
Highly palatable, nutrition, good
for hay making, can be grown in
dry lands mixed with sorghum,
cumbu or maize
 During kharif, Rabi, and
summer season.
It is an Annual crop.
It is grown for feeding in green
form, for hay making or for
ensiling in mixtures with sorghum
or maize
Grown in tropics, sub-tropics and warm temperature regions.

FODDER TREES
• Subabul
• Hedge lucerne
• Khejri
• Bhimal

Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala)
There are four types of Subabul
• Hawaiian type: The plants are short bushy and remarkably
drought tolerant. It is suited to hilly terrains in drought prone
areas. It is a prolific seed producer and is good for fodder
purpose. K-341 is a Hawaiian variety.
• Salvador type: Tall, tree like and fast growing having
maximum annual biomass production. Possesses large
leaves, pods and seeds than Hawaiian types. Responds to
high fertilization. Variety K-8 is useful for fodder.
• Peru: Tall and extensively branching type and is ideal for
fodder purpose.
• Cunningham: It is a cross between Salvador and Peru types.

Hedge Lucerne
(Desmanthus virgatus)
• It is a small shrub, 2 to 3 m tall and roughly resembles
leucaena. It is a native of tropics and subtropics of the
new world, palatable, aggressive, persistent and
tolerant to heavy grazing. It has 22 per cent protein in
leaves and 10-15 per cent in stems.
• It is highly productive, yielding about 40 to 70 tonnes of
green fodder per ha per year.
• No poisonous principle is observed in the foliage.
Because of its pithy stem, the harvesting is easier.
• It is an ideal plant for wasteland development.

Ailanthus excelsa Leaves alternate, pinnately
compound, large, leaflets 8-14 or
more pairs
Planting: Planting Size of the pit 30 x
30 x 30 cm. Planting should be done
during rainy season and saucer
basin should be done to conserve
moisture.
Yield: Yield It depends on site
quality; A ten year old tree yields
150-200 kg wood. On an average , 20
- 30 tons of wood/acre is expected.
Uses Fodder: Offensive smell in young leaves but mature leaves are
lopped for their excellent sheep fodder.
Fuel: Good firewood. Timber is easily worked but is perishable. Used in
boxes, crates, poles, fishing floats, tool handles, matches and drums.
Medicine: Bark, gum and the bitter aromatic leaves are used
medicinally in home remedies.

Bhimal (Grevia optiva)
• Grewia optiva is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, 9-
12 m
• Height; crown spreading; bole clear, 3-4 m, and about 1 m
diameter.
• Branches smooth, pale silvery-brown; bark dark brown,
thick and
• Roughish, exfoliating in small woody scales; blaze rather
fibrous, pale
• Yellow, often tinged pink towards the exterior, juice
LOCAL NAMES: Hindi (dhaman, biung,
biul, Bihul, bhimal,bhengal,bewal,behel);

Glyricidia
 It is a small, semi-deciduous tree with pale bark.
 Glyricidia sepium and Glyricidia maculata are the two
species available.
 G. maculata is more useful as green leaf manure. It also fixes
atmospheric nitrogen and thereby improves soil fertility.
 G. sepium tolerates a wide range of climatic and edaphic
conditions.

It is a small to medium size
tree, found mainly in the Thar
Desert of Rajasthan.
Khejri is the golden tree of
Indian deserts, plays a vital role
in preserving the ecosystem of
arid and semi-arid areas.
It is the symbol of socio-
economic development of the
arid regions.
Since all the parts of the tree
are useful, it is called kalp taru.
It is also known as the ‘king of
Khejri (खेजडी)
Prosopis cineraria

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