Maharashtra Board Class 11 Animal Science And Technology Chapter 7 Forage Production PDF Download

7. Forage Production

India stands first in milk production in the world but, the livestock productivity is low as compared to developed countries. Deficiency in feed and fodder is identified as one of the major reason for low productivity of dairy animals in India. The shortages in dry and green fodder by 2020 will be 24.81 and 64.21 per cent compared with the requirements of 630 and 1134 million tons for the current livestock population, respectively. Therefore there is need to increase fodder production to meet nutritional requirement of livestock and for improving their productivity.

The term forages means the plants used for feeding domestic animals. This includes both fodder plants and pastures.

Fodders are the plants which are cultivated as forage crops and they are cut and fed to animals in the stalls whereas pastures are grassess and legumes, grown in pasture lands where the animals are lead to graze them.

*Figures are projections

Source: Based on Five year Plan Document, Government of India.

Teacher's Note

In India, many farmers do not have enough green fodder for their cows and buffaloes. Growing forage crops like maize and lucerne can help farmers feed their animals better and get more milk.

Exam Trick

Remember: Forages = Food for animals. Fodders are cut and fed at home. Pastures are where animals eat grass on open land by themselves.

Points to Remember

Forages are plants used for feeding domestic animals.

Fodders are cut and fed fresh to animals in the stalls.

Pastures are grasslands where animals graze on their own.

There is a big shortage of both green and dry fodder in India.

7.1 Classification of Fodder Crops

Forage crops can be grouped as follows :

1. Cereal forages

2. Leguminous forages

3. Grassess

4. Fodder trees and shrubs

Teacher's Note

Different types of fodder crops grow in different seasons in India. A farmer can grow maize in summer and lucerne in winter to have food for animals all year round.

Exam Trick

Remember: Cereal forages = Grains like maize and jowar. Leguminous forages = Pulses like lucerne and berseem. These two types give different nutrients to animals.

Points to Remember

Cereal forages are made from grain crops.

Leguminous forages are made from pulse crops.

Grassess are natural feed for grazing animals.

Fodder trees are permanent plants that last many years.

7.2 Cultivation Practices Of Common Fodder Crops

Fodder crops are the plant species cultivated and harvested for feeding the animals in the form of forage (cut green and fed fresh), silage (preserved under anaerobic condition) and hay (dehydrated green fodder).

7.3.1. Cereal Forages

1. Maize (Zea mays (L))

Maize or corn is one of the cereal crops of the world serving as food for man and forage for cattle. It is fast growing, high yielding, highly nutritious and palatable green fodder. It is rich in carbohydrates. Its feeding stimulates milk production in milch animals. It can be cut and fed at any stage with no risk and therefore it is called as 'king of forage crops.'

Maize is called as the king of fodder crops.

Maize fodder contains 9 – 11 % crude protein and 25-35% crude fiber.

Soil: It can be grown on all kinds of soils with pH 7.5 to 8.5. It requires a good supply of moisture and warmth from germination to flowering.

Land preparation: The soil should be deeply ploughed and harrowed. Before last harrowing 5-10 tons of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) /ha should be added .

Seeds and sowing: Maize can be cultivated in all three seasons. kharif, Rabi, Summer with sowing in June - July, September - October and February – March, respectively. The recommended seed rate is 40-50 kg/ha. Spacing should be 25-30 cm between rows and 10-15 cm between plants.

Interculturing: The first weeding is given at 20-25 cm height and second weeding at about 60 cm height.

Manures and fertilizers: The crop requires heavy manuring and responds well to fertilizers. At the time of sowing, FYM @ 5-10 tonnes/ha and N:P:K shall be given @ 100:50:50 kg/ha. One half of N i.e. 50 kg/ha, full P & full K shall be given as a basal dose. The remaining one half of nitrogen shall be given at 30 days after sowing.

Irrigation: Maize is fairly draught tolerant and it can withstand a draught period up to 4-5 weeks. Irrigation is necessary immediately after sowing. Subsequent irrigation shall be given at 10-15 days intervals.

Varieties: African Tall, Ganga-5, Vijay Composite, Manjari Composite, Ganga-3, Ganga safed-2.

African tall is a the very famous and popular variety of maize fodder.

Harvesting and storage: Cut at teaseling to wax-ripe stage for green fodder purposes. However, for silage making medium dough stage is recommended. Green fodder yield ranges from 40 - 50 tons/ha.

Teacher's Note

Maize is the best fodder crop for dairy farmers because it grows very fast and animals eat it happily. A farmer can grow maize in summer and feed it to cows to get more milk.

Exam Trick

Remember: Maize = King of forage crops. It can be cut at any stage and fed to animals. No risk of poisoning like jowar.

Points to Remember

Maize grows in all three seasons - kharif, rabi, and summer.

Seed rate is 40-50 kg per hectare.

Two weeding are needed - at 20-25 cm and at 60 cm height.

Green fodder yield is 40-50 tons per hectare.

2. Jowar (Sorghum bicolor (L))

Jowar is one of the most important cereal fodder crop of dry-land agriculture. Its grains are used both by both man as food and animals as feed.

Jowar fodder contains 8 - 10 % crude protein and 32 % crude fiber.

Soil : Sorghum can be grown on variety of soils, but medium and deep black soils are suitable. This crop tolerates saline and alkaline conditions to some extent and can also thrive well in acidic soils with pH 5.5

Land preparation: Deep ploughing with clod crushing and 2 to 3 harrowings are required.

Seeds and sowing: Sowing is done in June-July, Sept.-Oct. and February-March for kharif, rabbi, and summer, respectively. A seed rate of 6-8 kg/ha is recommended. Spacing usually followed is 25-30 cm between rows and 10-15 cm between plants.

Interculturing: For early season weed control apply Atrazine @ 1.0 kg/ha pre emergence for broad leaf weed control, 2,4-D can be applied post- emergence by 4-5 weeks @ 0.75-1.0 kg/ha for the parasitic weeds.

Manures and fertilizers: For a rainfed Jowar crop, Farm Yard Manure (F.Y.M.) @ 10 tons/ha and for irrigated crop @25 tons/ha is to be applied 20-25days before sowing. Total requirements of N:P:K is 100:50:40 kg/ha. One half of nitrogen, full phosphorous and full potassium is given as basal dose and remaining one half nitrogen shall be given after 30 days of sowing .

Irrigation: The irrigated crop must be given water at least every fortnight. Usually, five to seven irrigations are required.

Varieties/ cultivars: Ruchira (R.S.-11-4), Maldandi (35-1), Nilwa, M.P. Chari, Pusa Chari, PC-6, PC-9, PC-23, JS-3, S-1049, Phule Amruta, Phule Godhan

Harvesting and storage: Fodder sorghum is very palatable, especially in flowering stage. Harvesting is normally done at 50 percent flowering stage i.e. at 60-75 days. In case of Multicut jowar, first cutting is made after 55 days and subsequent cutting after 40-45 days. Yield may be in the range of 35 - 40 tons/ha (single cut) and 100-150 tons/ha (Multicut jowar).

The feeding of Jowar up to 45 days from germination is avoided in cattle due to higher content of Hydrocyanic acid (HCN).

Sorghum is one of the best crops for silage because of its high yields, sugar content and juiciness of the stalk. Sorghum is harvested at the milk or soft dough stage for silage making.

Teacher's Note

Jowar is very good for dry areas where water is not enough. It can survive with very little rain and still give good fodder for animals. Many farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka grow jowar.

Exam Trick

Remember: Do not feed young jowar plants to cattle because they have poison called HCN. Wait 45 days before feeding. After that it is safe.

Points to Remember

Jowar is best for dry land farming with little water.

Do not feed jowar plants younger than 45 days to cattle.

Seed rate is 6-8 kg per hectare.

Harvesting is done at 50% flowering stage at 60-75 days.

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