Fodder Production

Legume fodders

Cowpea / Lobia

• This crop is grown in tropics, sub-tropics and warm temperature regions.
• It is grown for feeding in green form, for grazing, for hay making or for ensiling in mixtures with sorghum or maize.
• It can be grown in all the three seasons.
• It is suitable for year round cultivation.
• Varieties include Co₅, Russian giant, EC 4216, UPC - 287 and locals.
• Recommended seed rate - 40 kg/ha.
• Harvest 50-55 days after sowing (50% flowering stage).
• Variety Co 5 is suitable for growing under irrigated conditions (June - July).

• Green fodder yield t/ha--18 to 20
• Dry matter content (%)--14.64
• Crude protein content (%)--20.00
• Plant height (cm)--- 93.00
• No. of branches---- 2-3
• No. of leaves----12
• Leaf length (cm)—12.1
• Leaf width (cm)---8.2
• Leaf stem ratio—8.3
• Plant Habit-- Semi spreading
• Plant type—Indeterminate

Desmanthus- hedge lucerne

• It is grow throughout the year under irrigation and during June - October as a rainfed crop.
• Sow the seeds at 20 kg/ha in solid stand on the side of the ridges over the lines where fertilizers are applied at a depth of 2 cm and cover with soil.
• Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in a week.
• First cut on 90th day after sowing at 50 cm height and subsequent cuts at intervals of 40 days at the same height.

Lucerne

• Lucerne, also termed as `Queen of forages'
• It is a deep rooted perennial forage legume adapted to a wide range of conditions ranging from tropical to alpine.
• It is very palatable and nutritious forage legume containing 15 - 20% crude protein on dry matter basis
• Lucerne adds nitrogen to soil and improves soil fertility.
• It is grown for green fodder, hay, silage but does not tolerate close grazing.
• Varieties include 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 are made at intervals of 25 - 30 days.

• Green fodder yield t/ha/year 70-80 (In 10 harvests)
• Seed yield kg/ha 200 -250
• Protein content (%) 20 - 24
• Dry matter (%) 18 - 20
• Plant height (cm) 60 - 80
• Mean clusters per tiller 12 - 15
• Mean No. of pods per tiller 22 - 25
• Mean No. of seeds per pod 4 -6

Stylo

• Stylo is an erect growing forage legume native of Brazil.
• It grows 0.6 to 1.8 m tall.
• Stylo is adapted to tropical climate and tolerant to low fertility, drought, acidic soils and poor drainage.
• Stylos are drought resistant legumes coming up well in areas receiving a minimum rainfall of 450 - 840 mm annually.
• These can be grown in a wide range of soils.
• The crude protein content of stylos ranges from 15 to 18%.
• Season is June - July to September - October.
• For line sowing (30 x 15 cm), the seed rate is 6 kg/ha and for broadcasting 10 kg/ha.
• First harvest can be taken 75 days after sowing at flowering stage and subsequent harvests depending upon the growth.
• It is to be noted that during the first year, the establishment after sowing is very slow and the yield is low.
• Later on when the crop establishes well due to self seeding it yields 30 to 35 t/ha/year from the third year onwards.

Cereal grass fodders

Fodder maize

• It is grown on a variety of soils, but well drained fertile soils are best suited.
• Maize is mostly grown as KHARIF crop i.e. sowing in June - July. In south India it makes best growth in RABI and also in SUMMER.
• It can be grown throughout the year with irrigation facility.
• African tall, Vijay composite, Moti composite, Ganga - 5 and Jawahar are some important fodder varieties.
• Maintain a seed rate of 40 kg/ha and dibble one seed to a spacing of 15cm between the seeds in the row which are 30 cm apart.
• The average green fodder yield will be 40-50 t/ha and the dry matter yield will be 10-15 t/ha.
• Staggered sowing is recommended for supply of green fodder for a long period.
• Harvest the crop when the cob is in the milky stage.

Fodder sorghum

• It is cultivated mainly for grain and also for fodder.
• Sorghum is a drought resistant crop.
• It thrives in tropical climate with a temperature range of 25-35^oC.
• It is not suited to higher elevations (more than 1200 m).
• It can be grown under an annual rainfall of 300-350 mm.
• It can be grown on any soil except on very sandy soils.
• Suitable varieties for Irrigated (Jan - Feb and Apr - May) are Co.11, Co. 27, Co.F.S. 29
• Suitable varieties for Rainfed (Jun - Jul) is Co.11, Co27, Co.F.S.29
• Suitable varieties for Rainfed (Sep - Oct) is K7, Co.27, Co.F.S. 29,K 10
• Co.F.S. 29 is also a multicut variety and released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 2001. It is cross between TNFS 9602 and Sudan grass.
• Maintain a seed rate of 40 kg/ha (12.5 kg only for Co.F.S. 29).
• Sorghum can be harvested after flowering stage for green fodder.
• If it is a single cut, it should be harvested at 60-65 days (50% flowering) after sowing and if it is a multicut, the first cut is 60 days after sowing and a second, 40 days after the first.
• For Co. F.S. 29, each harvest has to be done at 65 days interval (5 harvests in a year).

Grass fodders

Hybrid Napier / Cumbu Napier / Bajra Napier Hybrid

• It possesses more tillers and leaves than Napier and is more vigorous and higher in fodder yield and quality.
• Crude protein ranges from 8 to 11%.
• Co.CN4 is another hybrid Napier grass released by TNAU, Coimbatore, is a cross between Cumbu Co.8 and Napier grass F.T.461. Yield range is between 380-400 tons/ha. It produces more tillers with soft and juicy stem, free from pest and diseases and non-lodging. It can be cultivated throughout the year under irrigated conditions.
• KKM-1 Cumbu Napier: This is a hybrid grass gives average green fodder yield of 288 tonnes per ha per year. The quality is good with high calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and very low oxalate content.
• Pusa Giant, NB₂₁, NB₃₇, IGFRI₅, IGFRI₇ and IGFRI₁₀ (developed from Indian Grassland Research Institute, Jhansi) are superior hybrids developed in India.
• Co₁, Co₂, Co₃, Co₄ & KKM₁ are also superior varieties released from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. These varieties are suitable for growing throughout the year in all districts in Tamil Nadu.
• 40,000 slips are required to plant one hectare.
• First harvest is to be done on 75 to 80 days after planting and subsequent harvests at intervals of 45 days.

Guinea grass

• It is a tall (1-4.5 m), tufted and fast growing highly palatable perennial grass.
• It has short creeping rhizome.
• Establishes readily by seed or plantation of rooted slips.
• Crude protein ranges from 4 to 14%.
• Hamil, PPG -14, Makuni, Rivers-dale are some of the varieties.
• Co₁ and Co₂ are varieties of guinea grass released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
• Suitable for all types of soil with good drainage.
• Does not come up well on heavy clay soil or flooded or waterlogged conditions.
• Seed Rate: Seed 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 of slips. Subsequent cuts at intervals of 45 days.
• 175 tonnes /ha per year in 8 cuts.
• Guinea grass can be intercropped with Hedge Lucerne (Velimasal) at 3:1 ratio and can be harvested together and fed to the animals.

Para Grass

• It is suitable for cultivation in humid areas.
• It is grown in seasonally flooded valleys and lowlands and can withstand water logging and long term flooding.
• It cannot grow on dry lands in arid or semi - arid areas.
• It is sensitive to cold and makes little or no growth during winter months in sub-tropical regions of India.
• Water logged soils are best suited for this crop.
• It can be grown on sandy soils also, provided water supply is sufficient.
• Seed setting is very poor in this grass. It is propagated exclusively by stem cuttings.
• It can be planted at any time in South Indian conditions, but June - July planting is advisable under rainfed.
• There are no improved varieties of this grass (only local).
• Thin shoots are used as planting material. Stems with 2-3 nodes are planted in 45-60 cm rows at 20 cm spacing. The stems are pressed into wet soil leaving the two ends sticking up.
• 800-1000 kg of stem cuttings are needed for planting one hectare.
• The first cut is taken 75-80 days after planting and the subsequent cuts at 40-45 days interval. Totally, 6-9 cuts can be taken in a year with an average green fodder yield of 80-100 t/ha.
• This grass is fed in the green form.
• It is not suitable for conservation either as hay or as silage.

Blue buffel grass

Neelakolukattaipull Var. Co-1:

• Cenchrus is a promising green grass type which performs well in drylands cultivation under rainfed conditions.
• Cenchrus cilliaris (Anjan grass) and C. setigerus (Black anjan grass) are the two commonly grown species but low yielding in nature.
• Cenchrus glaucus is yet another type found to grow well in dry land areas but superior than the other species.
• Well drained soil with high calcium content is suitable.
• Seed required is 6-8 kg/ha.
• Harvest first cut on 70th or 75th day after sowing and subsequent 4-6 cuts depending on growth.
• A pure crop yields 40 t/ha/year in 4-6 cuts.

Tree fodders

Subabul

• It has seasonal varieties.
• Jun - Jul Hawaiian giant (lvory coast), Co1.
• Rainfed (Sep - Oct) K 8, Giant lpil - lpil, Co 1.
• Plants can be harvested in as short as 6 months after planting. However, 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 once in 40 - 80 days depending upon growth and season.
• In drought prone areas, allow the trees to grow for two years to ensure deep root penetration before commencing harvest.
• The 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 to 100 t/ha of green fodder.
• Under rainfed conditions 40 t/ha of green fodder is got after 2 years of initial growth and pruning to a height of 100 cm

Glyricidia

• It is a small tree, semi-deciduous, with pale bark.
• G. sepium tolerates a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. Growth is most rapid in regions where annual rainfall exceeds 900 mm, but it will grow where rainfall is as low as 400 mm per annum.
• It grows in soils ranging from heavy clays to sands and on rocky eroded sites; however, it is intolerant of water logging.
• The plant is used for fuel wood, animal feed, green manure, shade, poles, and living fences and as support plants.
• Used as an ornamental and as a shade tree for coffee.
• Propagated through seed or cuttings.
• 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.
• It is able to produce profuse branching and fresh growth after every cutting.
• If cultivated along the border in one heactare, it will supply enough green leaf manure for 2 to 2.5 hectares of land.

Sesbania

• The leaves of Sesbania trees are highly palatable and mostly liked by goats.
• The protein content in this is about 25%.
• Grown throughout the year under irrigation.
• Comes up in soils with good drainage.
• Seed rate is 7.5 kg /ha, sow the seeds at a spacing of 100 cm x 100 cm (100 cm between ridges and 100 cm between plants within the ridge).
• First cut after 8 months subsequent harvests at an interval of 60-80 days.
• Green fodder yield of 100 tonnes per year is obtained from one hectare.

Azolla- As Livestock Feed

About Azolla

• Azolla is a floating fern which resembles algae
• Normally azolla is grown in paddy fields or shallow water bodies
• Multiplies very rapidly

Azolla as fodder/ feed

• Rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B12 and Beta- Carotene), growth promoter intermediaries and minerals like calcium, phosphorous, potassium, ferrous, copper, magnesium
• On dry weight basis, it contains 25 - 35 percent protein, 10 - 15 percent minerals and 7 - 10 percent of amino acids, bio-active substances and bio-polymers
• Livestock easily digest it, owing to its high protein and low lignin content
• Azolla can be mixed with concentrates or can be  given directly to livestock
• Can also be fed to poultry, sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits.

Azolla Production

• The soil in the area is first cleared of weeds and leveled
• Bricks are lined horizontally in a rectangular fashion.
• A UV stabilized silpauline sheet of 2m X 2m size  is uniformly spread over the bricks in such a way as to cover the margin of the rectangle made by the bricks
• 10-15 kg of sieved soil is uniformly spread over the silpauline pit
• Slurry made of 2 kg cow dung and 30 g of super phosphate mixed in 10 liters of water, is poured onto the sheet. More water is poured on to raise the water level to about 10 cm
• About 0.5-1kg of pure mother azolla culture seed material is spread uniformly over the water, after mild stirring of soil and water in the azolla bed. Fresh water should be sprinkled over the azolla immediately after inoculation to make the azolla plants upright
• In a week’s time, the azolla spreads all over the bed and develops a thick mat like appearance.

• A mixture of 20 g of super phosphate and about 1 kg of cow dung should be added once in 5 days in order to maintain rapid multiplication of the azolla and to maintain the daily yield of 500 g
• A micronutrient mix containing magnesium, iron, copper, sulphur etc., can also be added at weekly intervals to enhance the mineral content of azolla
• About 5 kg of bed soil should be replaced with fresh soil, once in 30 days, to avoid nitrogen build up and prevent micro-nutrient deficiency
• 25 to 30 percent of the water also needs to be replaced with fresh water, once every 10 days, to prevent nitrogen build up in the bed
• The bed should be cleaned, the water and soil replaced and new azolla inoculated once every six months
• A fresh bed has to be prepared and inoculated with pure culture of azolla, when contaminated by pest and diseases

Harvesting

• Will grow rapidly and fill the pit within 10 - 15 days. From then on, 500 - 600 g of azolla can be harvested daily.
• Can be done every day from the15th day onwards with the help of a plastic sieve or tray with holes at the bottom
• The harvested azolla should be washed in fresh water to get rid of the cow dung smell

Alternative Inputs

• Fresh biogas slurry may also be used
• Waste water from bathroom and cattle shed can also be used to fill the pit. In areas where there is a problem of fresh water availability, the water left after washing clothes (after the second rinsing) can also be used.

Environmental factors for the growth

• Temperature 20°C - 28°C
• Light 50% full sunlight
• Relative Humidity 65 - 80%
• Water (standing in the tank) 5 - 12 cm
• pH 4-7.5

Points to be noted during cultivation of azolla

• Washing in a net will be useful as it will allow small plantlets to get out, and they can be poured back in to the pond
• Care should be taken to retain the temperature below 25°C.
• Shade nets can be used to cut the light intensity.
• The azolla biomass should be removed daily to avoid over crowding.

Source: Expert System for Cattle & Buffalo, Directorate of Extension Education, TANUVAS