Intensification of Forage Production and Quality Parameters: A Review

Abstract

India supports nearly 20 per cent of the world’s livestock population on just 2.2 per cent of the world’s geographical area. The fodder production in the country is not sufficient to meet the requirement of growing livestock population and country faces a net deficit of 61.1% in green fodder, 21.9% in dry crop residues and 64% in feeds. This puts a tremendous pressure to increase fodder and forage production to meet the diet demands of increasing livestock population. Intensification of fodder and forage can be done by increasing productivity per unit area that can be achieved by integration of fodder crops in the cropping systems as intercrops, round the year forage production and introduction of fodder and forage crops in tree crops as alley crops. In addition to the intensification, the quality parameters of forage are equally important to be stressed upon. Important components that determine forage quality include fats, carbohydrates, crude protein, percent dry matter, pH etc. Anti-Nutritional Factors (ANF) in plants reduce the intake or nutrient utilization and determines the extent of uing those plants a fodder for livestock. The presence of anti- nutritional components viz., nitrates, tannins, oxalates, mimosine, cyanogens, Saponins, BOAA ( Benzo-Oxalic Acetic Acid) limit the forage and fodder consumption. For the lean periods in which land may not be accessible for forage production, forage conservation is the best measure to meet the fodder demands. The forage conservation methods include hay making and silage making. These strategic measures will ensure food and nutritional security by supplying quality food and nutritional security by supplying quality fodder and forage for animals.