Strategic Supplementation for Compensatory Growth in Tharparkar Calves Fed Low Quality Forages

When animals are kept under feed restriction for a certain period of time followed by availability of feed again had high growth rate and even exceeded those of animals that were well fed throughout the same period (Tolla et al., 2003), because of physiological impulse called compensatory gain. Thus it improves feed efficiency and reduces feeding cost (Neto et al., 2011). However, when this happens in females growing calves it is desirable, provided it does not occur during puberty so that there is no reproductive damage. But compensatory growth varies depending upon the intensity and duration of under nutrition before re-alimentation. In the present study the effects of moderate level of feed restriction and later re-alimentation with strategic supplementation approach (a mixture of protein and energy sources) on nutritional status and growth performances were recorded in female growing calves

Comparative Nutrient Utilization and Growth Performance of Jalauni Lambs and Bundelkhandi Kids Grazed on \u3cem\u3eHardwickia binata\u3c/em\u3e Based Silvopasture System

Goats and sheep play a significant role in the subsistence economy in India. Goats and sheep are multipurpose animals which provide hair, wool, meat, milk and skin. The production of meat from goats and sheep play a vital role in the supply of animal protein for the people of our country. Small ruminant production in village systems in tropical countries is often characterized by poor growth rates and high mortality (Devendra and Burns, 1970). The productivity of small ruminants can be improved by improving the nutrition either through concentrate feeding or provision of additional forage (Pathasarathy et al., 1984). In the present experiment, the animals therefore were allowed to graze in H. binata based silvipasture system to evaluate their nutrient availability from grazing as well as their productive performance

Mineral Content of Leguminous and Non-Leguminous Crop Residues \u3cem\u3evis a vis\u3c/em\u3e Their Requirement in Animals

The need of mineral for growth, reproduction and production as well as normal physiological functions of animal body is well recognized. In most of the tropical and sub-tropical countries crop residues constitute the major feed resource in the livestock. The concentration of macro and trace minerals in crop residues depend on various factors including genetic and species of plant viz., leguminous and non-leguminous (Singh et al., 1997). Further, limited information is available currently on different types of crop residues. Therefore, in the present study was under taken to see the macro and micro mineral status of some leguminous and non-leguminous crop residues in relation to animal requirement

Mineral Content of Course Cereals Roughages as well as Their Requirement in Dairy Animals

The necessity of mineral for growth, reproduction and production as well as normal physiological functions of animal body is well documented. In most of the tropical countries coarse cereal stovers are second major feed resource after wheat and paddy straw used in the livestock feeding. The concentration of macro and trace minerals in crop residues depends on various factors including species (Singh et al., 2005). Further, limited information is available on coarse cereals stovers mineral content. Therefore, the present study was under taken to see the macro and micro mineral content of some coarse cereal stovers in relation to animal requirement

Grasspea: A Potential Fodder and Feed Resources

Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a an important legume crop grown in India, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Pakistan for human food, animal feed and soil health improvement. In India, grasspea is grown in about 521,100 ha, mainly in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa, Assam, West Bengal, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Grasspea cultivation is low-cost and easy. Inherently grasspea possesses resistance to drought, excess moisture, salinity, diseases, and insect pests. As grasspea has an ambivalent reputation due to ODAP content in its plant parts, efforts are on to develop low or ODAP-free grasspea varieties with high biomass for dual purpose for human food and animal feed. A number of such varieties are now available in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Ethiopia. Grasspea is known as excellent feed and fodder crop for centuries as a main concentrate for horses (Anonymous, 1894). Livestock is a key component of farming systems in South Asia and in Africa, and most particularly with small and marginal farmers, estimated about 678 million, and indicates importance of livestock to their livelihoods (ILRI, 2000)

Effect of Sugar Promoters on Biomass Yield and Sugar Content of Napier Bajra Hybrids

In India deficiency of green fodder is estimated to the tune of 35.7% and this difference is likely to increase in coming period due to possible decrease in acreage under fodder crops as the cultivated land is being utilized for urbanization and other industrial uses. In tropical countries like India, crop residues from cultivated crops and grasses (mainly monsoon grasses) constitute the basal diet of livestock. But the nutritive value of these grasses is low (protein and digestibility) than the fodder crops and even in green stage is able only to meet the maintenance requirement of animals. A conservative estimate is that around 220 million tones of surplus green herbages is available during flush season of monsoon and can be conserved through ensiling. But due to the low DM (dry matter) and WSC (water soluble carbohydrate) content (2-4%) in such tropical grasses, they results in poor fermentation of freshly cut materials under anaerobic environment of ensiling. A minimum of 7-8% of water-soluble carbohydrate is needed to initiate the fermentation process. Hence, there is a need to improve in the quality of grasses even to conserve them as silage. The research efforts put forth by animal nutritionist to conserve these grasses as silage were not successful mainly due to their low water soluble carbohydrate contents. The use of chemicals to increase immature internodal sucrose levels in sugarcane has been made in some parts of the world. In forages, such efforts may solve the issue of conservation of monsoon grass as hay. Keeping in the view, an attempt has been made to explore the possibility of improving the sugar content of BN Hybrid grass

Economics of BN Hybrid Grass Production Bundelkhand Region of India: A Case Study

Napier grass is also called as Elephant Grass due to its tallness and vigorous vegetative growth. The plants tiller freely and a single clump may produce more than 60 tillers under favorable climatic and soil conditions. Unfortunately, the grass coarse-textured, the leaf blade sheaths as well as sharply serrated, leaf margins. Therefore, cross was made between Bajra which is more succulent, leafy, fine-textured, palatable, fast growing and drought resistant and Napier to combine these qualities with its high yielding potential. The outcome Hybrid Napier is a perennial grass which can be retained on field for 2-3 years. Hybrid napier grass are mostly grown under assured water supply but cultivating under varying agroclimatic condition is also possible. Low grass production in dry land area is mainly due to the limited availability of soil moisture and plant nutrients. Agrawal et al., (2001) reported NB hybrid is superior to guinea grass or setaria grass. However the economy of production plays an important role in introduction/ adoption of a crop in an area, village or farm. Many earlier studies have been conducted on economics of BN Hybrid production at research farm, or other government farms. But the information on economics of BN hybrid production at farmer’s field and its integration livestock feeding as well rooted slips are limited. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the object to study the economics of BN hybrid at farmer’s field in Bundelkhand

Rejuvenation of Wild Ber (\u3cem\u3eZizyphus\u3c/em\u3e Species) through Budding at Farmer’s Field

Ber is mainly cultivated for its fresh fruits, which are rich in vitamins C, A and B complex. Due to its nutritional qualities it is called poor man’s apple (Gajbhiya et al., 2003). A large number of wild ber shrubs (Zizyphus mauritiana, Z. rotundifolia and Z. nummularia) were seen growing on the neglected lands, uncultivated lands, roadsides and farm boundaries in Kadesara Kala Village in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh (India). Production potential of this species is very low because of poor upkeep and inferior genetic makeup. But they have extensive root system which can withstand prolonged drought and has capability to regenerate even if the shoot system is damaged completely (Batahr, 1990). They are also responsibly resistant to common insect and pest. Therefore, these species offer an excellent production potential from the degraded lands of Bundelkhand region of India (Sharma and Tiwari, 1994; Tiwari and Sharma, 1993) after in-situ budding with improved cultivars. It also provides sufficient leaf biomass (pala) which can be utilized as fodder in lean period and also suitable for hay and silage for goat as it contains 11-13 percent crude protein (Tewatia and Khirwar, 2002). Pruned twigs/stems of ber also meet, to some extent, the fuel wood requirement in rural areas (Kumar et al., 2004)

Constraints for Grassland Development in Kadesara Kala Village, Lalitpur, Bundelkhand: A Case Study

India is maintaining a livestock population of over 500 million and has a grim situation of forage and feed deficit to the tune of 35.6% green fodder, 10.95% crop residues and 44% concentrate. In term of nutrients, the deficit is expected to the tune of 24.6 and 19.9% respectively by the year 2020. The gap is to be bridged up through development as well as extension of appropriate fodder production technologies suitable for different farming situation strategies. Fifty-eight % of the available fodder comes from grazing land and 42% from stall feeding with crop residues (30%) and leaf fodder (12%). Grasses constitute the majority (88%) of fodder available in Uttar Pradesh (GOUP, 1994). However, the role of grasslands cannot be under judged, as the large animal populations owned by small, marginal and landless farm family strive upon these. The livestock sector achieved an average growth rate of 4.8 per cent during the Eleventh Five Year Plan (Economic Survey, 2012-13) and it contributed 3.6 percent of national GDP during the Eleventh Plan. In the same tune, the contribution from this sector is expected to improve because increasing purchasing power is favoring the proportion of protein from animal source in the human diets. Further, The Indian livestock sector is becoming more competitive participant in the world market. All this largely depends, however, on improvement and sufficiency in the production of feeds and forages. Notwithstanding the above, the grasslands and pastureland in the country are continuously shrinking. The paper addresses important issues limiting the development of new grasslands in semiarid Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh particularly the Lalitpur district

Nutrient Intake and Utilization in Jalauni Lambs Fed \u3cem\u3e Azolla \u3c/em\u3e Meal Supplemented Diet

Azolla is an important aquatic fungi due to the occurrence of both photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in the leaves and also because of its profuse growth habbit, it appears as a potential source of protein, minerals and vitamins for livestock feeding. Keeping in view of the increasing cost and heavy deficit of concentrate ingredients in the country, an attempt was made to replace mustard cake protein @ 25% and 50% levels with Azolla (Microphylla) meal protein in the ration of sheep to investigate the effect of supplementation of azolla meal on nutrient intake and utilization in growing Jalauni lambs fed green chaffed MP Chari based rations