Nutritional Aspects of Ruminants in the Tropics with Special Reference to the Indian Sub-continent

Abstract

The agriculture and animal husbandry practices in the tropics are diversified and change with the change in the rainfall and soil. The farmers, in general, in most of the Asian tropical countries, do not understand and practice the nutrient requirement in ruminant animals. They feed their animals on the local feed resources available in their region. The main roughages available in the tropics are the crop residues, mature tropical grasses and the like. Therefore, feeding systems should be developed with the local feed resources with supplements for protein, energy and minerals so as to achieve optimum production.