Unconventional fodder resources for augmenting milk production in dry areas

Abstract

In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural crop production is constrained by climatic and edafic related limitations. Therefore, animal centric farming system is more sustainable and profitable in these regions. However, profitability of animal husbandry is more dependent on availability of quality and quantity of feed and fodder. At present, India experiences a deficit of 35.6 and 10.95% in green and dry fodder respectively. The scope of increasing green fodder production through increase in cultivated area is very limited as the area under fodder crop has remained static (around 8.6 mha) for the last decade. Thus, unconventional feed and fodder resources such as Indian mesquite, halophytic forages etc. that are available, need to be utilized for augmenting fodder availability to the animal farming.