Analysis of Feed and Fodder Status of Livestock Farmers

Abstract

Livestock sector plays a key role in bringing economic and social equity in rural areas. newlineIts growth depends upon the availability of fodder. Enhancing profitability of livestock newlinehusbandry can only be possible by ensuring adequate fodder to the livestock. A study was newlineconducted to assess the feed and fodder availability and requirement in India at two stages. In newlinefirst stage, secondary data was used. Percentage Dry Matter (DM) availability was worked out newlineto understand to what extent the state/district had excess/deficit DM for all states and for newlinedistricts of southern states. Based on secondary data, three districts were selected for primary newlinedata collection in Andhra Pradesh through interview schedule which formed the second stage newlineof the study. Out of 28 states, 12 states belonged to surplus (gt100%) DM available category, 6 newlineeach states belonged to adequate (80-100 %) and moderately adequate (60-79%), 3 states newlinebelonged to deficient and one state belonged to severely deficient DM (lt40%) available newlinecategories. Contribution of crop residue to the total dry matter availability in the country was newline71.60 per cent. Its contribution was highest (75.96%) in surplus states and lowest in deficient newlinestates (53.39%). Contribution of coarse straw was more as compared to fine straw in majority newlinestates. Percentage DM availability from legume straw to the total crop residue represents a newlinevery bleak picture in majority states. Madhya Pradesh is the only state where legume straw newlinepercentage was above 20 per cent. Five ditrcits in Andhra Pradesh, 6 districts in Karnataka, 2 newlinein Goa, 1in Kerala and 13 in Tamil Nadu belonged to surplus DM available category. In newlineAndhra Pradesh, majority of the respondents followed three times feeding to the livestock in newlineRabi (89.17%), Kharif (88.33%) and Summer (85.83%) seasons. Digestible Crude Protein newline(DCP) was met only 38.30 per cent against recommended level (0.47 kg/animal/day) in newlinedeficient DM available district (YSR Kadapa) for milch animals. In adequate DM available newlinedistrict (Srikakulam) it was met by half