GREEN FODDER AUGMENTATION FOR INCREASING ANIMAL PRODUCTIVITY- A REVIEW
K. S. SOMASHEKAR*, B. G. SHEKARA, K. N. KALYANAMURTHY AND B. S. LALITHA
Department of Agronomy
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK,
Bangalore (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail: somashekar.ks18@gmail.com)
(Received : 22 July 2014; Accepted : 20 November 2014)
SUMMARY
In Indian agriculture, livestock plays a pivotal role in the development and progress of mankind with crop production programme as a complementary enterprise. India accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the world’s livestock and 16.8 per cent human population with only 2.3 per cent of the world’s geographical area. In India, there is a deficit of green fodder during summer season. Hence, this paper reveals the various means to augment green fodder production through improved cultivars, scientific fodder management, forage and fodder production as mixed crop, intercrop in gardens, rice fallow areas, natural grass lands, tree fodder, problematic soils, etc. in order to supply the deficit green fodder to maintain livestock’s health and productivity.
Key words:Green fodder, augmentation, animal health, productivity