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Business Model for Fodder Production

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 Business Model for Fodder Production
Magan Singh, Santosh Onte, Sanjeev Kumar and Susanta Dutta
Agronomy Section
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute Karnal-132001, Haryana

A business refers to enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional

activities. Businesses can be for-profit entities or non-profit organizations that operate to
fulfill a charitable mission or further a social cause. Businesses range in scale from a sole
proprietorship to an international corporation. In dairy farming, feed and fodder constitute
more than 70 per cent of expenditure. The fodder is the critical requirement for profitability
of dairy farming. The demand and supply estimates of dry and green fodder are given in
Table 1 and grazing resources are given in Table 2.

Table1. Demand and supply estimates of dry and green forages (million tonnes)

Year Demand Supply Deficit Deficit as %

Dry Green Dry Green Dry Green Dry Green

2010 508.9 816.8 453.2 525.5 55.72 291.3 10.95 35.66

2020 530.5 851.3 467.6 590.4 62.85 260.9 11.85 30.65

2030 568.1 911.6 500.0 687.4 68.07 224.2 11.98 24.59

2040 594.9 954.8 524.4 761.7 70.57 193.0 11.86 20.22

2050 631.0 1012.7 547.7 826.0 83.27 186.6 13.20 18.43

Table 2. Grazing resources in India

Resources Area Percentage (million ha) Percentage

Forests 69.41 22.70
Permanent pastures, grazing lands 10.90 3.60
Cultivable wasteland 13.66 4.50
Fallow land 24.99 8.10
Fallow land other than current fallows 10.19 3.30
Barren uncultivable wastelands 19.26 6.30
Total common property resources 54.01 54.01 17.70
17.70 other than forests

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Fodder commercialization Is the fodder business economically viable?
The financial viability of fodder was analysed in the Production and
Realizing these opportunities requires a business enabling environment
that supported with appropriate policy and regulatory framework for marketing business.

Opportunities in input and service supply for fodder production

Fodder as a crop did not get required government support. Fodder commercialization requires
ensuring availability of inputs such as seeds, equipment, and extension support and
knowledge access. The commercial seed firms need to rethink alternative models for making
fodder seeds more readily available. Bulking of indigenous fodder can also be promoted for
marketing.
Access to machinery through organized machinery contracting services support can be
supported in countries. Insurance of products can also be developed to mitigate against the
losses resulting from natural disasters. There is need for adequate extension and advisory
support to ensure proper agronomic practices in fodder production.

Opportunities for more and quality fodder

Quantity! Quality! Accessibility! Affordability! were highlighted as important indicators in
promoting fodder. Rangelands and fodder production need to be accorded special attention
for business. Resilient fodder production systems will require rehabilitation of degraded
rangelands. Irrigation and looking into climate-adapted forage varieties is a key for
promoting of business . In high potential areas, models for contracting large-scale producers
or land consolidation of small farms for fodder production at scale need to be explored.
Youth and women need to be considered in the various opportunities in fodder business.

Opportunities in post-harvest handling and tapping into emerging niche markets

There is need to enhance post-harvest management of various forages to retain their quality.
Losses need to be minimized by ensuring proper storage and machinery (e.g. for hay
harvesting and baling) for both large and small scale farmers. There are options for shared
storage facilities. There are concerns related to pest and diseases through transportation
fumigation needs to be put in place of storage of fodder produce.

National government policy, regulatory and institutional framework

Disregard for quality by suppliers calls for standards and regulations. Establishing fodder
standards and regulations coupled with codes of practice is key to a robust fodder value
chain. Fodder quality standards and regulations (e.g. per bale) need to be enforced. The
private sector should drive the quality agenda. Although a national fodder policy is necessary,
a national strategy that engages all stakeholders was deemed more crucial at the moment.
Research, innovation and extension opportunities
Development of demand-driven collaborative and multidisciplinary research agenda was
proposed. The areas of research include best practices for increasing fodder productivity
including suitability of different forages to different agro-ecological zones, pasture
improvement, animal nutrition, fodder conservation and on control of invasive species. The
research needs to inform policy and practice.
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 Fig 1. Classification of feed stuffs
Different forms of fodder/ products for commercialization
1. Green Cut fodder/ Chaffed fodder
2. Dried fodder/ Chaffed kadabi
3. Silage
4. Hay
5. Seed
6. Feed pellets
7. Complete feed block
8. Complete leaf meal
9. Vermicompost
10. Mineral feed block
11. Bales

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 Different cereal and leguminous fodder crops
1. Cowpea / Lobia (Vigna unguiculata L.)
It is an annual crop.
This crop is grown in tropics, sub-tropics and warm temperature regions.
It is grown for feeding in green form, for hay making or for ensiling in mixtures with
sorghum or maize.
It can be grown during kharif, Rabi and summer seasons.
It is suitable for year round cultivation.
Varieties include Co 5, Russian giant, EC 4216, UPC - 287 and local varieties.
Recommended seed rate - 40 kg/ha.
Harvest at 50-55 days after sowing (50% flowering stage).
Variety Co 5 is suitable for growing under irrigated conditions (June - July).

2. Desmanthus- Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus subulatus)

Desmanthus is a perennial crop.
It is grow throughout the year under irrigation and during June - October as a rainfed crop.
Sow the seeds at 20 kg/ha in solid stand on the side of the ridges over the lines where fertilizers
are applied at a depth of 2 cm and cover with soil.
Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in a week.
First cut on 90th day after sowing at 50 cm height and subsequent cuts at intervals of 40 days at
the same height.
Green fodder yield is 80-100 t/ha/year.

3. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)

Lucerne is also termed `Queen of forages'.
It is a deep rooted perennial forage legume adapted to a wide range of conditions ranging from
tropical to alpine.
It is very palatable and nutritious forage legume containing 15 - 20% crude protein on dry matter
basis
Lucerne adds nitrogen to soil and improves soil fertility.
It is grown for green fodder, hay, silage but does not tolerate close grazing.
Varieties include Anand 2, Sirsa - 9, IGFRI S - 244, and Co 1.
Variety Co1 is suitable for growing during July - December.
Not suitable for very hot and very cold climates.
Recommended seed rate --20 kg/ha.
First harvest 75 - 80 days after sowing. Subsequent harvests are made at intervals of 25 - 30
days.

STYLO (Stylosanthes guianensis)

Stylo is an erect growing perennial forage legume native of Brazil.
It grows 0.6 to 1.8 m tall.
Stylo is adapted to tropical climate and tolerant to low fertility soils, acidic soils and soils with
poor drainage.

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 Stylos are drought resistant legumes coming up well in areas receiving a minimum rainfall of
450 - 840 mm annually.
The crude protein content of stylos ranges from 15 to 18%.
Season is June - July to September - October.
For line sowing (30 x 15 cm), the seed rate is 6 kg/ha and for broadcasting 10 kg/ha.
First harvest can be taken 75 days after sowing at flowering stage and subsequent harvests
depending upon the growth.
It is to be noted that during the first year, the establishment after sowing is very slow and the
yield is low.
Later on when the crop establishes well due to self seeding it yields 30 to 35 t/ha/year from the
third year onwards.
Stylo is a good pasture legume.

Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)

Berseem is one of the king of
.
Berseem is highly palatable fodder and it contains 17% crude protein and 25.9% crude fibre. The
total digestible nutrients content is 60-65%. Berseem contains saponins, if fed in high quantity to
ruminants leads to bloat.
Though a migrant from Egypt, it has established in this region for the last 60 years and may well
be considered as a native of India.
Ten to fifteen kg of fodder alone with straw constitutes a maintenance ration. It can support
growth and milk production on ad lib feeding, balanced by straws.
It does not tolerate acidic soils but grows in other kinds of soils except usar lands.
The crop is sown from middle of September to end of October in plains and from middle of
August to first week of September in hills. This crop requires a thorough preparation of land.
Berseem is now available in another form called Giant berseem.
The seed rate of ordinary diploid berseem is 20-25 kg that of giant berseem is 30-35 kg per
hectare.
The crop is ready in 55-60 days after sowing for the first cutting. Subsequent cuttings are taken
at 30 days interval during winter and spring. In all 5-6 cuttings can be obtained up to middle of
May.
The total yield obtained may vary between 500-600 quintals/ hectare.
For taking the seeds, plots are left uncut after February and in that case 4-5 quintals seeds per
hectare may be obtained.
Varieties :Mescawi, Vardhaman, JB-1, 2 and 3, UPB 103, Pusa giant, Khadarvi, Chindwara

Cereal Fodders

1. Fodder maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize is an annual crop.
It is grown on a variety of soils, but well drained fertile soils are best suited.

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 Maize is mostly grown as kharif crop i.e. sowing in June - July. In south India it makes
best growth in rabi and also in summer.
It can be grown throughout the year with irrigation facility.
African tall, Vijay composite, Moti composite, Ganga - 5 and Jawahar are some
important fodder varieties.
Maintain a seed rate of 40 kg/ha and dibble one seed to a spacing of 15cm between the
seeds in the row which are 30 cm apart.
The average green fodder yield is 40-50 t/ha and the dry matter yield is 10-15 t/ha.
Staggered sowing is recommended for supply of green fodder for a long period.
Harvest the crop when the cob is in the milky stage.

2. Fodder Sorghum - / Jowar ( Sorghum bicolor L.)

It is cultivated mainly for grain and also for fodder.
Sorghum is a drought resistant annual crop.
It thrives in tropical climate with a temperature range of 25-35oC.
It is not suited to higher elevations (more than 1200 m).
It can be grown under an annual rainfall of 300-350 mm.
It can be grown on any soil except on very sandy soils.
Suitable varieties for irrigated area (Jan - Feb and Apr - May) are Co.11, Co. 27, Co.F.S. 29
Suitable varieties for Rainfed conditions (Jun - Jul) are Co.11, Co27, Co.F.S.29
Suitable varieties for Rainfed conditions (Sep - Oct) are K7, Co.27, Co.F.S. 29,K 10
Co.F.S. 29 is a multicut variety and released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during 2001.
It is cross between TNFS 9602 and Sudan grass.
Seed rate is 40 kg/ha (only 12.5 kg/ha for Co.F.S. 29).
Sorghum can be harvested after flowering stage for green fodder.
If it is a single cut, it should be harvested at 60-65 days (50% flowering) after sowing and if it is
a multicut, the first cut is 60 days after sowing and subsequently once in 40 days.
For Co. F.S. 29, each harvest has to be done at 65 days interval (5 harvests in a year).

3. Teosinte (Euchlaena Mexicana L.)

Tall, leafy succulent, annual plant
Grown in area with excess rainfall
Seed rate of 40kg/ha

4. Oats- (Avena sativa L.)

Oat is the most important cereal fodder crop grown in winter in north western, central India and
is now extending to the eastern region.
It is important winter forage in many parts of the world and is grown as multipurpose crop for
grain, pasture, forage or as a rotation crop. Oats are consumed as human food and fodder for
cattle.
Oat grows best in loam to clay loam soil with adequate drainage.
A seed rate of 80 100 kg/ha is recommended for uniform stand in oats. Low tillering varieties
should be sown with 20 25 cm row-to-row spacing while high tillering type should be sown at

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 30 cm apart
In general, addition of 20 25 t/ha of FYM 10 15 days before sowing with the application of 80
kg N, 40 kg P2O5/ha to single cut and 120 kg N, 40 kg K2O/ha to multicut varieties promotes
good crop growth
In double and multicut varieties, top dressing of 40 kg N/ha after first cut and two equal split
doses of 40 kg N/ha after first and second cut should be done, respectively.
The harvesting of single cut oat varieties is done at 50 per cent flowering (about 50 55 days of
sowing). In double cut varieties, first cut should be taken at 60 days followed by second cut at
50% flowering.
Varieties: HFO-114, Kent, UPO-94,OS-6,OS-7, Harita (RO -19), Bundel jai 2004 (JHO 2000-4)

Grass Fodders

1. Hybrid Napier/Bajra Napier Hybrid:( Pennisetum purpureum L.)

This is a perennial grass fodder.
It possesses more tillers and leaves than Napier grass and is more vigorous and higher in fodder
yield and quality.
Crude protein ranges from 8 to 11%.
Co.CN4 is a recent hybrid Napier grass released by TNAU, Coimbatore, which is a cross
between Cumbu Co.8 and Napier grass F.T.461. Yield range is 380-400 tons/ha. It produces
more tillers with soft and juicy stem, free from pest and diseases and non-lodging. It can be
cultivated throughout the year under irrigated conditions.
KKM-1 Cumbu Napier: This is a hybrid grass that gives average green fodder yield of 288
tonnes per ha per year. The quality is good with high calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and
very low oxalate content.
Pusa Giant, NB 21, NB 37, IGFRI 5, IGFRI 7 and IGFRI 10 (developed from Indian Grassland
Research Institute, Jhansi) are superior hybrids developed in India.
Co1, Co2 and Co3 are also superior varieties released from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
These varieties are suitable for growing throughout the year in all districts of Tamil Nadu.
40,000 slips are required to plant one hectare.
First harvest is to be done on 75 to 80 days after planting and subsequent harvests at intervals of
45 days.
HN grass can be intercropped with Desmanthus at 3:1 ratio and can be harvested together and
fed to the animals.

2. Guinea grass (Panicum maximum L.)

It is a tall (1-4.5 m), tufted and fast growing highly palatable perennial grass.
It has short creeping rhizome.
Establishes readily by seed or plantation of rooted slips.
Crude protein ranges from 4 to 14%.
Hamil, PPG -14, Makuni, Rivers-dale are some of the varieties.
Co1 and Co 2 are varieties of guinea grass released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

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 Suitable for all types of soil with good drainage.
Does not come up well on heavy clay soil or flooded or waterlogged conditions.
Seed Rate: Seed 2.5 kg/ha , Slips 66,000 nos./ha
Spacing: 50 x 30 cm.
First cut 75- 80 days after germination or 45 days after planting of slips. Subsequent cuts at
intervals of 45 days.
Green fodder yield is 175 tonnes /ha per year in 8 cuts.
Guinea grass can be intercropped with Hedge Lucerne (Velimasal) at 3:1 ratio and can be
harvested together and fed to the animals.

3. Para Grass (Brachiaria mutica L.)

It is a perennial grass suitable for cultivation in humid areas.
It is grown in seasonally flooded valleys and lowlands and can withstand water logging and long
term flooding.
It cannot grow on dry lands in arid or semi - arid areas.
It is sensitive to cold and makes little or no growth during winter months in sub-tropical regions
of India.
Water logged soils are best suited for this crop.
It can be grown on sandy soils also, provided water supply is sufficient.
Seed setting is very poor in this grass. It is propagated exclusively by stem cuttings.
It can be planted at any time in South Indian conditions, but June - July planting is advisable
under rainfed.
There are no improved varieties of this grass (only local).
Thin shoots are used as planting material. Stems with 2-3 nodes are planted in 45-60 cm rows at
20 cm spacing. The stems are pressed into wet soil leaving the two ends sticking up.
800-1000 kg of stem cuttings are needed for planting one hectare.
The first cut is taken 75-80 days after planting and the subsequent cuts at 40-45 days interval.
Totally, 6-9 cuts can be taken in a year with an average green fodder yield of 80-100 t/ha.
This grass is fed in the green form and is not suitable for conservation either as hay or as silage.

4. Blue buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.)

This is a perennial grass highly suitable for pasture land.
Cenchrus is a promising green grass type which performs well in dryland cultivation under
rainfed conditions.
Cenchrus cilliaris (Anjan grass) and C. setigerus (Black anjan grass) are the two commonly
grown species but low yielding in nature.
C. glaucus is yet another type found to grow well in dry land areas but superior than the other
species.
Well drained soil with high calcium content is suitable.
Seed required is 6-8 kg/ha.
First harvest on 70th or 75th days after sowing and subsequently 4-6 cuts depending on growth.
A pure crop yields 40 t/ha/year in 4-6 cuts.

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Tree fodders

1. Subabul - (Leucaena leucocephala L.)

This is fast spreading fodder tree which produces enormous seeds.

Suitable season for sowing is June-July.
Varieties- Hawaiian giant (lvory coast) and Co1.
Rainfed: (Sep - Oct) K 8, Giant lpil lpil and Co 1.
Plants can be harvested in as early as 6 months after planting. However, the initial cutting should
not be done until the trunk has attained at least 3 cm diameter or the plant has completed one
seed production cycle.
Harvests can be repeated once in 40 - 80 days depending upon growth and season.
In drought prone areas, allow the trees to grow for two years to ensure deep root penetration
before commencing harvest.
The trees can be cut at 90 to 100 cm height from ground level.
As green fodder under irrigated conditions, a pure crop yields about 80 to 100 t/ha of green
fodder.
Under rainfed conditions 40 t/ha of green fodder is got after 2 years of initial growth and pruning
to a height of 100 cm.

2. Glyricidia (Glyricidia sepium L.)

It is a small, semi-deciduous tree with pale bark.
Glyricidia sepium and Glyricidia maculata are the two species available.
G. maculata is more useful as green leaf manure. It also fixes atmospheric nitrogen and thereby
improves soil fertility.
G. sepium tolerates a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. Growth is most rapid in
regions where annual rainfall exceeds 900 mm, but it will grow where rainfall is as low as 400
mm per annum.
It grows in soils ranging from heavy clays to sands and on rocky eroded sites; however, it is
intolerant of water logging.
The plant is used for fuel wood, animal feed, green manure, shade, poles, and living fences and
as support plants.
Used as an ornamental and as a shade tree for coffee.
Propagated through seed or cuttings.
It is able to produce profuse branching and fresh growth after every cutting.
If cultivated along the border in one heactare, it will supply enough green leaf manure for 2 to
2.5 hectares of land.

3. Sesbania (Sesbania grandiflora L.)

The leaves of Sesbania trees are highly palatable and well liked by goats.
The protein content in this is about 25%.
Grown throughout the year under irrigation.
Comes up in soils with good drainage.

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 Seed rate is 7.5 kg /ha, sow the seeds at a spacing of 100 cm x 100 cm (100 cm between ridges
and 100 cm between plants within the ridge).
First cut after 8 months and subsequent harvests at an interval of 60-80 days.
Green fodder yield of 100 tonnes per year is obtained from one hectare.

Hydroponic technology
The hydroponic is a subset of hydroculture and the most common soil-less method of growing plants.
Plants can be grown either on an inert substrate (e.g. sand, perlite or gravel) in an aqueous medium with
bare roots. The substrate can provide plant support and moisture retention. Irrigation systems are

green fodder produced from hydroponic technology contains roughly 16 18 percent protein.This
intervention is designed to urgently minimize the devastating effects of external shocks, while a longer-
term development approach to tackle the root causes of vulnerability to shocks is being assessed.

Chain of Fodder Production

Price of different products of forages

S.No Crops Price/kg
1 Oat 25
2 Berseem 140
3 Cowpea 70
4 Sorghum 50
5 Maize 40
6 Lucerne 300
7 Guar 140
8 Bajra 70
9 Chinese cabbage 70

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10 Dhaincha 50
11 Subabool 250
12 Panicum maximum 400
13 Chrysopogon fulvus 400
14 Sehima nervosum 400
15 Cenchrus ciliaris 400
16 Cenchrus setigerus 400
17 Dichanthium annulatum 250
18 Bothriochloa pertusa 400
19 Para grass 400
20 Heteropogon contortus 400
21 Brachiaria 400
22 Clitoria trenatea 200
23 Rod grass 400
24 Hybrid Napier grass 0.75 per Rooted slip
25 Guinea grass 0.50 per rooted slip
26 Cenchrus ciliaris 0.50 per rooted slip

Others forms of fodder

27 Feed Pallet 16
28 Mineral Mixture (Area 65
Specific)
29 Vermi compost 7
30 Silage 5.5-6
31 Lucerne hay 38
32 Grass hay 29
33 Hay (sorghum) 15-17
34 Grass hay block 500 per 50 kg
35 Animal mineral block 80
Lucerne hay block 38 per kg

Conclusions
Forages when combined with other feed ingredients, concentrate rations or when value added by
treating with urea or making urea molasses mineral block (UMMB), will be more nutritive and
give better results. So, along with commercialization of livestock industry, there is need of
commercialization in the field of fodder and pasture development also.
Making of feed blocks as value added products will be more nutritive and remunerative.
Higher value of fodder seed production viz. Berseem, Lucerne, Rye grass, Sugar graze, Sugar
beet, Chinese cabbage etc., may be included for advantageous to the growers for fodder
production.
Dried forages can also be used for making of organic manure like Vermicompost and poultry
compost (Dried fodder used as litter material) which can be enrich the soil health may be
promoted for dried fodder use during surplus period.
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