Feeding and Management of Animals under Droughts, Flood and Other Natural Calamities | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

Livestock farming is a crucial aspect of agriculture, providing various products like meat, milk, and wool. However, one of the major challenges faced by livestock farmers is ensuring an adequate supply of animal feed, particularly roughages such as dried grasses. Roughages constitute a significant portion of the diet for animals like cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, providing essential nutrients and fiber necessary for their health and productivity.

During periods of drought, shortages of animal feed, especially roughages, become prevalent. This scarcity adversely affects the supply of food for livestock, as dried roughages alone contribute to over 60 to 80 percent of the dry matter and digestible nutrients (DN) required by these animals. Droughts are particularly problematic in certain regions, with areas like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan experiencing higher variability in monsoon rainfall, leading to increased vulnerability to fodder scarcity.

Transporting feed and fodder to drought-affected areas becomes challenging during such times, exacerbating the situation. Unlike grains, which can be transported for human consumption, roughages are bulkier and more perishable, making their transportation over long distances difficult. Consequently, the livestock population in drought-affected areas suffers due to inadequate feed supply.

To address these challenges, various strategies can be employed. In regions where commercial crops continue to be cultivated despite drought conditions, by-products from these crops can be utilized to meet immediate livestock feed requirements. Additionally, drought-resistant vegetation, combined with non-protein nitrogen (NPN) sources like urea and energy sources like molasses, can serve as alternative feed options.

Drought-Resistant Vegetation

Certain plants are known for their resilience to drought conditions and are commonly grown for use as cattle fodder:

• Kans (Saccharum spontaneum): This grass grows abundantly throughout India and is often used for thatching purposes. Kans fodder, especially when harvested at the pre-flowering stage, provides a maintenance ration for cattle and can be fed as a single feed. It has superior nutritive value compared to straws, with a digestible crude protein (DCP) content of 0.3 percent and total digestible nutrients (TDN) of about 40 percent. Kans can also be conserved as silage or hay for use during periods of scarcity.
• Munj (Erianthas munja Roxb): Munj is a weed that grows extensively in various parts of the country and is commonly used for thatching huts. While it lacks DCP and has low energy value, it can still be used as fodder, especially when mixed with molasses to enhance palatability. Munj can also be impregnated with urea and molasses to improve its nutritional value and serve as a maintenance ration for livestock.
• Lemon Grass (Andropogon citratus): Widely grown in forest areas of Kerala, lemon grass is valued for its essential oil. Spent lemon grass, a by-product of the lemon grass industry, is superior to cereal straw in terms of palatability and nutritional value. A feed formulation using spent lemon grass, wheat bran, molasses, groundnut cake, mineral mixture, and salt can provide a suitable maintenance ration for adult cattle.
• Gokhru: This plant is prevalent in North India and thrives even during failed monsoons. Gokhru is relished by sheep, making it a valuable fodder source, particularly during dry periods.

Tree Leaves and Shrubs for Feed

• When there's a shortage of regular livestock feed, alternative sources like tree leaves, shrubs, weeds, and grasses are used.
• These materials provide essential nutrients for livestock during scarcity periods.
• Different types of tree leaves have different nutritional compositions. Generally, young leaves contain more protein and less fiber compared to mature leaves.
• Certain tree leaves are preferred for their nutritional value and availability. For example:
  • Pipal (Ficus religiosa)
  • Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus)
  • Pakar (Ficus infectoria)
  • Mulberry (Morus astrictus)
  • Tapioca (Manihot esculenta)
  • Adu Bakli (Anogeissus latifolia)
  • Sahinjana (Moringa oleifera)
• Shrubs like Besi, Acacia, Bekariya (Indigofera cardifolia), and Khejes (Prosopis spicigera) also serve as good fodder for certain livestock during scarcity.

Straws and Crop Residues

• Straws from crops like wheat, paddy, and other grains can be utilized as feed during scarcity periods.
• These crop residues are collected from previous harvests and stored for later use.
• To enhance their nutritional value, straws can be treated with additives like urea, mineral mixtures, and salt.
• Additionally, by-products like bagasse (sugarcane residue) and sugarcane tops can also serve as feed for livestock.

Agro-Industrial By-Products

• Various by-products from agro-industrial processes can be repurposed as livestock feed.
• Examples include:
  • Mahua cake
  • Salseed cake
  • Neem seed cake
  • Distillery waste
  • Tapioca waste
  • Molasses press mud
  • Seaweeds
• These by-products offer alternative sources of nutrients and can help mitigate feed shortages during drought or scarcity conditions.

Ration Formulation for Drought Conditions

• During drought or scarcity conditions, it's essential to formulate balanced rations to ensure the nutritional needs of livestock are met.
• An example ration for adult non-producing cattle (150-300 kg body weight) may include:
  • Barley: 30 kg
  • Molasses: 2 kg
  • Sugarcane tops: 10 kg
  • Urea: 0.4 kg
  • Bone meal: 30 g (twice a week)
  • Mineral mixture: 0.5 kg
  • Vitamin A supplement: 8000 IU

Key Points

• Alternative sources like tree leaves, shrubs, and crop residues are utilized as feed during feed shortages.
• Agro-industrial by-products provide additional options to supplement livestock feed.
• Formulating balanced rations is crucial to ensure the health and productivity of livestock during drought or scarcity conditions.