Animal Feed Resources and Current Patterns of Utilization in India | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Overview of Animal Feed Resources and Utilization Patterns in India

Estimated Feed Requirements

• The annual need for feeds and fodder in India is substantial, with 25.4 million tonnes of concentrates, 353.0 million tonnes of dry fodder, and 308.1 million tonnes of green fodder required.
• However, the actual availability falls short, with only 16.5 million tonnes of concentrates, 300.5 million tonnes of dry fodder, and 261.0 million tonnes of green fodder accessible.
• There exists a deficit of 44% in concentrates, 15% in dry fodder, and 38% in green fodder, leading to significant shortfalls in digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrients by 34% and 37%, respectively.

Trends in Milk Production

• Over the years, there has been a notable increase in milk production in India, rising from 17 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 88 million tonnes in 2004-05.
• This surge is attributed to extensive cross-breeding initiatives, particularly in cattle, and the use of higher quality feeds and fodder.
• Buffaloes, despite lacking significant development support, contribute approximately 55% of the total milk production.

Utilization of Crop Residues

• Crop residues and cellulose materials serve as crucial ruminant feeds in India, with cereal straws, notably rice straw, being the most abundant.
• However, these residues have low nitrogen and mineral content, high lignin and silica content, and subpar digestibility, unable to meet the maintenance needs of ruminants.
• To boost production levels, it is essential to supplement straws with concentrates and/or green fodders, but the availability of concentrate supplements is insufficient and costly.

Enhancing Nutrient Quality

• Efforts are underway to enhance the nutrient quality of straws and bagasse to bolster nutrient supply to livestock.
• An increase in the digestibility of dry matter from 40% to 44% can boost available energy by about 10%, thereby doubling the energy available for production.