Types of feed and their importance in animal nutrition
Cattle fodder is essential for maintaining animal health, improving milk yield and enhancing the overall farm productivity. In India, animal feed is broadly classified into green fodder, dry fodder, concentrate feed, preserved fodder and tree fodder, each contributing unique nutrients necessary for balance cattle nutrition. Green fodder provides moisture, vitamins, and digestible nutrients. The examples are bajra-napier hybrids, berseem, lucerne, maize and sorghum. Leguminous fodder like berseem and lucerne are especially valued for their high protein content, which supports milk production and muscle development. Lucerne is also called as queen of fodder. The caution to be taken while using sorghum as green fodder as it contains hydrocyanic acid, especially in the young plans and when cultivated in drought stress conditions. High HCN is toxic to cattle and should be fed only after proper maturation.
Dry fodder supplies essential roughage for the animal health. It includes paddy straw, wheat straw, groundnut haulms and sorghum stover. Though they are low in protein, it provides necessary fibre and is often mixed with green fodder. Concentrate feeds are nutrient dense, which includes oil cakes, grains and bran. These are very significant for high yielding dairy cows, pregnant animals and growing calves due to their high protein and energy content. Silage made from maize and sorghum provides energy rich feed during the lean period.
Tree fodders are traditional source in many regions. Tress like subabul, banyan etc., provide protein rich leaves during dry seasons when green fodder is scarce. Tree fodders also support sustainable farming by preventing soil erosion and offering year round availability.
