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Fodder production is one of the most important
activities in dairying contributing to the
profitability of the business. It is also one of the
areas that is neglected most often. Fodder
provides an economic nutrient source which
is highly relished by the animals. A year round
supply of fodder can be assured if farmers
cultivate seasonal and perennial fodder crops
by adopting suitable crop sequences and
surplus green fodder is preserved properly
in times of abundance for use during lean
periods. There are various processes by which
this can be done.
Most of the farmers in our country depend
on crop residues to sustain dairying.
However, these crop residues are very low in
nutritive value which needs to be enriched
before feeding to the animals to increase its
digestibility and palatability. The following
chapters are included under this section:
A. Importance of green fodder in milk
production.
B. Fodder conservation.
C. Urea ammonia treatment of crop residues.
D. Fodder mowers and pick-up devices.
E. Package of practices of important fodder
crops in India.
SECTION II
FODDER PRODUCTION