Lok Sabha Question No. 1945 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Increasing Nutrition in Fodder
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND FISHERIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1945

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2017

## INCREASING NUTRITION IN FODDER

## 1945. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking any policy measures to increase quantum of nutrition in fodder of livestock;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  fresh  research  work  carried  out  by  various  agriculture  institutions  with regard to development of fodders and increasing quantum of nutrition therein during the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) and (b) Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF), Government of India  has  already  taken  necessary  steps  to  increase  fodder  production  in  various  parts  of  the country by providing financial assistance to the farmers/ Co-operatives through the States/UTs under Centrally Sponsored National Livestock Mission with a Sub Mission on Feed and Fodder Development under the following components.

|   S. No. | Name of the Components                                                                                                   |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Fodder Production from Non-forest wasteland/rangeland/grassland/non-arable land                                          |
|        2 | Fodder production from Forest land                                                                                       |
|        3 | Fodder Seed Procurement/ Production & Distribution                                                                       |
|        4 | Introduction of Hand Driven Chaff-Cutter                                                                                 |
|        5 | Introduction of Power Driven Chaff-Cutter                                                                                |
|        6 | Distribution of low capacity, tractor mountable Fodder Block Making units, hay baling machines/reapers/forage harvesters |
|        7 | Establishment of silage making Units                                                                                     |
|        8 | Establishment of by-pass protein production units                                                                        |
|        9 | Establishment of Area Specific Mineral Mixture / Feed Pelleting/ Feed Manufacturing Unit.                                |
|       10 | Establishment/modernization of Feed Testing Laboratories                                                                 |

(c ) The research work done and recently initiated at Indian Council of Agriculture

Research - Indian Grassland Fodder Research Institute Jhansi is as follows

Bio-fortification of oats for Zn and other essential elements: Recently a project on bio-fortification of oats for increasing endogenous Zn level has been started. In this, we are screening 300 germplasm of fodder oat for its Zn content and higher Zn containing lines will be used to develop high yielding high Zn lines. In addition, effect of application of Zn to soil on its immobilization in leaves will be studied under this project.

## High sugar genotypes of Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel grass L.) for silage making

A  representative set  comprising  91  genotypes  of  Cenchrus  ciliaris (Buffel grass) maintained  at  ICAR-Indian  Grassland  and  Fodder  Research  Institute,  Jhansi,  were evaluated for two consecutive years for water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and biomass yield  potential.  From  this  13  genotypes  with  high  WSC  content  (>70  mg/g)  were identified.  Out  of  these,  three  genotypes  viz.,  IG96-358,  IG96-96  and  IG96-50  were found  at  par  of  check  varieties  (cv.  Bundel  Anjan-1  and  Bundel  Anjan-3)  in  biomass production  potential.  Sugar  rich  genotypes  were  further  multiplied  and  used  for  silage preparation. Based on silage quality parameters four genotypes namely IG96-358, IG9696,  IG96-401  and  IG96-50  were  found  better  than  others.  The  lactic  acid  and  pH contents of silage prepared form these genotypes ranged between 1.30 to 3.0% DM and 5.1-5.9,  respectively.  This  preliminary  screening  of  Cenchrus  ciliaris  genotypes  indicate that these genotypes had potential to prepare moderate quality silage. It is probably early study where range grasses have been screened for sugar contents and subsequently for silage preparation.

Identified  genotypes  possess  adequate  sugar  content  and  have  promise  to  prepare  the moderate quality silage for livestock feeding during lean period.