FODDER PRODUCTION AND FEEDING PATTERN STUDIES IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Two villages from each of three blocks, representing Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, were
randomly selected to collect information regarding fodder production and feeding patterns of different
farm categories. Information was collected from all categories of households by personal interview.
It was found that berseem was main green fodder crop during January to April and chari main
fodder crop during July to October. Concentrate mixture consisted of mainly grain (wheat and
barley) grain products (gram chunni or wheat bran or rice bran). All the farmers fed common salt to the animals in a limited amount separately once a week. The amount of concentrate fed to the
pregnant cows varied between 0.45 to 0.77 kg and for buffalo 0.5 to 0.75 kg per day per animal.
Amount of fodder fed to the milking animals by different categories of farmers was higher than that of pregnant and dry animals. The amount of concentrate varied between 1.17 to 1.49 kg and 1.08 to 1.46 kg in case of milch cow and buffalo. The amount of concentrate varied between 0.102 to 0.39 kg and 0.192 to 0.29 kg in case of dry cow and buffalo, respectively.