Ensuring year-round provision of green fodder for a single adult cattle unit poses a significant challenge, especially in regions with distinct seasons. However, with careful planning and the use of a variety of forage crops including legumes, grains and perennial grasses, it is possible to maintain a consistent supply of green fodder. Factors such as cattle type, weight, activity levels and the nutritional quality of the fodder all influence the amount of green fodder required by adult cattle. Adequate green fodder intake is crucial for meeting their nutritional needs and maintaining optimal health and productivity. This underscores the importance of exploring sustainable strategies for year-round green fodder provision highlighting the vital role of forage crop diversity in meeting the dietary needs of adult cattle. The research experiment took place at the Research Farm of the Division of Agronomy, SKUAST- Jammu spanning two consecutive years from 2020-2021 to 2021-2022. The experimental layout consisted of eight treatments arranged in three staggered configurations during both kharif and rabi seasons alongside perennial fodders planted along the borders. The design employed a randomized block design (RBD) and was replicated three times. Significantly higher system productivity was recorded with Multicut Bajra + Cowpea - Berseem + Oats with Root slips of Napier planted in July. Multicut Sorghum + Cowpea - Lucerne + Oat with stem cuttings of Setaria planted in January recorded maximum land requirement for 1 ACU and 10 ACU&rsquo;s whereas minimum land requirement for 1 ACU and 10 ACU&rsquo;s was observed in Multicut Bajra + Maize - Berseem + Barley with root slips of Napier planted in July.

Adult Cattle Unit based Fodder Model for Supplementing Round the Year Green Fodder in Irrigated Subtropics of Jammu and Kashmir: A Review

<div>Background: Long-term and stable livestock productivity could be possible only through a year-round supply of quality green fodder and it is essential for the sustainability of dairy farms. The year-round supply of quality green fodder is challenging to livestock farmers; however, it is possible by adopting perennial grass-legume intercropping systems.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment with eight treatments consisting of two perennial grasses (Napier- bajra hybrid grass and guinea grass) alone or in combination with three fodder legumes (Lucerne, Hedge Lucerne and Sesbania) was conducted for 3 years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19) in a sandy loam soil at the Agricultural Research Institute, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad. The treatments were replicated thrice in a randomized block design. Perennial grasses were raised in paired row method (row to row 120cm and plant to plant 60 cm. The legume intercrops were grown with their respective spacing within 120 cm row. Sesbania inter crop was allowed to grow for 6 months and later trimmed to a height of 1 meter in the establishment year. Growth parameters were measured only for grasses at each harvesting and green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields were recorded for both grasses and legumes at each cut and accumulated annually (total 6 cuts/year) for statistical analyses.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results indicated that among the grasses, Napier-bajra hybrid recorded significantly higher green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields; in case of leguminous inter crops, Sesbania recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields followed by Hedge Lucerne. About total productivity of the system, Napier-bajra hybrid + Sesbania (2:1) cropping system recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields. Highest net returns and B:C ratio was also noted with Napier bajra hybrid +Sesbania (2:1) cropping system and proved to be the best perennial fodder system for year-round supply fodder to the livestock.</div>

Evaluation of Perennial Grass-legume Cropping Systems for Year-round Supply of Fodder for Dairy Farms

<div>Background: Indian farmers are facing shortage of green and dry fodders to feed their livestock during dry period (lean period) which possess a major hurdle in improving livestock productivity. This study delineates, pelleting of green, dry fodders and concentraes in order to meet out the fodder requirement during winter/lean period, which will in turn consequently improve livestock productivity. 
 
Methods: The experiments were conducted at Forage Pelleting Unit, Department of Forage Crops in Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu from December 2020 to June 2022 to identify the best suitable fodder crops for pellets production. Three laboratory experiments laid out in completely randomized block design (CRD) were conducted with three replication. Each experiment of pelletisation had different treatments, viz., experiment I with 13 different categories of green fodder, experiment II with 11 different types of dry fodders and experiment III with 9 types of concentrates.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The observation of physical characteristics (colour and odour) and sensory characteristics (mould) were noted at regular intervals from date of pelleting, 60 days after pelleting, 120 days after pelleting and 180 days after pelleting. The mechanical characteristics such as pellet durability index (PDI) was recorded by using a tumbling can apparatus. The PDI was remained steady over the period of time. In case of pellets made from certain fodder sources, the colour was not the same and odour was not favourable when the pellets were kept for longer duration (beyond 120 DAP). Except for the agathi pellets, cumbu stover pellets and sorghum grain pellets, all other feed pellets were mold-free.</div>

Effect of Storage Period on Physical, Sensory and Mechanical Characteristics of Green Fodders Pellets, Dry Fodders Pellets and Concentrates Pellets

<div style="text-align: justify;">Field experiments were carried out at Mountain Livestock Research Institute (MLRI), Manasbal, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir, India to study the direct and residual effect of different rates of organic and chemical sources of nutrients on fodder sorghum-fodder oat cropping sequence during Kharif 2008, 2009 and rabi 2008-09, 2009-10. Application of FYM @ 25tonnes recorded &nbsp;higher green fodder yield of sorghum than rest of treatments. The physical optimum dose of direct+residual effect of FYM on fodder sorghum-fodder oat sequence was 25.49 t ha-1 and economic optimum dose 12.63 t ha-1. Applying 120, 80 and 30 (N, P2O5, K2O kg ha-1) &nbsp;was found superior in green fodder yield than rest of treatments. However, physical optimum dose due to direct +residual effect of N, P2O5 and K2O on fodder sorghum-fodder oat was 134.19 , 67.07 &nbsp;and 33.54 kg ha-1 &nbsp;and mean total economic optimum dose was found to be 128.0, 64.19 and 32.62 NPK kg ha-1 &nbsp;respectively.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Direct and residual effect of organic and chemical sources of nutrients on fodder sorghum-fodder oat cropping sequence</div>

<div>Background: The study reported in this research is to assess the methane reduction potential of hydroponic fodders and its novel combination with anionic salts on the serum calcium level in transition cows, the period cows are prone to metabolic disorders.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A growth trial of hydroponic fodders to assess the biomass yield and an in vitro gas production study was conducted to assess the methane production on inclusion of different hydroponic fodders with that of conventionally cultivated fodders along with paddy straw and concentrate feed. A feeding trial was also conducted in 16 transition cows (farm and field conditions) to assess the serum calcium level through feeding anionic salts viz., calcium sulphide and magnesium chloride along with hydroponic fodder bajra.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Significantly (P&lt;0.05) lowest methane production was observed in paddy straw, hydroponic fodder bajra, concentrate feed group compared to other treatment groups. Anionic salts supplementation for three weeks prior to calving resulted in significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in the serum calcium levels. In post supplementation, average increase in serum calcium level is 0.93 mg/dl, an increase by 10.80 per cent. Further, feeding cost of anionic salts (Calcium sulphide and magnesium chloride) for three weeks (21 days) is only INR 55.65/-.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</div>

Methane Reduction Potential of Hydroponic Fodders and Combination of Hydroponic Fodder Bajra with Anionic Salts in Increasing Serum Calcium Level of Transition Cows

Background: The profitability of ruminant production hinges on the reliable availability of top-quality fodder. Nevertheless, a concerning issue is emerging: a substantial gap between the supply and demand of fodder. This imbalance predominantly affects small and marginal dairy farmers, who possess limited land. These farmers prioritize cash crop cultivation on their available land while dedicating only minimal space to fodder production. The rising cost of external feed supplements further intensifies the burden, affecting both milk yield and animal health. Inadequate fodder leads to nutritional deficiencies, reduced reproductive efficiency and increased susceptibility to diseases. Ensuring year-round access to diverse, nutrient-rich green fodder is, therefore, essential for improving livestock productivity and farmer income. Integrated fodder production models that maximize yield even in limited spaces can serve as a sustainable solution. Empowering farmers with low-cost, space-efficient techniques for cultivating multiple fodder types can significantly bridge the gap and support resilient dairy farming systems. 
 
Methods: In this regard, to address the prevailing fodder scarcity challenge, Bhagavatula Charitable Trust&ndash;Krishi Vigyan Kendra (BCT-KVK), Anakapalli, has been actively demonstrating a multi-cut fodder production model in a compact area of 10 cents. This model is specifically designed to enable small to medium-scale dairy farmers to access a consistent and diverse supply of green fodder throughout the year in its operational villages across the Anakapalli district. The demonstration plot incorporates a strategic mix of high-biomass-yielding grasses like Super Napier, cereal fodders (such as fodder maize and sorghum) and leguminous fodders (like cowpea and hedge lucerne) thereby ensuring a balanced nutritional profile for ruminants. In addition, tree fodders such as Subabul, Sesbania, Moringa and Glyricidia are planted around the boundaries to serve as a perennial source of green fodder and to provide essential vitamins and minerals. This integrated approach contrasts with the conventional practice of feeding carbohydrate-dominant grasses alone, which often leads to poor nutrient balance, reduced milk productivity and subclinical deficiencies. The model is designed for continuous harvesting and re-growth, ensuring sustainable fodder availability and minimizing the dependency on purchased feed resources. 
 
Result: With the multi-cut fodder production model, farmers obtained average milk yields of 2,500-3,000 litres per lactation in crossbred HF cows. The average milk fat and SNF content were consistently above 4% and 8%, respectively. This improvement is attributed to the year-round availability of nutritious green fodder, which enhanced rumen function, digestion and overall animal health. The inclusion of leguminous and tree fodders helped bridge nutrient gaps, leading to better metabolic efficiency and sustained lactation performance. Farmers also reported reduced dependency on commercial feed and improved profitability per animal due to better feed conversion efficiency and reduced health-related issues. 
&nbsp;

Empowering Small Farmers with the 10- Cent Multi-cut Fodder Model

<div>Background: In India, agriculture and animal husbandry are inextricably linked and are essential for livelihood security. Despite the fact that India has the world&rsquo;s largest livestock population, feed and fodder supply is under huge strain, especially as area accessible for fodder cultivation has been shrinking. During the months of March-May and November-February are known as lean periods of fodder production, the supply of green fodder is limited throughout the year in a rainfed condition. Fodder crops develop swiftly and cover the ground surface quickly, even in low-rainfall conditions, producing a significant amount of green fodder while also providing vegetative cover over the land, resulting in resource conserving&nbsp; as well as increased productivity. In this context, the current study was conducted to evaluate various fodder crops, assess their productivity and quality and make appropriate recommendations for semi-arid tropics of India. 
 
Methods: Field experiments were carried out for three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 at the Agricultural Research Station, Ananthapuramu andhra Pradesh, India, which is located between 14&deg;41&#39;N Latitude and 77&deg;40&#39;E Longitude and an altitude of 350 m. above mean sea level, which falls under the Semi-Arid Tropics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with nine treatments (fodder crops) and three replications. The treatments comprised of different fodder crops viz., fodder sorghum, fodder maize, fodder bajra, clusterbean, fodder cowpea, field bean, brown top millet, horse gram and sunhemp. 
 
Result: The current study concludes that fodder bajra, fodder sorghum and fodder maize are potential forage cereals because they can produce more quantity and quality fodder while also ensuring net monetary returns and fodder cowpea and sunhemp are the next best suitable forage legumes under late-sown conditions in the semi-arid tropics of India.</div>

Productivity and Quality of Fodder Crops under Late-sown Conditions in Semi-arid Tropics of India

<div>Background: The year round green forage supply for better health and productivity of the animals can be ensured by mixed cropping of cereal and legume forages along with proper nutrient management. Keeping these facts in mind an experiment was carried out to analyse growth, productivity and profitability of fodder sorghum and clusterbean as influenced by mixed cropping and nutrient management. 
 
Methods: Experiment was laid out in factorial randomized complete block design with four seed rate combinations of sorghum and clusterbean (S1 - sole sorghum, S2 - sole clusterbean, S3 - 75% sorghum + 25% clusterbean and S4 - 60% sorghum + 40% clusterbean) along with six nutrient management treatments (N1 - 100% RDF, N2 - 100% RDF + PGPR, N3 - 100% RDF + seaweed extract, N4 - 75% RDF + PGPR, N5 - 75% RDF + seaweed extract and N6 &ndash; 50% RDF + PGPR + seaweed extract) in three replications. The growth of crops was evaluated in terms of plant height, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves, leaf stem ratio and stem girth which all together contributed towards the fodder yield. 
 
Result: In sorghum crop the growth was not statistically different between the treatments S1 and S3 but in clusterbean sole crop recorded higher growth yet the influence was not significant on all parameters. Among nutrient management N1, N2 and N3 treatments recorded higher growth and thus yield in both crops which was not statistically different from N5 treatment. The correlation study indicated that cumulative influence of these growth parameters resulted in higher green and dry fodder yield under sole crop. Whereas in mixed cropping S3 treatment recorded significantly at par fodder yield to S1. The evidence presented above shows that 75% sorghum + 25% clusterbean mixed cropping treatment with 75% RDF + seaweed extract served its purpose of fodder yield enhancement.</div>

<div>Growth, Productivity and Profitability of Fodder Sorghum and Cluster Bean as Influenced by Mixed Cropping and Nutrient Management</div>

<div>Background: Fodder cultivation has direct bearings on the production of milk&nbsp; by the dairy animals as it forms a major part of rearing cost incurred for milch animals. Several studies have pointed out the benefits of fodder cultivation, but the area under fodder cultivation is quite low; and its limited supply is hindering the milk productivity. Hence, the present study was undertaken to estimate the economics of fodder cultivation of kharif and rabi season in Punjab and Haryana as these two states have highest per capita milk availability in India. 
 
Methods: Primary data on fodder cultivation was recorded for the year 2019-20. A sample of 100 respondents were interviewed from Punjab (Patiala, Bhatinda, Amritsar and Ludhiana districts) and 100 were selected from Haryana (Hisar, Karnal, Kaithal and Panipat districts). Simple arithmetic mean and percentages were used in the study. 
 
Result: The output-input ratio for kharif and rabi fodder in Punjab and Haryana were found to be of 1.52 to 1.64 and 3.61 to 4.12. Since, majority of the farmers in these states follow crop and dairy farming system, due consideration should be provided to fodder cultivation as well.</div>

Economics of Fodder Cultivation in Punjab and Haryana

<div>Background: Cropping system approach has gained importance in agriculture and relative enterprises. In agriculture, management practices are usually formulated for individual crops. However, farmers are cultivating different crops in different seasons based on their adaptability to a particular season, domestic needs and profitability, therefore production technologies should be developed keeping in view&nbsp; of crops grown in a sequence in a year or more than one year depending on the crop duration. The current study aims in application of biofertilizers and inorganic fertilizers which are essential to raise the crop yield. Rhizobium has an enormous potential to fix atmospheric nitrogen. PSB solubilize the unavailable bound phosphates of the soil and make them available to plants which increase overall plant growth resulting in 10 to 15% increase in yield. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during rabi and summer seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. The treatment consisted of five treatment of integrated nutrient management to chickpea in rabi season as main plot treatments replicated four times in randomized block design. During summer season each main plot treatment was split into four sub plot treatments with different levels of RDF to fodder maize resulting in twenty treatment combinations replicated four times in split plot design.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Application of 100% RDF+Rhizobium+PSB (T3) to chickpea recorded significantly higher almost all the growth attributes, yield attributes and yield, nutrient uptake, protein content and yield as well as available nutrient status in soil being remained at par with 100% RDF (T1) and 75% RDF+Rhizobium+PSB (T4). while economics was remarkably improved due to inorganic fertilizers as well as combination of inorganic fertilizers with Rhizobium+PSB to chickpea and 100% RDF (S1) to summer fodder maize significantly highest all growth and yield attributes, available nutrient status of soil and economics.</div>

Productivity, Profitability and Nutrient Status of Soil as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management in Chickpea-fodder Maize Cropping Sequence