SEVAI-OFI Cow project Promotes green fodder

CO 4 cuttings getting ready for plantation in SEVAI

“SEVAI-OFI Cow project Promotes green fodder” said K.Devendran,the  cow farm coordinator in SEVAI.He further added, “SEVAI maintains a forage farm to provide fodder regularly to cater the needs of the livestock maintained SEVAI-OFI Cow farm and of the Women self help group members those have milching cows. SEVAI is maintaining about 5 acres of irrigated land and 10 acres of rain fed in which various fodders including Cumbu Napier hybrid Co-4, CoFS-29 (Sorghum), and tree fodders Subabul were planted. In this area the fodder sorghum crops like Co -27, Guinea grass, Kolukattai grass are being cultivated. Under Agro forestry system, in watershed area 20 acres of land area was ploughed, cleaned and various models of Agro forestry is created. Various tree seedlings viz. Fodder trees, Timber trees, Fruit trees, Oil yielding trees, multi-utility trees and multipurpose trees were collected from different places and planted. Pasture grass and legume has been established. Cultivating Co 4 at the rate of 15000 slips on acre of land would yield about 300 kg fodder daily, which is enough to meet the green-fodder requirement of 10 cows that gives up to 12-15 litres of milk a day. Using CO 4 as fodder for cows resulted in increase in milk output.SEVAI has planted CO4 sticks in two acres of land for Sirugamani cow farm. The proteins in fodder helps livestock produce more milk. There are many varieties of fodder available; the highest yielding variety is CO4 Kambu Naiper grass. Farmer’s are advised to cultivate Co 4 fodder grass to augment the milk production. Fodder is important to feed these cows. Fodder is any agriculture food stuff used specifically to feed the cattle. Most animal feed is from plants. "Fodder" refers particularly to food given to the animals including plants cut and carried to them. Fodder in the form of sprouted grains and legumes can be grown in a small-scale environment. Sprouted grains can greatly increase the nutritional value of the grain. Under hydroponic conditions, sprouted fodder at 150 mm tall with a 50 mm root mat is at its peak for animal feed. Feeding fodder to cows reduces the cost of producing milk by saving on concentrate feed, improving the conception rate, and reducing the inter calving period. Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants, either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates; Species are native to tropical and subtropical”.-Govin