FODDER PLANTS FOR LIVESTOCK

Fodder crops can improve the nutrition status of livestock especially cattle which are common to many areas of this country.

traditional grazing areas owner. in the The rural common areas during the dry season will and is always critically low in protein, and since this is a common seasonal occurrence the natural growth cycle of grass even good management cannot prevent it.

Hence, introduction of good herbage as mentioned above of fodder plants such as Napier grass and Rhodes would show some improvement in the conditions of these animals.

Since the yield from the natural grass is low, supplementation in the traditional sector has to be done with the help of establishing improve pasture and in this case the fodder crops mentioned.

These would supply some feed to save the animals from starvation, reduce the wondering in search of grass, but with enough feed animals would also lose less energy in that food would be under their own noses.

With improved fodder crops grown this would mean improved grazing for the local cattle. Therefore, our farmer to understand the effort of establishing good fodder, he should be told that for each new land that he opens in order to plant maize or any other crop is a reduction in grazing land for his own cattle and the community as a whole, hence this will require in turn a reduction in the number of cattle in order for the natural land if to comfortably support them.

However, this abandoned land if planted with improved pasture then some justice to the local animals would be done, because what is being destroyed is being replaced. Thus improved fodder crops would mean having species of plants which have high nutritive value and at the same time that which would persist for longer. Improved fodder would give high yield dry matter per ha compared to natural grazing.

Improving the local pasture through fodder crop production would mean improving animal nutrition and therefore, improving cattle condition.

Napier and Rhodes grass are not the only fodder crops, others that can be introduced to the farmer are leucaena which is one of the best known fodder tree. It is very competitive whether pruned or not.

This tree has found acceptance on some dairy farms. Lucerne is another plant that is grown on well-established farms and do easily get established or adapts easily in new environment.

To our traditional farmers to lay a strong foundation in the area of fodder production for the cattle being reared and to proceed with good livestock production good nutrition should be center stage.

Fodder crop growing should start on a small scale just like any other crop which is introduced by the extension worker. Demonstration fields can be set through contact farmers. As years go by this would be adopted by many farmers as they see the need of good nutrition for their cattle.

Fodder plants can be grown as cash crops from which other livestock farmers would benefit. This would eliminate the purchasing of expensive feed which of course the majority of the traditional farmers would not bother to buy from their pockets.

Here it is the traditional or rural farmer we are trying to help.

Information concerning natural pasture and improved pasture should be relayed fully to this group of farmers so that they can understand that improving the nutritional status of the local traditional cattle in order to be very productive before health can be considered.

Nutrition is primary in animal management. This applies to goats as well.

A farmer should work with the extension worker when it comes to the establishing of fodder crop or plants so that they do not interfere with the growing of other farm crops. Fodder trees as already mentioned are important sources of livestock feed especially as a source of protein during the dry season. They can also be used as a source of fire wood, green manure and also as shade trees. They are easy to establish their root system allows them to reach moisture at greater depth in the soil which explains their drought tolerance.

Fodder crops play an important role on the farm in feed supplementation. Therefore, the farmers should consider growing as much feed and fodder on their farms.