Cattle Forrage

BERSEEM:

Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) is an annual leguminous fodder crop. It is one of the most suitable fodder crop for areas below 1700 m altitude with irrigation facilities. It remains soft and succulent at all stages of growth. It can be grown without irrigation in areas with high water table and under water-logged conditions.

Varieties

Meseavi : it is a fast growing variety and attains plant height of about 75 cm at flower initiation stage. On an average, it gives 500-600 qunitals green fodder and 100-125 qunitals dry matter yields per hectare in about five cuttings. It contains about 20 per cent crude protein on dry matter basis at early flowering stage.

BL-1: This is a long duration variety as compared to the commonly grown variety Mescavi. Because of this, one additional cutting may be obtained from this variety by the end of June. It gives, on an average, green fodder and dry matter yields of 600 and 130 q/ha, respectively.

BL-22 : This is a long duration variety which gives additional cut during June. It gives, on an average, green fodder and dry matter yields of 750 and 135 q/ha, respectively.

Soil

It  grows  well  in  medium  to  heavy  soil  and  is  tolerant  to  soil  alkalinity.

Preparation  of  land

The  land  should  be  well  tilled,  levelled  and  should  be  free  from  weeds.

Manuring

Apply 25 kg nitrogen and 60 kg P2O5 per hectare. It is advisable to apply farm yard manure at the rate of 50 cartloads per hectare.

Sowing  time

Mid-September of first week of October is the best time of sowing. If the seedling is delayed much in mid-hill zone, the first cutting would be obtained after three months or so.

Inoculation

If berseem is going to be seeded for the first time in any field, the seed must be inoculated with rhizobium culture which is very essential for its growth.

Method  of  inoculation

Prepare 10% gur solution and heat it to boiling point and then cool at room temperature. Sprinkle a small quantity of gur solution over the seeds to moisten them nicely. Spread thin layer of culture over the gur treated seeds and mix thoroughly. Dry the culture treated seeds in shade before sowing.

Seed  rate  and  method  of  sowing

Sowing should be done by broadcasting the seed at the rate of 25 kg per hectare in standing water. The seed should be free from seeds of weeds such as kasni. This can be done by dipping the seed in one per cent salt solution and decanting-off the floating seeds. If the mixture of Mescavi and tetraploid berseem is not being seeded, 500 g of Chinese sarson seed may be sown mixed with berseem to get higher yield in the first cutting.Mixture of berseem and oats (50:50 ratio) also gives higher yield. Under ultera conditions, 

seedling should be done 8-10 days before harvesting of paddy.

Irrigation

First irrigation is very important and should be given one week after the seedling. Afterwards, 

field should be irrigated at an interval of 15-20 days depending upon weather conditions.

Yield

The first cutting is obtained usually 60 days after sowing and subsequent cutting at the interval of 25 to 30 days. In the mid-hill zone during winter, interval between cutting is about 50 to 60 days. In all, 5 to 6 cuttings may be obtained. On an average, nearly 550 qunitals of green fodder per hectare may be obtained.

Seed  production

The final cutting should not be taken later than the end of February if crop is to be left for seed purpose. Kasni and other weeds should be eradicated. Irrigate frequently during the formation and ripening of seeds. On an average, 2.5. qunitals seed may be obtained per hectare.

SHAFTAL:

Shaftal (Trifolium resipunatum) is an annual leguminous fodder crop suitable for temperate climate and acidic soils where performance of berseem is poor i.e. Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Chamba districts.

Variety

SH-48 : It is an improved variety of Shaftal having dark green round trifoliate leaves, hollow thick stem with small whitish flowers on small, compact, spongy head which turns pinkish on maturity. It gives, on an average, 700-800 q/ha of green fodder and 120-130 q/ha dry matter yield in 5-6 cuttings. Its herbage contains 25-27% CP (DM) and is very nutritive for milch animals. Precautionary, it should be grown mixed with oats to avoid chances of bloat in animals. It has low water requirements, therefore, can successfully be grown under rainfed conditions.

Seed  rate  :  15  kg/ha

Agronomic  practices  :  As  for  berseem  crop

LUCERNE  (ALFALFA):

Lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a perennial leguminous fodder crop for unirrigated areas including low, mid and high hills of the State. It has a good vegetative growth almost throughout the year except during heavy rains or when the temperature is near or below freezing point. It enriches and rejuvenates the exhausted soils.

Variety

Sirsa-9 (Type-9): It is the recommended variety of lucerne. It is a quick growing variety attaining plant height of about one meter at early flowering stage. It has green foliage, slender stalks and purple coloured flowers. It gives, on an average, 400-600 qunitals green fodder and 80-120 qunitals dry matter yield per hectare per year in about four cuttings. It contains, on an average, 22 per cent crude protein on dry matter basis.

Anand-3 : It has dark green trifoliate leaves, medium thick stem, deep root system, tillers vary from 10-15/plant, flowers are blue in colour and have quick regeneration capacity. On an average, it provides 400-500 q/ha of green fodder in 5-6 cuttings annually. Its herbage contains 23-24% CP(DM) and is very nutritive.

Soil

Deep and well drained loam & soils are best for this crop. It is very susceptible to acidic soil, therefore, it cannot be grown in soil with pH below 6.5 unless lime is applied. Liming should be done after getting soil samples analyzed for pH one month before seeding.

Manuring

Basal dressing of 25 kg N and 60 kg P2O5 per hectare should be given at seeding time. If soil is acidic, lime based on soil test should be applied one month before seeding.

Sowing  time

Best  time  of  sowing  is  the  first  fortnight  of  October  to  end  of  November.

Seed  rate  and  method  of  sowing

Seeding should be done in rows 40 cm apart at a seed rate of 15 kg per hectare. Because of their hard seed coat, seed should be soaked overnight in water before seeding. Like berseem, it must be inoculated with rhizobium culture, if the seeding is going to be done for the first time in any field.

Irrigation

First irrigation should be applied about a month after sowing. The subsequent irrigations may be given at an interval of 15-30 days depending upon weather conditions. During rainy season, water should not be allowed to stagnate.

Yield

The newly grown crop is usually ready for first cutting in about 2-4 months after the seeding depending upon the altitude. The subsequent cuttings may be taken at intervals of 30 to 40 days. If may give, on an average, 350 quintals green fodder per hectare per year.

Seed  production

The lucerne crop, which has not been cut for fodder, gives best seed yield. No cutting should be taken later than January from established crop if it is to be kept for seed purposes. On average, 0.5 qunitals seed is obtained per hectare.

OATS:

Oat (Avena sativa) can be grown successfully for fodder purpose during the rabi season under both irrigated and rainfed conditions. Oat fodder is quite nutritive containing, on an average, 7.6 per cent crude protein at 50% flowering stage and about 14.6 per cent at very early stage of growth. Under adequate irrigated conditions, it may give three cuttings starting from January when green fodder is scarce.

Varieties

Palampur-1 : It is a medium maturing variety with plant height of about 115 cm at 50 per cent flowering which comes in about 145 days. Leaves are broad and dark green in colour. It has uniform tillering with about 15 tillers

per plant. It gives, on an average, 500 qunitals green fodder per hectare. The seed crop matures in about 190 days.

Kent : It is an early variety coming to flowering in about 125 days. It has moderate tillering and plant height with medium sized leaves. The seed crop matures in about 180 days. On an average, it gives 360 qunitals green fodder per hectare.

Soil

Oat  can  be  grown  on  all  types  of  soils  except  on  waterlogged  ones.

Seed  rate  and  method  of  sowing

Seeding should be done in rows 25 cm apart at seed rate of 100 kg per hectare. The seeds should be treated with Vitavax 2 g/kg seed to ensure freedom from covered smut disease. Sowing of oats in lines 20 cm apart and broadcasting of pea gives higher green as well as dry fodder yield under rainfed conditions.

Sowing  time

The  crop  should  be  sown  from  mid  September  to  mid  December.

Manuring

For multiple cutting, basal dressing of 40 kg N and 40 kg P2O5 should be done at the time of seeding and 30 kg N should be applied as top dressing each after first and second cutting.

Irrigation

Three  to  four  irrigations  are  sufficient.  In  case  of  multiple  cuttings,  field  must  be  irrigated  after  each  cutting.

Cuttings

For single cut plots, optimum time of harvesting is the fifty per cent bloom stage. For multiple cuttings, the first cutting is taken about three months after seeding and subsequent cutting at an interval of 40 days.

Seed  production

On  average,  about  15  qunitals  seed  is  obtained  per  hectare,  if  no  cut  for  fodder  is  taken.

RED CLOVER

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a tall growing perennial legume suited for high altitude and cooler regions, 400 to 600 qunitals fresh forage yield can be obtained per hectare.

Variety  :Palampur  Composite

Sowing  time  :  April-May,  after  melting  of  snow

Manuring  :	Nitrogen	20  kg/ha
	P2O5	20  kg/ha

Seed  rate  :  9-12  kg/ha.  It  can  also  be  planted  by  rooted  slips.

Others practices : 2-4 irrigations in summer, if available. First cutting is ready in about 3 months after sowing. One cutting in spring and subsequent cuttings at an interval of 6 weeks can be obtained in the following years.

WHITE CLOVER

White clover (Trifolium repens) is an excellent pasture legume for cooler regions mainly used for grazing purpose and is known to be the best nitrogen fixing legume. On an average, it yields 400 qunitals green fodder per hectare.

Varieties

Palampur Composite-I : It is a fast-growing temperate legume suitable for growing in temperate pastures. It has broad leaves, long petioles, vigorous growth habit, good regeneration capacity and high protein content in its herbage (about 23% protein on dry-matter basis). It can be grown alone or in mixture with other grasses. It has beneficial association with grasses growing with it in their growth and nutritive quality. It gives 3-4 cuttings in a year, if harvested for green fodder or hay. But generally, it is used for grazing purpose. If introduced in orchards, it preserves the moisture content of soils and acts as cushion for dropping fruits, in addition to providing a nutritive forage for animals. It has very high nitrogen fixing capacity as well (200-400 kg/ha). It gives, on an average, yield of 700-800 q/ha of green fodder.

Other  variety  is  Ladino

Sowing  time  :March-April,  after  melting  snow  or  in  October-November

Seed  rate  :  4-6  kg/ha

Other practices : 2-4 irrigations in summer, if available. First cutting is ready in about three months period. In subsequent years, 3-4 cuttings can be obtained.

FESCUE

Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a perennial grasses adapted to an altitude about 1500 m and is suitable for grazing and hay. 300-500 qunitals of green fodder per hectare can be obtained in 4 to 6 cuttings in a year.

Variety : Hima-1 : Has dark green leaves, medium thick round stem, deep fibrous root system, long open panicle & bold seed. It is suitable for temperate grasslands & forest between 1800-3300 m msl. Plant height 1.5-2.0 metres. Resistant to lodging, cold & frost. Very nutritive & palatable grass containing 12-14% crude protein on dry matter basis. Average yield is 400-500 q/ha.

Sowing time : March-April, after melting of snow or in October-November. Root-slips can be transplanted in monsoon season in rows 40 cm apart.

Seed  rate  :  12-16  kg/ha,  about  1,00,000  root-slips  are  required  per hectare.

Manuring

Basal  dose  of  40  kg  N  and  40  kg  P2O5  per  hectare  followed  by top  dressing  of  20  kg  N/ha.

Other  practices  :  Usually  not  irrigated.  One  to  two  irrigations  may be  given   in  summer,  if  available.

ORCHARD GRASS

Orchards grass (Dactylis glomerata) is a soft, palatable, deep rooted and long-lived perennial suitable for temperate and alpine areas. It yields about 500 qunitals green fodder per hectare per year in 3 to 4 cuttings. It is mostly suited for grazing.

Varieties  :  Commet  and  Sumax

Sowing time : March-April or in September-October when propagated from rooted slips, the best ime is early monsoon period.

Seed  rate  :  9-11  kg/ha  or  about  1,00,000  root-slips  are required/ha.

Manuring

Basal  dose  of  40  kg  N  and  40  kg  P2O5  per  hectare  followed  by top  dressing   of  20  kg  N/ha.

Other  practices  :  Two  to  three  irrigations  should  be  given,  if  available.

CANARY GRASS

Canary grass (Phalaris tuberosa) is a soft and palatable perennial grass best suited to areas above 1500 m altitude. It yields 500 qunitals green herbage per hectare in 2-3 cuttings per year.

Variety  :  Common  canary grass

Sowing time : March-April or in September-October. Root-slips can be transplanted in monsoon in rows 40 cm apart.

Seed  rate  :  6-10  kg/ha  or  about  1,00,000  root-slips  are required  per  hectare.

Manuring

Basal  dose  of  40  kg  N  and  40  kg  P2O5  per  hectare  followed  by top  dressing  of  20  kg  N/ha.

Other practices : At lower altitude and drier areas, 2-3 irrigations should be given in summer. It can be grazed or cut for hay making.

TIMOTHY

Timothy (Phleum pratense) is a soft palatable suited for cooler and higher altitudes. It gives fresh fodder yield of 500 q/ha per year in 3 to 4 cuttings. Suitable for hay as well as for grazing.

Varieties  :  Clair  and  Eugme.

Sowing  time  :  March-April.  Root-slips  can  be  transplanted  in  monsoon  season  in  rows  40  cm  apart.

Seed rate : 8-12 kg/ha. It can also be propagated from rooted slips. About 1,00,000 rooted slips are required per hectare.

Manuring

Basal  dose  of  40  kg  N  and  40  kg  P2O5  per  hectare  followed  by top  dressing  of  20  kg  N/ha.

Other  practices  :  If  irrigation  facilities  area  available,  2-3  irrigations  may be  given  as  and  when  needed.