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GENERAL ARTICLE
HOW TO IMPROVE THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN KERALA:
SOME NUTRITIONAL THOUGHTS
1 2 3
Ajith K.S ., Anil Kumar, K and Dipu, M.T .
Livestock Research Station, Thiruvizhamkunnu.
J. Ind. Vet. Assoc., Kerala. 10 (1)
Challenges and Opportunities
Why the cattle population is decreasing in
Kerala in spite of the increasing demand of milk is
being debated in every animal husbandry seminars.
There is a decline in total cattle population and the
buffalo population shows a more rapid declining
trend. The demand by consumers are not met by
production within the state and the human population
is increasing day by day. There is always a deficit of
25 percent in milk as far as requirement is considered.
In Kerala, out of the total geographical area of 38.86
lakh hectare, 18 percent of the land area is barren land
or uncultivated land area or cultivable waste area
which can be utilized in one way or other for
improving the livestock sector.
One major problem faced by Kerala is the
weak feed and fodder base. With the shift in cropping
pattern of Kerala, the area under rice cultivation has
come down by more than 50 percent over the last two
decades leading to drastic reduction in the
availability of straw for feeding cattle. It is estimated
that the state produces only 60 per cent of the
roughage requirement for cattle in Kerala.(economic
review, Kerala 2010) As a result roughage in the form
of straw is being brought in to the state from adjacent
states at an exorbitant rate.
Kerala has got a unique distinction among
Indian states that, it is the only state which uses
readymade concentrate as the major feed resource,
1. Asistant Professor, Livestock Research Station,
Thiruvizhamkunnu.
2. Associate Professor & Head, Livestock Research Station,
Thiruvizhamkunnu.
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, College
of Veterinary & Animal Sciences , Mannuthy.
instead of depending on “homemade” feeds.
Regarding the cattle feed concentrate, which will
have to supplement the shortage in quality fodder
production, the current level of production is not
enough to satisfy the requirement. Now KCMMF,
Kerala Feeds Ltd. and a few private players are
taking conscious steps for facing this challenge.
Dairy farmers in Kerala have tried to adjust
with the situation by restricting the number of cattle
and by preferring high yielding cross breds. This is
evident from the steady increase in the proportion of
crossbred animals, which Kerala achieved during the
last three decades.
What is the way out
A joint effort by the researchers, policy
makers and implementing agencies is the need of the
hour. Some thoughts which may be valuable are
narrated here.
Development of “local” feeding standards
Most of the feeding standards which are
being used today are developed for conditions not
directly related to feeding practices prevailed under
Kerala conditions. Farmers in Kerala use a wide
range of low quality and unconventional feeds. As
the partitioning of nutrients are complex and are
governed by a number of factors including the
genotype of the animal, quantity and quality of feed
and the environment, the possible solution is to give
nutritional recommendation to the farmers under our
managemental conditions and some efforts are being
done by the Department of Animal Nutrition,
KVASU.
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GENERAL ARTICLE
Precision Feeding and Total Mixed Ration (TMR)
concept
Considering the cost of production involved,
farmers are very conscious of increasing the
productivity of their animals. Considering the
deficiency of fodder and the increasing price of feed
ingredients, it is possible to go for precision feeding
and one such method is total mixed ration. Total
mixed ration is a concept of delivering nutrients to
animals as a complete balanced ration. Total mixed
ration consists of concentrate, roughage and
micronutrients / feed additives. The concentrate and
roughage are added in different levels, according to
the stage of lactation and physiological stage of the
animal. Roughage part is generally crop residue or
hay. The concentrate portion includes oilcakes,
molasses, grains or grain byproducts. Bypass
proteins or bypass fat can also be added depending on
the requirement of the animal. Micro nutrients,
vitamins, trace minerals, binders, probiotics,
antioxidants, antitoxins and herbal extracts are also
included to promote proper body function. These
ingredients are made into blocks using hydraulic
press and as a result of densification process the
concentrate matter get attached to the roughage along
with molasses which facilitates the cellulolytic
microbes to grow faster and enhance cellulolytic
activity in rumen.(Walli,T.K. 2010)
Advantages of Total Mixed Ration
It is the best way to feed balanced ration to
ruminants.
Less feed wastage.
Saves time and labor.
Easy for transportation and storage.
Crop residues can be effectively utilized
Reduces methane production.
Improved productive and reproductive
efficiency.
Use of Agricultural or Industrial byproducts or
novel feeds
During 2009-10, the price of cow milk has
increased only by 6 percent in Kerala. On the input
side, the price of grass, gingelly oil cake, coconut oil
cake and ground nut cake recorded an increase of 20
percent, 12 percent, 3 percent and 12.5 percent
respectively during 2009-10. The increased cost of
inputs is a serious threat affecting profitability of
dairy farming. Since feed cost accounts to about 70
percent of the cost of the livestock farming, research
should be focused on measures to reduce the cost of
feeding. Researches on nutritional and possible
inclusion of tapioca leaves, tapioca starch waste,
rubber seed, coffee husk, neem seed, coconut pith,
plantain rhizome, cashew apple waste, pepper waste,
African payal, palm leaves, frog meal, prawn waste,
jack fruit waste, cocoa pods, etc in cattle feed had
been undertaken at the Department of Animal
nutrition, Kerala Veterinary And Animal Sciences
University. These results should be popularized
among farmers and the farmers should be
encouraged to produce of low cost feed using the
locally available feed resources at their door steps.
Agricultural by products and crop residues which are
available in plenty can be effectively utilized either
by physical treatment (chopping of straw or water
soaking), chemical treatment (Urea treatment of
straw) or by biological treatment (using fungi or
treatment with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes).
Since there is emergence of more and more
human food industries, their byproducts can form
excellent substances to be included in cattle feed.
Notable examples being brewery waste, pine apple
waste, spent ginger, tea waste, flours of bread
industry, etc. Much nutritional studies in this regard
have to be conducted in future.
Use of bypass technology
Ruminants have advantage over nonruminants
in that they can digest large amount of
fiber and they can utilize non protein nitrogen.
However there are also some constraints as the
microbial nutrients may be insufficient for a higher
producing animal and the concept of bypass protein,
bypass fat and by pass starch comes in to picture.
Steps have to be taken for educating the farmers for
judicious use of the feed available to them.
JIVA Vol. 10 Issue 1 April 2012
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GENERAL ARTICLE
J. Ind. Vet. Assoc., Kerala. 10 (1)
How to increase the fodder base Role of socially
committed NGOs
As stated elsewhere in this article, 18% of
total geographic area in Kerala state lays
underutilized. Self help groups and other
unemployed youths can venture in to production of
green grass, legume crops or tree fodders by adopting
various silvi pastural systems and sell it to farmers as
preserved form or fresh. The required technical know
how should be provided to them. Many such
endeavors have been started in many parts of Kerala.
Thrust on tree fodder.
Various tree species which can be used as
tree fodders include Mullan kaini (Bridelia retusa),
Murukku (Erythrina indica), Chamba (Eugenia
jambosa), Kumbil (Gmelina arborea), Aval
(Holoptelia integrifolia), Subabul (Leucaena
leucocephala), Venga (Pterocarpus marsupium),
Agathi (Sesbania grandiflora), Njaval (Syzygium
cumini), Malayan chamba (Syzygium malaccense)
etc. Various silvipastural and agro forestry
techniques can be tried for increasing the fodder base
as it will not only supply forage but also provide
mulch, acting as a control to soil erosion and
enhancing soil fertility.
Forage Conservation
Kerala is blessed with abundant rain fall. The
forages which are produced in excess during rainy
season should be preserved for use in the lean
periods. Preservation can be done in the form of hay
or silage and many self help groups can venture into
such activities.
Improvement of forage quality is also as
important as forage conservation and many ways to
improve the inferior crop residues are well
established.
Residual feed
Consider a case where two animals which are
equal in all aspects are receiving same feed but one
animal is yielding more milk … the point here is the
feed efficiency and those animal which eat more is
eating the residual feed. In other sense the feed eaten
extra is a waste. So to reduce the wastage what are the
solutions Genetic selection of animals having more
feed efficiency. Vigorous culling policy should be
initiated in those animals used for progeny testing to
eliminate the character from the population.
Feed additives
Probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes (exogenous
enzymes like Cellulases, Xylanases,
Hemicellulases, Pentosanases and amylases),
organic acids and modifiers of rumen fermentation
(ionophores) will help in improving the feed
efficiency and reduce methane production.
Intake strategies
A nutritionally balanced ration is essential
for an animal to perform at its optimum level. It is
also necessary that animal should sufficiently
consume the feed. Often the feed supplied may be
imbalanced in minerals, vitamins and other nutrients.
Supplementation poses two questions: what to
supply and how to supply Multinutrient feed
blocks is an answer to this as they will supply
required nutrients in an easy way.
Some points are narrated here which may
invoke interest in the minds of the stake holders of
animal husbandry activities and hopefully generate
enthusiasm for the betterment of this noble
profession in Kerala.
REFERENCES
1. Kerala Economic review, 2010. Kerala State
Planning Board, Thiruvananthapuram.
2. Walli,T.K. 2010, Densified complete feed
block technology and its role in enhancing
ruminant production, including buffaloes,
Proceedings of international Buffalo
Conference :294-300
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