Читать книгу Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies - Группа авторов - Страница 49

TMR and homemade balanced feed are two important technologies for dairy sector in reducing the production cost as well as maintaining good health of animals. In most parts of the eastern region, undernutrition is a major constraint in animal production due to high cost of concentrate, lack of green fodder and quality dry fodder. Therefore, major share of ration is constituted by only crop residues and by‐products. As a result, full potential of production and reproduction of dairy animals is not exploited. Moreover, high cost of concentrate feed results in increase in input cost and thereby, nonprofitability of dairy farming. Feeding of homemade balanced concentrate together with TMR can solve the problem, particularly in smallholder milk production system. In recent years mobile‐based ration balancing programme is being implemented in many parts of India by NDDB. However, still it is not gaining up to the mark, particularly among resource poor farmers. Readymade availability of different types of homemade concentrate feed formulas may be acceptable by the smallholders. For wider dissemination, the formulas need to be handed over to the state government, KVKs and NGOs. Use of mass media and distribution of leaflets are also needed for creating general awareness among smallholders.

Figure 3.2 Daily feed cost and feed cost for milk production in cows fed different concentrate mixtures.