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Fodder Production and Pasture Management: Course Introduction (ANU 717)
1. Course Overview
Course Code: ANU 717
Course Title: Fodder Production and Pasture Management
Credit Hours: 2 (Theory: 2, Practical: 0)
Full Marks: 50
2. Key Definitions
Fodder and Forage Crops
The term Forage Crops or Fodder Crops refers to plants, both wild and cultivated, used for feeding domestic farm animals (cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goat, and pig).
Animals can either graze on these plants or be fed the cut material in stalls.
Forage crops are primarily divided into two main botanical families: Legumes (Leguminosae) and Grasses (Graminae).
Technical Definition (NAS 1971): Aerial plant material that contains more than 18% Crude Fiber on a Dry Matter (DM) basis.
Soiling Crops: Green forage crops that are cut and fed to the animals in a fresh condition.
3. Livestock and the Nepalese Economy
Integral Role in Farming
Livestock are an integral part of the Nepalese farming system and are considered the backbone of the rural economy.
The majority of farmers operate a mixed crop-livestock farming system.
Value of Livestock
Livestock provides essential support to the economy and daily life:
Products: Meat, milk, milk products (cheese, ghee), and manure.
Draught Power: Supplies power for agricultural operations like tilling the land, threshing, and transport.
Social Security: Acts as a source of social security and cash income when needed.
Economic Contribution
The livestock sector contributes about 11.5% to the total National GDP and 25.7% to the Agricultural GDP (AGDP).
4. Feeds and Fodder Situation in Nepal
Major Feed Resources
The diet of livestock is made up of:
Crop Residues: Straw, stover, stalks, cobs, and sugarcane tops.
Grains and By-products: Rice bran, wheat bran, and mustard cakes.
Green Forage: Seasonal fodder and grasses.
Tree Leaves: Fodder from forest plants and trees.
The Fodder Deficit (The Major Constraint)
The shortage of quality feeding material is the major factor limiting livestock productivity in Nepal.
The country faces a feed deficit of over 3 million MT per annum.
Lean Period: The supply of green forage is very scarce, particularly during the dry winter period from October to March, leading to a drastic drop in milk production.
Cost: Feed cost constitutes a significant portion (50–75%) of the total production cost of livestock products.
When animals are underfed, they become more susceptible to disease and parasites.
Land Use and Over-Grazing Data
| Land Type | Area (million ha) | % Coverage |
| Agricultural Land (Cultivated) | 2.968 | 20.2 |
| Agricultural Land (Uncultivated) | 0.998 | 6.8 |
| Forest | 4.269 | 29.0 |
| Grassland | 1.745 | 11.9 |
| Total | 14.718 | 100.0 |
| Rangeland Type | Carrying Capacity (LU/ha) | Stocking Density (LU/ha) | Over Capacity (Times) |
| Mid hills | 0.31 | 4.08 | 13.2 |
| Steppe grasslands | 0.01 | 0.19 | 19.0 |
| Open grasslands | 0.54 | 7.07 | 13.1 |
| Alpine meadows | 1.42 | 0.64 | 0.5 |
Note: In most zones, the Stocking Density is much higher than the Carrying Capacity, indicating severe over-grazing.
5. Major Obstacles to Fodder Production
Increasing human population.
Increase in the number of unproductive animals.
Sealing of the border land (reducing grazing access).
Over-grazing (Grazing animals more than the land's carrying capacity).
Carelessly harvesting and burning the forest.
Lack of coordination at the national level.
Lack of awareness among the farmers about the utility of fodders.
6. Research Areas for Students (Term Paper Topics)
Strategies for the fodder based milk production in Nepal.
Measurement of forage yield in the pasture land.
Impact of climate change on forage availability for livestock in Nepal.
Strategies for improved fodder production in the dry season of Nepal.
Role of pasture management in Nepal.
Measures to increase fodder availability.