Cattle Fodder Research Articles

Carbon Stock Estimation of Compensatory Afforestation Plantation Work in Balod District of Chhattisgarh, India

This paper encapsulates the findings of carbon stock assessment of compensatory afforestation work done in Balod District of Chhattisgarh. Under the State CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) scheme, the afforestation project aims to enhance the local environment, create employment opportunities for the villagers of Armarikala, and provide fodder for nearby farmers' cattle. This initiative not only address the ecological impact of the power transmission line construction but also align with sustainable development goals by providing socio-economic benefits to the local community. The study aimed to quantify the biomass and carbon sequestration potential of diverse tree species in the Compensatory Afforestation Plantation Work in Balod District of Chhattisgarh. The carbon stock data highlights the significance of different tree species, with Terminalia arjuna emerging as a major contributor, sequestering 3,814.2 kg followed by Dalbergia sissoo with 2616.7 kg of carbon in the surveyed area. The carbon stock assessment in Balod District of Chhattisgarh demonstrates the significant ecological and socio-economic benefits of the compensatory afforestation project under the State CAMPA scheme. The findings underscore the project's alignment with sustainable development goals, enhancing both environmental health and local livelihoods.

Preparation and Preservation of Maize Stalk Fodder

Shortage of feed supply of the cattle during the dry season or flood period is an important issue which could be partially met by maize stalk. An experiment was conducted to prepare maize stalk fodder for cattle. The BARI chopper was improved for chopping maize stalk (MS) in smaller size (7-8mm) by adding blades and make the chopper safe by adding casing. The capacity of the BARI chopper was 745 and 425 kg/h with fresh and dried maize stalk, respectively. Total chopping cost per hour was Taka 0.23 per kg. The chopped maize stalk in both fresh and dried conditions with different combinations were served to the cattle and found that smaller sized chopped piece of both dried and fresh maize stalk could be feed in both raw and mixing with salt, wheat bran and water with little molasses. Maize stalk block also prepared with different combinations and found that block made by liquid Gur was better in both physically and cattle likeness. Total cost of block per kg was Tk. 13.85, 31.35, 28.85 and 36.35 for MS block 1, MS block 2, MS block 3 and MS block 4, respectively. Chopped and dried maize stalk were preserved in polybag, open drum and store room were liked by the cattle up to three months of the storage. Flatten and dried maize stalk were not liked by the cattle due to their long size and hardness. 
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 47(3): 333-342, September 2022

Talinum fruticosum: A Potential Multi-value Plant: A Review

Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss. is an underutilized plant which is distributed across world. It survives under varying soil types such as deep fertile soil, shallow rocky soil, salt affected soils, etc. Waterleaf occurs from sea level to 1000 m above MSL. Tolerance to drought is added advantage but, yield decreases with increasing water stress. It moderately tolerates salinity and sodicity of both soil and water. This plant can be exploited as plant for phytoremediation as it is capable to accumulate heavy metals, pollutants and minerals. It has significant potential to use it as fodder for cattle considering green biomass and nutritional composition. This plant can also be used as feed to chickens, rabbits and cattle. It is considered as palatable, leafy vegetable owing to nutritional and medicinal properties though it possess lesser amount of anti-nutritious components such saponin, oxalates and tannins. In view of above facts, waterleaf have the potential to be utilized as leafy vegetable for semiarid and humid conditions, quality green fodder for cattle, feed for rabbits and chicken, remediating polluted soils, reclamation and sustainable utilization of salt affected lands, tolerant plant for poor quality water, suitable to shallow soils besides using it as ornamental plant.

Characterization and Application in Natural Rubber of Leucaena Leaf and Its Extracted Products.

Leucaena is a fast-growing tree in the legume family. Its leaf contains a significant amount of protein and is thus widely used as fodder for cattle. To broaden its application in the rubber field, the effects of Leucaena leaf powder and its extracted products on the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber were investigated. The extraction of Leucaena leaf was carried out by using a proteolytic enzyme at 60 °C. The digested protein was separated from the residue by centrifugation. Both digested protein and residue were then dried and ground into powder, namely digested protein powder and residual powder, respectively, before being characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, particle size determination, and protein analysis. After being added to natural rubber at 3 parts per hundred rubber, they significantly reduced both the scorch time and the optimum cure time of the rubber compounds, probably due to the presence of nitrogen-containing substances, without a significant sacrifice of the mechanical properties. For instance, the optimum cure time decreased by approximately 25.5, 35.4, and 54.9% for Leucaena leaf powder, residual powder, and digested protein powder, respectively. Thus, they can be used as green and sustainable fillers with a cure-activation effect in rubber compounding.

Seasonal variation in nutrient composition in the leaves of two Bauhinia species

Abstract Trees happen to be a prominent source of nutritive fodders and provide sufficient nutrients to the cattle throughout the year. The leaves of two Bauhinia species, that is, Bauhinia retusa and Bauhinia variegata, were collected in different seasons from their natural growing habitats. The collected leaves were air-dried to make a fine powder, and the nutrient concentrations were estimated as per the standard processes. Significant variations were recorded in the nutritive values of both species in different seasons. The leaves of B. retusa revealed highest dry matter and total carbohydrate in the summer season, while the rainy season exhibited the highest value of ash per cent and crude protein.The ether extract and nitrogen-free extract per cent were higher in the winter season, and the maximum crude fibre and organic matter per cent were prominent in the spring season. In case of B. variegata leaves, the dry matter, nitrogen-free extract, ash and ether extract per cent were higher in the winter season. The highest crude fibre percent and total carbohydrate were found to be the maximum in the rainy season, and crude protein was higher in summer season. The results of the present study revealed that the both Bauhinia species are good sources of green fodder for cattle, especially in the rainy season in case of B. retusa and in the summer season for B. variegata, to correct the deficiency of protein in animals in the hill state of Uttarakhand, India.

PULPING AND PAPERMAKING PROPERTIES OF ZARA PLANT

The fast-growing Zara plant (a putative hybrid of Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) is usually planted for cattle fodder. For the first time, Zara plant was evaluated for its pulping potential based on anatomical, chemical, and morphological characteristics. This plant was characterized by an acceptable amount of α-cellulose (40.32%) and lignin (18.4%), with medium fiber length (1.09 mm). Soda–anthraquinone (AQ) pulping of Zara plant was investigated. Anatomically, stems of Zara plant had porous structure, mainly composed of vascular bundles surrounded by parenchyma tissue. Consequently, they were easier to delignify and defibrate, and a pulp yield of 46.54% was obtained, with kappa number 15.45 under the conditions of 14% alkali charge for 120 min of cooking at 150 °C. Good papermaking properties were observed, the tensile index was 78.9 N.m/g at 43 °SR. The resulting pulps showed good bleachability in elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching sequences (D0(EP)D1). Pulp brightness of 81.5%, with the viscosity of 16.0 mPaS, was obtained, with the consumption of 25 kg ClO2/ton of pulp.

A Simple Validated High-performance Thin-layer Chromatographic-densitometric Analysis Method for Simultaneous Quantitation of Betulin, Lupeol, Stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in Asteracantha longifolia (L.) Nees

ABSTRACT Background: Asteracantha longifolia (L.) Nees is an essential and versatile ingredient in traditional medicine and herbal formulations, owing to their in curing ability against numerous diseases and disorders. There are forms of utilization like hot water extract, Methanol and ethanol extracts, as well as in some eastern parts of India, the plant is used daily as a leafy vegetable for human consumption during the medical treatment2,3. Also, it is considered a nutritious fodder for cattle. With many essential vitamins and minerals, available literature also reports vital phytoconstituents like Betulin, Lupeol, Stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol as therapeutic activity enhancers for Asteracantha longifolia (L.) Nees. Standardizing these vital phytoconstituents in the raw material will control the quality of the herbal formulations, extracts, and nutritional value. Aim: To develop and validate a HPTLC method-densitometric analysis method for simultaneous quantitation of four phytoconstituents of Asteracantha longifolia (L.) Nees. Objective: The method should be simple, capable of separating Betulin, Lupeol, Stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol to simultaneously estimate the contents at 366nm and 540nm. Further, the method is validated following the guidelines laid by ICH, Q2 (R1). Materials and Methods: Precoated F254 silica gel TLC plates of Merck were utilized as stationary phase to carry out the separation in combination with n-Hexane: Ethyl acetate (8:2) as mobile phase. After development phytoconstituents were derivatized with Anisaldehyde Sulphuric Acid Reagent and TLC plates are dried at 100 °C for 3 min before visualization at 366nm and 540nm. Results: In summary, the method separates all the phytoconstituents adequately and is specific, the limit of detection–limit of quantification for betulin is 0.8 ng and 2.4 ng, lupeol is 0.3 ng and 1.02 ng, and total sterols is 0.2 ng and 0.7 ng the coefficient of variance for precision (Intraday and Interday) is Not more than (NMT) 5%, Linearity and Range is 0.5ng to 6ng, and Recovery ranges from 88.5% to 96.8%. Conclusion: It is evidential from the obtained results of the study that method is selective, sensitive, and reproducible for simultaneous analysis of Betulin, Lupeol, Stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in Asteracantha longifolia (L.) Nees.

A Study on E-Tailing and the Factors Influencing Consumer Buying Decisions of Dairy Products During the Covid-19 Pandemic in India

During the COVID-19 pandemic and its mutations infecting humans, the Government of India imposed a lockdown all over the country, the exceptions were for commodities covered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The essential commodities act, includes drugs, dairy products, fertilizer, foodstuffs, petroleum products, jute, textile, fruits, vegetables, cattle fodder, and cottonseed. This study will understand how the dairy industries coped during the pandemic by adopting new strategies from e-tailing and related factors. During the ongoing pandemic, this study mainly focuses on using mobile apps and e-stores for online sales of dairy products. The quantitative study uses primary and secondary data. The dairy products included in the study are curd, paneer, buttermilk w.r.t e-tailers like Milky moo, Omfed, Big Bazaar, Fresh express, Home express, Swiggy, and Nature’s basket. Many dairy companies have their apps and websites. This study is carried out in the capital city Bhubaneswar.

Infographic as youth education media on the importance of recycling coffee organic waste in Boyolali Regency

In addition to producing the main product of coffee beans, coffee plants also produce a significant amount of waste in the form coffee rind. Coffee rind waste has not been widely used and commonly left out on the field. This can becomes environmental pollution that may cause pests and plant diseases. Banyuanyar village in Ampel District, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, is a village where the majority of its residents work as coffee plantation farmers and cattle breeders. In this village, the farmers process the waste from coffee production into cattle fodder and use cattle waste as fertilizer for the coffee plantation, thus creating an environmentally friendly and sustainable farming cycle. To disseminate the information about this practice and to provide communicative and educative messages to broader society, this study designed an infographic as a communication media. This media is expected to introduce Banyuanyar Village and its organic waste recycling system, as well as inspire the broader community to practice recycling and sustainable farming practice.

Unravelling the resilience of the KGK VI population from the Gumelnița site (Romania) through stable isotopes

The Gumelnița site belongs to the Kodjadermen-Gumelnița-Karanovo VI (KGK VI) communities (c. 4700–3900 cal BC) and comprises the tell-type settlement and its corresponding cemetery. This paper reconstructs the diet and lifeways of the Chalcolithic people in the northeastern Balkans using archaeological remains found at the Gumelnița site (Romania). A multi-bioarchaeological investigation (archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, anthropology) was conducted on vegetal, animal, and human remains, alongside radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ15N) of humans (n = 33), mammals (n = 38), reptiles (n = 3), fishes (n = 8), freshwater mussels shells (n = 18), and plants (n = 24). According to the results of δ13C and δ15N values and FRUITS, the inhabitants of Gumelnița had a diet based on crops and using natural resources, such as fish, freshwater molluscs and game. Although domestic fauna was occasionally exploited for meat, it had a role in providing secondary products. Crops were heavily manured, and chaff and other crop waste may have been necessary fodder for cattle and sheep. Dogs and pigs fed on human waste, although the diet of the latter is more similar to that of wild boars. Foxes had a diet close to dogs, which may indicate synanthropic behaviour. Radiocarbon dates were calibrated with the percentage of freshwater resources obtained by FRUITS. As a result, the corrected dates for the freshwater reservoir effect (FRE) have a delay of an average of 147 years. According to our data, this agrarian community developed a subsistence strategy under the pressure of some climatic changes that started after 4300 cal BC, corresponding to KGK VI rapid collapse/decline episode tracked recently (that begins around 4350 cal BC). This matching of our data in the two models (climatic and chrono-demographic) allowed us to capture the economic strategies that led to the resilience of those people more than other contemporary KGK VI communities.

Determination of chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC in the paddy ecosystem and its risk assessment

Chlorantraniliprole belongsto theanthranilic diamide group is widely used against broad range of lepidopteron pests in a variety of vegetable and rice pests includingyellow rice stem borer and leaf folder. Supervised field trials were conducted duringRabi (2018–2019) and Kharif (2019) to evaluate the dissipation pattern and risk assessment of chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC in paddy ecosystem following foliar application at 30 and 60 g a.i. ha-1 in two different cropping seasons.Modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) technique was used for the extraction of CAP residues with acetonitrile and determined by LC–MS/MS (ESI +).The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.01 µg g−1 for paddy leaf, straw, husk, and brown rice, respectively and 0.005 µg g−1 for soil. The average recoveries obtained were 84.30–88.92% from paddy leaf, 94.25–97.81% from straw, 90.21–93.38% from husk, 93.57–96.40% from brown rice and 89.93–91.14% from soil. The residues in paddy leaf dissipated within 35–40 days with a half-life of 4.33–5.07 days in Rabi and 3.92–4.86 days in Kharif at 30 and 60 g a.i. ha−1, respectively. The residues in soil dissipated within 15–21 days with a half-life of 14.44–15.75 days in Rabi and 13.33–14.44 days in Kharif at respective doses. At harvest chlorantraniliprole residues were not detected in straw, husk, and brown rice. The dietary risk of paddy leaf (green fodder) for cattle was found safe for consumption as the hazard index is less than one. Soil ecological risk assessment was found to be less than one (RQ < 0.1) for earthworms (Eisenia foetida) and arthropods (Aphidiusrhopalosiphi). The presentmethod could be useful inthe analysis ofchlorantraniliproleresidues in different cereals and vegetable crop ecosystems and application at recommended dose is safe for the final produce at harvest.

THE CONTENT OF MICRO-ELEMENTS IN FERMENTED CORN SILAGE AND ALFALFA SAYAGE

Corn silage and alfalfa hay occupy an important place among juicy and coarse fodder for cattle. Due to violation of the technology of procurement, storage or use of these fodders, a large part of them decays and becomes unsuitable for animals feeding. Getting such feed into the diet of ruminants can cause various negative consequences. Therefore, the problem of effective disposal of spoiled corn silage and alfalfa hay arises. One of the effective methods of spoiled feed of plant origin processing into organic fertilizer is composting using microbiological preparations - biodestructors. Composting accelerates mineralization and increases the assimilation of trace elements by plants. However, the problem of the influence of different doses of the BTU-CENTR biodestructor on the content of microelements in fermented corn silage and alfalfa hay has not been studied. For the study, samples of spoiled fodder had been selected, which were fermented without the introduction of a biodestructor (control) and with the introduction of a biodestructor in doses of 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 cm3/t. The content of Ferrum, Zinc, Manganese, Copper and Cobalt was determined in hay and silage after composting. During composting of spoiled alfalfa hay, the Ferrum content in it increases relatively to feed before fermentation. In the control version, the increase in metal content was at the level of 40.0%. Fermentation of fodder with the participation of a biodestructor (use dose of 10.0 cm3/t) led to an increase in the content of Ferum in the composted biomass by 35.7% compared to the control group. During composting with the addition of a biodestructor in the amount of 20.0 cm3/t, the Ferrum content increases by 2.1 times relatively to the metal content in alfalfa hay before fermentation. During the composting of hay with the addition of a biodestructor, the mineralization process accelerated and the content of Zinc per unit of the fermented mass increased. The highest metal content was found in the experimental group where the microbiological preparation was used at a dose of 20.0 cm3/t. The difference with the control indicator was 49.6%. Fermentation of alfalfa hay without a biodestructor led to the fact that the content of Manganese was the lowest in relation to the research groups. The biggest difference was with fermented biomass biodestructor at a dose of 20.0 cm3/t and constituted 23.3%. The content of Copper in alfalfa hay after fermentation with a biodestructor increases significantly. It has been proven that the more biodestructor was used during composting of alfalfa hay, the higher was the metal content in the fermented mass. At the highest dose of the biodestructor, the content of metal-biotics in the fermented hay increased by a statistically significant value. The difference with the control group constituted 50.3%. The higher dose of the BTU CENTR biodestructor was added to the starting material, the higher was the Cobalt content in the composted hay. When a biodestructor was applied to alfalfa hay at a dose of 20.0 cm3/t, the metal-biotic content after composting was 26.7% higher than in the control group. A similar regularity was revealed regarding the change in the content of biotic metals in corn silage after its composting with a biodestructor. Fermentation of silage without the addition of a biodestructor was accompanied by an increase in the content of Ferrum, Zinc, Manganese, Copper and Cobalt in the composted biomass relatively to the feed before fermentation. The more the biodestructor was added to the corn silage, the more fermentation contributed to the increase in mineralization, and accordingly, the content of biotic metals in it. With the use of the largest dose of biodestructor, the content of Ferrum, Zinc, Manganese, Copper and Cobalt in fermented feed increases by 37.2, respectively; 41.3; 46.4; 21.6 and 30.0% relatively to the control group.

Distribution of Salicornia brachiata and Other Halophytes along the Estuarine Habitats of Bahuda River, Ganjam District, Odisha

Halophytes including Salicornia species distributed in Surala Chilaka and other estuarine regions of the Bahuda estuary in Ganjam district, Odisha were studied. Salicornia brachiata is a potential halophyte for production of Green Salt, Plants popularly known as Glasswort, Sea Asparagus are cooked and eaten as salad or are pickled. It is also a good fodder for Cattle, Sheep and Goat. Plant material is also used as raw material in paper and board factories. Its seeds yield high quality edible oil which is highly Poly Unsaturated and is similar to Safflower Oil in fatty acid. Three study sites were selected in different parts of the Bahuda Estuary for collection of data on hydrographical studies of the estuary and distribution and density of halophytes including Salicornia populations. 4X4M quadrants were used to get the data on density of the Salicornia populations in the estuarine regions. Maximum density (3254 plants/hec.) was reported for the species Salicornia brachiata and minimum density (97 plants/hec.) for the species Prosphis chelensis in the different parts of Bahuda estuarine habitats.

Cultivation of fodder beans at the Zarechny state farm during the development of virgin lands in Kazakhstan

The article deals with the beginning of virgin lands development in Kazakhstan in the 1950s. In those years there was an acute shortage of fodder crops, as vast areas of land were given to grain crops. Since the traditions of legume and fodder crops cultivation were forgotten, the specialists of the Zarechny state farm had to apply new methods to solve fodder problems under difficult conditions. The authors came to the conclusion that during the experiments, the specialists of the state farm determined the best way of sowing forage beans by means of square-breeding sowing of a mixture of corn and beans. The chosen method solved the problem of fodder for cattle to a certain extent, affecting the productivity of the dairy herd and its weight gain.

Health Impact Analysis of Physical Workload on Rural Women Residing in Hilly Terrain of Uttarakhand

Rural women in India have always been viewed as a gender which is best suitable for household work and not as a conventional monetary contributor. In general, life is difficult for rural women but it’s even harder to live in mountains where basic requisite for living conditions such as potable water, fuel wood, cattle fodder, and hospital etc., never comes easy and leads to manual material handling of the tasks such as awkward or restrained heavy lifting, carrying, pushing, or tugging. It is amajor health concerns among rural women causing long-term suffering, disability, reduced productivity, and increased medical expenses among rural women due to the well-established risk factor of excessive physical labor. Present study investigates the probable catalysts pertaining to the physical health of rural women native to the mountainous region. 150 women from Amsore village of Uttarakhand were enrolled for this study. All the participants were evaluated using a semi-structured questionnaire for demographic profile and Borg scale of perceived exertion for activities impact assessment. Fetching water (100%), fodder collection (71.33%) and firewood collection (80%) were reported as the most exertion inducing tasks causing physical stress to the women. Low income, unemployment, and poverty, as well as inadequate education, poor sanitation, hazardous working environments, and a lack of access to health care, have been identified as major contributors to health disparities. In order to increase socio-economic contribution and lower the frequency of health injuries among women, these findings urge for preventive efforts and safety guidelines.

ANALIZA KOSZTÓW PRODUKCJI PASZ I ZYWIENIA BYDŁA RZEŹNEGO NA PRZYKŁADZIE WYBRANEGO GOSPODARSTWA INDYWIDUALNEGO

The paper analyses the costs of production of roughage and nutritive fodder and fattening HF and Limousine crossbreds of feeder cattle. The costs of growing fodder for feeder cattle were calculated per one hectare. The cost of producing one tonne of feed was determined based on the farm’s mean crop yield. The calculation included the cost of maintenance, including the cost of feeding 14 animals over 22 months. The animals were kept untethered in stalls with deep litter from the body weight of 36.86 kg to 812.14 kg on the selling date. The feeder cattle were fed according to the nutritional recommendations, and their feed rations were based on feedstock produced on the farm, except post-extraction meals and the mineral and vitamin mix Dolfos BO. It was demonstrated that the cost of producing one tonne of roughage ranged from PLN 66.98 (maize silage) to PLN 265.98 (hay), while that of grain oscillated from PLN 261.22 (rye) to approximately PLN 371 (oats and wheat). It was found that maize silage generated the highest cost in feeder cattle feeding. This fact should be associated with its largest share in feed rations, which as a result corresponded to nearly 5.5 tonnes per animal. As regards nutritive fodder, the highest cost was generated by nutritive fodder 2, which was also linked to its amount per animal. Throughout the fattening period, each animal consumed more than 10 tonnes of feed and its cost could be estimated at PLN 27,939.53. To sum up, the farm received PLN 1,616.75 of income from breeding one animal.

Boosa Movement: A Prologue to the Birth of New Kannada Intellectualism

The Boosa movement was one of the most controversial incidents in the history of Post-Independence literary as well as political discourse in Karnataka. B Basavalingappa, the cynosure of the movement, made a controversial statement on Kannada literature. He commented that most Kannada literature was filled with Boosa (cattle fodder). His statement created an uproar across Karnataka. In this context, this article aims to present how yellow journalism portrayed Basavalingappa and his comments, which eventually made him lose his political position. The hypothesis presents how Basavalingappa was a victim of caste-based politics coupled with yellow journalism. On the other hand, it also presents that despite the political assassination of Basavalingappa from power, how the Boosa incident gave rise to Dalit consciousness and acted as a prologue to the birth of new Kannada intellectuality.

Spatial Modeling of Land Suitability in Agroforestry Blocks of Gadjah Mada University’s Teaching Forest

The species' determination to rehabilitate and enhance the villagers' prosperity needs information on land characteristics, plants' growth requirements, and financial prospects. This study aimed to model the suitability of forest plants, fruit plants, and agriculture crops that are in-situ, desired by the community, and has prospecting financial return based on the biogeophysical characteristics of the Agroforestry Block of the Gadjah Mada University’s Teaching Forest (KHDTK UGM). The land suitability resulted from matching land mapping unit (LMU) characteristics and the plant's growth requirements. The overlay of slope and soil maps generated LMUs. Soil samples were taken and analyzed to identify the characteristics of each LMU. This research suggested that the highest suitability of planting patterns would result in higher land productivity and community prosperity. The Agroforestry Block with the S2 suitability class covered only 26.64% of the area. The land characteristics that inhibit the suitability were solum depth, slope, texture, pH, N, P2O5, and drainage. This research suggested that agroforestry planting patterns in the S2 suitability class should combine timber species (teak and mahogany), Leguminosae (lamtoro and gamal) to improve land quality and as the source of cattle fodder, fruits (jack fruit and mango), and farm crops such as pineapple,..

Effect of fibre fractions of Ailanthus excelsa roxb. on in-vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD) and Metabolisable energy

Forages usually constitute the major portion of the ruminant feeds in our country. Availability of feed containing imbalanced chemical composition and metabolisable energy is major handicap in ruminant production the world over. The present study aimed to evaluate the fibre fractions of Ailanthus excels Roxb. fast growing multipurpose indigenous tree species used as cattle fodder as the leaves are rated as highly palatable and nourishing with high percentage of crude protein. The fiber fractions i.e. Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) values were measured for Ailanthus excels Roxb. leaves and observed that AD Fvaried from 0.91% to 74 %and the average was recorded as 48.93 ± 8.36 %, NDF ranged from 28.49 % to 94.77 % with an average of 5.6± 0.97 % and recorded the minimum of 0.2% to the maximum of 17.5 % of ADL value. Low or high NDF value indicate the dry matter digestibility and dry matter intake that will result in a decrease or increase in livestock consumption. Hemicellulose and cellulose, the slowly digestible fibre materials present in the cell wall ranged from 1.72 to 82.5 % and 0.45 to 96.72 % respectively. The digestibility of the A.excelsa leaves was tested for 24 hrs and 48 hrs were observed that almost all accessions showed digestibility greater than 50%.Metabolizable energy (ME) and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) are the other two energy requirement of cattle other than IVDMD and ME observed to be more than 8.23(MJ/Kg DM) for all the accessions and TDN value more than 40 %. Though fodder is nutrient treasure, the IVDMD decides the nutrient intake by the cattle. With the desirable fibre fraction and promising IVDMD and metabolizable energy values of A. excel accessions can be an alternate tree fodder for cattle during lean period.

Smartphone Based Fluorescence Imaging for Online Control of Cattle Fodder Preparation

A simple and cost-effective technique has been suggested for online monitoring of grist concentration in fodder. The technique is based on fluorescence imaging with grow light lamp excitation and a consumer CMOS camera (DSLR or smartphone) for photo capturing. A prototype instrument has been developed and tested in the laboratory for quantitative express determination of rapeseed grist concentration in fodder. In situ measurement of grist concentration during cattle food preparation has been demonstrated, and the perspectives were discussed. The developed instrument has the potential to ensure more accurate preparation of individual cattle diets compared to currently available methods, which will improve the efficiency of the cattle food production.