Alternate Feed and Fodder Management Practices Followed by Dairy Farmers in Drought Prone Areas of Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh

The present study was conducted in two drought prone districts viz Hamirpur and Jalaun from Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh following ex-post facto research design with the objective to document the alternate feed and fodder management practices followed by dairy farmers. Data were collected from 240 dairy farmers through an interview schedule. The study revealed that 100% respondents offered dry fodder during drought period and mixed fodder during normal period. Concentrate was provided only to lactating animals by 68% during drought vs. 90% respondents during normal period. Majority of the farmers were feeding neither salt nor mineral mixture. None of the respondents had ever used any kind of supplemental feed in any period. Most commonly used alternate feed resource was dried fodder, strover (hay), tree leaves and shrub, reportedly used by 68% of the respondents; 50% of the respondents also used wild grasses as feed resources. All of the respondents depended on grazing to meet the feed requirement of their animals. None of the respondents was storing the feed resources as silage for lean period as they had no knowledge about it. It is concluded that the farmers may be educated and motivated through demonstration, gosthies etc. to adapt technological packages of alternate feed and fodder as per district contingent plan to minimize the detrimental losess on dairy production system.