Pandharinath T. Karande^1,, Vijay S. Bhagat², Rajendra B. Zolekar³

Livestock is a continuous and major source of income to the tribal people in India. The scarcity of fodder is a major constraint observed for dairy activity in rural and tribal zones. Therefore, the fodder was estimated to understand the fodder source and budgeting for planning and management of sustainable dairy activity in the study region. The grazing on forest and open lands and stall feeding of harvested fodder are major feeding methods observed in the study area. The grazing estimates about 59% of fodder requirements and stall feeding estimates about 41%. The significant positive correlation was estimated for 1) 6 months grazing period with forest land, grasses reported as crop, other crops and area not available for cultivation, 2) 7 months grazing period with net sown area, good soil, rice crop, fallow land and private grasslands, 3) 8 months grazing period with an area not available for cultivation, good soil quality, good rainfall, more other crops, fallow land and grass reported as a crop and 4) 9 months grazing period with forest and area under crops. Green fodder shows deficit of about 80.6% of requirements in 95% villages with an adverse effect on dairy activity. Surplus green fodder is available only in villages having perennial irrigation facilities. Dry fodder estimated about 13.7% surplus which tribal people are using as supportive fodder in shortage period. These methods are useful for estimations and analysis of available fodder in rural and tribal zones of Indian and developing countries.

fodder estimations, fodder availability, fodder requirements, fodder scarcity