Extensive fodder farming stressed

RAJSHAHI, April 5 (BSS): Substantial farming of fodder could further develop the livestock sector to contribute immensely in fulfilling the protein deficiency in the country, said experts and researchers while talking to the news agency today. Terming the green fodder as the best nutritional diet for the domestic animals, they said different high yielding varieties of fodder and their cuttings like napier, para, jumbo, germane and genii and jackfruit leaves could be easily cultivated on various lands as well as surroundings of road, pond and embankment. "Most of the dairy cows of the area are being detected as low fertility and poor milkier due mainly to lack of nutritive green fodder," said Dr Jalal Uddin Sarder, Chairman, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science of Rajshahi University. He, however, said the green fodder always helps increase milk and meat production and fertility side by side with reducing malnutrition related diseases. Describing fodder farming as more profitable than any other crop, they said without providing green fodder to cows, no farmer could collect maximum amount of milk. Stressing the need for increased development in the livestock sector for food security, self-employment and poverty reduction, Dr Jalal Sarder called for due importance on adopting modern technology, promotion of high yielding varieties and farmers training to overcome the crisis. In this regard, he emphatically said that extensive jackfruit farming could help remove the existing fodder crisis in rearing the livestock, especially goat and sheep, in the country. He said this would greatly help further develop the livestock sector with increased number of goat and sheep to contribute immensely towards fulfilling the protein deficiency in the country. Terming the green leaves of jackfruit tree as the best nutritional and palatable diet for the domestic animals, the expert said this variety of traditional tree could be easily planted on open space or fallow lands by the sides roads, ponds and embankments. Referring to the findings of various research papers, he opined that body weight of a goat could be enhanced by 25 grams everyday through feeding it only jackfruit leaves.