DoL

FARMERS TRAINING MANUAL ON

IMPROVED FODDER PRODUCTION AND
CONSERVATION PRACTICES

Green Fodder

Winter Fodder Resources

Fodder Chopping Mechanization

Quality Fodder Feeding

Training Guide to Trainers

Regional Livestock Development Centre, Kanglung

Department of Livestock
© 2019 Regional Livestock Development Centre, Kanglung, Trashigang
Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture & Forest

Published by:
Regional Livestock Development Centre, Department of Livestock. MoAF
Kanglung Trashigang: Bhutan

Compiled by:
1. Dr. Lungten, Veterinary Officer
2. Mr. Wangchuk, Feed and Fodder Officer
3. Mr. Yonten, Feed and Fodder Supervisor

Review and editing:

1. Jambay Gyeltshen, NRDCAN, Bumthang
2. Dr. Tshering Dorjee, RLDC Kanglung

For copies and information:

Regional Director
RLDC, Kanglung
Trashigang

Tel. No. 00975-4-535274/535296 Fax: 535203

 FARMERS TRAINING MANUAL ON
IMPROVED FODDER PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION
PRACTICES

Training Guide to Trainers

Regional Livestock Development Centre, Kanglung

Department of Livestock
i
iii
Overview of the Farmers Training Manual on Improved Fodder Production and
Conservation Practices

Time in
Session Topic Remarks
Hours
Day one
Session 1 00.30 hour Opening of Training Introduction of
participants
1:30 hours Introduction to fodder production Theory
TEA BREAK
Session 2 1:30 hours Fodder development and management Theory
LUNCH BREAK
Session 3 3:30 hours Fodder development and management Practical
Day two
Session 4 1:30 hours Silage making Theory
TEA BREAK
1:30 hours Silage making Practical
LUNCH BREAK
Session 5 00:30 hour Enrichment of maize stover and paddy Theory
straw
2:30 hours Enrichment of maize stover and paddy Practical
straw
Day three
Session 6 1 hour Hay making Theory
TEA BREAK
2:30 hour Hay making Practical
LUNCH BREAK
Session 7 0.30 hour UMMB Theory
1:30 hours Preparation of UMMB Practical
Session 8 1 hour Concentrate feed Theory
Closing of Training

v
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction .............................................................................................................2
2. Common fodder species available in Bhutan .......................................................3
2.1. Temperate fodder species.................................................................................3
2.2. Sub-tropical fodder species..............................................................................3
3. Common fodder trees in Bhutan............................................................................4
4. Fodder development and management .................................................................6
4.1. Process of pasture development ......................................................................8
5. Fodder conservation and enrichment..................................................................10
5.1. Silage .............................................................................................................10
5.1.1. Types of crops suitable for silage making ..........................................10
5.1.2. Method of silage making.....................................................................11
5.1.3. The silage making involves the following process-............................12
5.1.4. Characteristics of good quality silage.................................................13
5.1.5. Feeding of silage ................................................................................13
5.2. Enrichment of maize Stover/paddy straw with urea and molasses................15
5.2.1. Procedure for urea treatment of maize stover/paddy straw.................16
5.3. Hay ................................................................................................................18
5.3.1. The best time to make hay..................................................................18
5.3.2. Steps of hay making............................................................................19
6. Urea-Molasses-Mineral block (UMMB)..............................................................21
7. Concentrate feed ...................................................................................................23
References .....................................................................................................................24

vii
 LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 1. Temperate fodder species..................................................................................3

Figure 2. Sub-tropical fodder species...............................................................................3
Figure 3. Common fodder species....................................................................................4
Figure 4. Fodder plantation...............................................................................................6
Figure 5. Types of crops suitable for silage making.......................................................10
Figure 6. Silage feeding..................................................................................................13
Figure 7. Storing of hay..................................................................................................18
Figure 8. Weather............................................................................................................18
Figure 9. Feeding of UMMB block................................................................................21
Figure 10. Calf................................................................................................................21
Figure 11. Concentrate feed............................................................................................23

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Propotion of different ingridients required to prepare a 100 kg UMMB..........21

Table 2. Different types of feed......................................................................................23
Table 3. Feeding regimes of concentrate in different categories of animals...................23

viii
Lesson Plan

Course title: Training on feed and fodder production

Session1: Introductory to fodder production (Theory)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target group: Dairy farmers / lead farmers

Learning ––To know the brief background on the feed and fodder production in
objectives Bhutan
––To know different types of common fodder species available in
Bhutan
Learning out ––Participants should be able to understand the importance of feed
come and fodder production
––Participants should be able to know different types of fodder species
available in Bhutan
Content ––Brief back ground about feed and fodder production
––Common fodder species available in Bhutan
Methodology ––Lecture
––PPT presentation
––Pictures
Materials / ––Chart paper
tools ––Marker pen
––Projector
––Poster / flip chart
Assessment ––Question and answer session
criteria

1
1. Introduction
Shortage of feed and fodder during the lean season is a major constraint in animal
production in Bhutan. Over the years, in an effort to redress this constraint, a number of
practical technologies for winter feed and fodder productions as well as conservations
have been releases for use in extension. Some of the simplest technologies widely
recommended are silage making, hay making and treatment of maize stovers / paddy
straws with urea and molasses. However, adoption of these technologies by the farmers
has been rather less due to lack of appropriate technology transfer mechanisms. Therefore,
this manual is prepared as a readymade guide which can be easily used by the farmers.

2
2. Common fodder species available in Bhutan
2. Common fodder species available in Bhutan
2.1. Temperate fodder species
2.1. Temperate fodder species

Cocksfoot grass Italian rye grass Tall fescue grass

White clover Oat

FigureFigure 1. Temperate
1. Temperate fodder
fodder species species

2.2.
2.2.Sub-tropical fodderspecies
Sub-tropical fodder species

Paspalum grass Ruzi grass Green leaf desmodium

7
Napier grass Gautemala grass

Figure 2. Sub-tropical fodder species

Figure 2. Sub-tropical fodder species

3
3. Common fodder trees in Bhutan
3. Common fodder trees in Bhutan

Ficus auriculata Willow tree

Banana tree

Figure 3. Common fodder species

Figure 3. Common fodder species

4
Course title: Training on feed and fodder production
Session 2: Fodder development and management (Theory)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target Group: Dairy farmers / lead farmers

Learning ––To give knowledge on various process of pasture development and

objectives management
Learning out ––Participants should be able to carry out and understand pasture
come development and management
Content ––Pre requisite of fodder development
––Types of seeds and seedlings
––Process of pasture development
Methodology ––Lecture
––PPT presentation
––Pictures

Materials ––Land preparation tools

––Chart paper
––Marker pen
––Pictures
––Projector / posters / Flip charts
Assessment ––Q & A session
criteria

5
4. Fodder development and management
Before the establishment of any pastures, following
general consideration should be made-

➢ Land availability
4. Fodder development
➢ Locations of the pastures and management
➢ Number
Before of animals to beoffedany pastures, following
the establishment
➢ Labour
general requirementshould be made-
consideration
➢ –Availability of the fodder seeds/seedlings
–Land availability
––Locations of the pastures
––Number of animals to be fed
––Labour requirement Figure 4. Fodder plantation
––Availability of the fodder seeds/seedlings Figure 4. Fodder plantation

Following types of seeds/seedlings are commonly available in Bhutan

Following types of seeds/seedlings are commonly available in Bhutan

Seeds Seedlings Grass Slips

11

6
Course title: Training on feed and fodder production

Session 3: Fodder development and management (Practical demonstration)

Duration: 2 hours
Target Group: Dairy farmers / lead farmers

Learning ––To be able to understand practical steps on pasture development and

objectives management
Learning out ––Should be able to carry out pasture development and management
come by participants
Content ––Pre requisite of fodder development
––Types of seeds and seedlings
––Process of pasture development
Methodology ––Practical demonstration
Materials ––Power tiller
––Land preparation tools
––Chemical fertilizers / Farm yard manures
––Seeds and seedlings
Assessment ––Q & A session
criteria

7
4.1.
4.1. Process
Processofofpasture
pasturedevelopment
development

13

8
Course title: Training on feed and fodder production

Session 4: Silage making (Theory & Practical)

Duration: 4 hours
Target Group: Dairy farmers / lead farmers

Learning ––To impart knowledge on silage and procedures of silage making

objectives
Learning out ––Participants should be able to understand the silage and various
come steps of silage making
Content ––Definition of silage
––Crops suitable of silage making
––Methods of silage making
––Characteristic of good silage
––Feeding of silage
Methodology ––Lectures
––PPT presentation
––Flip chart
––Practical demonstration
––Pictures
Materials ––Chart paper
––Marker pen
––Projector
––Poster
––Green forages
––Chaff cutter / knife
––Silo pit / plastic bag / plastic
––Fork
––Salt
Assessment ––Q & A session
criteria

9
5. Fodder conservation and enrichment
5. Fodder conservation and enrichment
5.1. Silage
5.1. Silage
Silage is
Silage is any
any fodder
fodderfermented
fermentedunder
underanaerobic
anaerobiccondition in in
condition a structure called
a structure silo.silo.
called It isItthe
is
method of fodder conservation for feeding the animals during winter.
the method of fodder conservation for feeding the animals during winter.
5.1.1. Types of crops suitable for silage making
5.1.1. Types of crops suitable for silage making
Crops having good percentage of sugar and appropriate (35-40%DM, 60-65% moisture)
Crops
moisturehaving goodfor
are good percentage of sugar
silage making. andofappropriate
Some the common (35-40%DM,
crops which 60-65% moisture)
can be used for silage
moisture are good for silage making. Some of the common
making and are commonly found in Bhutan are as follows- crops which can be used for
silage making and are commonly found in Bhutan are as follows-

Figure 5. Types of crops suitable for silage making

Figure 5.Types of crops suitable for silage making

15

10
5.1.2. Method of silage making
5.1.2. Method of silage making
There are two ways of making the silage. They are-
There are two ways of making the silage. They are-

Silo Pit Plastic silage bag

✓ Usually round bottom silo pit is ✓ Good quality plastics is used

––Usually round bottom silo pit is ––Good quality plastics is used
preferred ✓ Bag is made air tight
preferred
✓ Size of silo-pit depends on the ––✓Bag is made
Keep air tight
in a clean shed free from
––Sizenumber
of silo-pit depends
of animals to be on
fed the ––Keep in a clean
rats and rodents shed free from
number of animals to be fed
✓ Constructed on elevated land ✓ratsWill
andberodents
ready to used after21 days
––Constructed on elevated land ––Will be ready to used after 21 days

Procedures of si

16

11
5.1.3. The silage making involves the following process-
5.1.3. The silage making involves the following process-

17

12
5.1.4.
5.1.4. Characteristics
Characteristics ofof good
good quality
quality silage
silage

5.1.5. Feeding of silage

––Silage Should be fed as soon as possible preferably within few hours
––Silage can be provided to animals in number of different recipes based on its
compositions and the breed and use of the animals
––In general, silage should be used up to 25kg per day for 550 kg animal
––Once open, it is recommended to seal it properly to maintain the quality

18feeding
Figure 6. Silage

13
Course title: Training on feed and fodder production

Session 5: Fodder enrichment (Theory & Practical)

Duration: 4 hours
Target Group: Dairy farmers / lead farmers

Learning ––To impart knowledge on forages enrichment

objectives
Learning out ––Participants should be able carry out enrichment of maize stover and
come paddy straw
Content ––Enrichment process of maize and paddy straw
Methodology ––Lecture
––PPT presentation
––Flip chart
––Practical demonstration
Materials ––Chart paper
––Marker pen
––Projector
––Poster
––Silo pit / plastic / plastic bags
––Chaff cutter / knife
––Vacuum pump
––Maize stover / paddy straw
––Urea, molasses, water
––Buckets, weighing balance, rope,
––Planks, Soil, stones
Assessment ––Quiz
criteria ––Q & A session

14
5.2. Enrichment of maize Stover/paddy straw with urea and molasses
5.2. Enrichment of maize Stover/paddy straw with urea and molasses

21

15
5.2.1.
5.2.1. Procedure
Procedurefor urea
for treatment
urea of maize
treatment stover/paddy
of maize straw straw
stover/paddy
The process
process of
of enriching
enrichingthe
themaize
maizestover/paddy
stover/paddystraw
strawinvolves
involves
thethe following
following process-
process-

22
16
Course title: Training on feed and fodder production

Session 6: Hay making (Theory & Practical)

Duration: 4 hours
Target Group: Dairy farmers / lead farmers

Learning ––To impart knowledge on hay and process of hay making

objectives
Learning out ––Participants should be able to understand hay and should be able to
come carry out various steps of hay making
Content ––Definition of hay
––Best time to make hay
––Hay making process
Methodology ––Lecture
––PPT presentation
––Flip chart
––Practical demonstration
Materials ––Chart paper
––Marker pen
––Projector
––Poster
––Pasture / forages field
––Bush cutter / sickle / knife
––Fork
––Storing shade
––Pictures
Assessment ––Q & A session
criteria

17
5.3. Hay
5.3. Hay
Hay is the simple fodder conservation technology
andHay
it isis the process
the simple of cutting
fodder greentechnology
conservation fodder and
and it is
drying (15-20%
the process moisture)
of cutting green fodder and drying (15-20%
moisture)

5.3.1. The best time to make hay

It is made after rainy season and it takes about five sunny
Figure 7. Storing of hay
Figure 7. Storing of hay

daysThe
5.3.1. to make
bestgood
timehay
to make hay
It is made after rainy season and it takes about five sunny days to make good hay

Figure 8. Weather
Figure 8. Weather

24

18
5.3.2. Steps of hay making
5.3.2. Steps of hay making

25

19
Course title: Training on feed and fodder production

Session 7: Urea Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB), (Theory & Practical demonstration)
Duration: 2 hours
Target Group: Dairy farmers / lead farmers

Learning ––To impart knowledge on Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block (UMMB)

objectives
Learning out ––Participants should be able to prepare UMMB after the training
come
Content ––Meaning of UMMB
––Importance of feeding UMMB
––Methods of feeding UMMB
––Precautions
Methodology ––Lecture
––PPT presentation
––Flip chart
Materials ––Chart paper
––Marker pen
––Projector
––Poster
––Weighing balance, Wooden frame, Bowl
––Rice bran, molasses, urea, salt, dicalcium phosphate, trace elements,
water, cement
Assessment ––Quiz
criteria ––Q & A session

20
6. Urea-Molasses-Mineral block (UMMB)
What is UMMB?
Urea-Molasses-Mineral block (UMMB) is mixtures of the following in a solid form-

Table 1. Propotion of different ingridients required to prepare a 100 kg UMMB

Ingredients Parts per 100 kg mix

Molasses 36.00
Rice bran 38.00
Urea 10.00
Cement 8.00
Salt 1.90
Dicalcium phosphate 2.00
Trace minerals 0.10
Water 4.00
Total 100.0

Why feed UMMB as a supplement to cattle

––It provides essential nutrients such as protein,
energy and minerals

How is UMMB fed to Why

cattle?
feed UMMB as a supplement to cattle

––UMMB is given to✓cattle as aessential

It provides lick nutrients such as
protein, energy and minerals
––5 kg block should last 7-10 days when given
to a cow weighing 350-400kg
How is UMMB fed to cattle?
Figure 9. Feeding of UMMB block
✓ UMMB is given to cattle as a lick
Precautions ✓ 5 kg block should last 7-10 days when
given to a cow weighing 350-400kg
––Do not feed to calve below 6 months of age
––Do not feed to cattle that have not eaten for Figure 9. Feeding of UMMB block

a whole day Precautions

✓ Do not feed to calve below 6 months of

––Do not feed too much of it to any cattle
age
––Always provide clean drinking water ad-
✓ Do not feed to cattle that have not eaten
for a whole day
libitum (free choice)
✓ Do not feed too much of it to any cattle
✓ Always provide clean drinking water ad-
libitum (free choice)

Figure 10. Calf

Figure 10. Calf

21
Course title: Training on feed and fodder production

Session 7: Concentrate feeds (Theory)

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target Group: Livestock rearing farmers

Learning ––To give the knowledge on the concentrate feeds

objectives
Learning out ––Participants should be able to know different concentrate feeds and
come their recommended uses
Content ––Types of concentrate feed
––Feeding regimes
––Importance of feeding concentrate feed
Methodology ––Lecture
––PPT presentation
––Flip chart
Materials ––Chart paper
––Marker pen
––Projector
––Poster
––Different cattle feed
Assessment ––Quiz
criteria ––Q & A session

22
7. Concentrate feed
What is concentrate feed?
Concentrate feed are those feed with high content
of nutritional substances. Karma feed is most
common in Bhutan.

Types of concentrate feed

Following types of feeds are available- Figure 11. Concentrate feed

Table 2. Different types of feed

Sl.
Types of feed Remarks
No
1 Calf starter To be feed from 42nd days till 8 months
Cattle Formulated for milking cow to maintain health, ensure milk
2
Concentrate production, and reproductive health
Recommended for Milking cow producing more than 10 liters
3 Milk ration
of milk per day

Feeding regimes
Table 3. Feeding regimes of concentrate in different categories of animals
Condition of cattle Feeding allowances
For body maintenances Summer season-1 kg to 1.5kg per day per cattles
Winter season- 2kg to 2.5 kg per day per cattle
In addition to above-every 2 litres of milk production
For milk production
requires 1 kg feed and multiples thereof

Why feed concentrate to animals

––Provide nutrients to the animal
––Enhance milk production capacity
––Help to keep animal healthy

23
References
Karma feeds. (n.d). Nutrionally balanced quality feeds. Phuntsholing : Karma feeds .

National Feed and Fodder Development Program . (2010). Enriching Paddy Straw with
Urea and Molasses for Feeding Cattle . Thimphu: Deparment of Livestock, MoAF.

National Feed and Fodder Development Program. (n.d). Enriching maize stover with
urea and molasses for feeding cattle. Bumthang: NFFDP.

National Feed and Fodder Development Program. (2010). Extension recommendations

for preparation of Urea-Molasses-Mineral-Block (UMMB) and feeding to cattle as
a supplement. Thimphu: Infromation and Communication Services, MoAF.

Wangchuk, K., Lepcha, I., & Wangda, P. (2008). A hand book for feed and fodder
development worker in Bhutan. Bumthang : Renewable Natural Resources Research
Centre and National Feed and fodder development program.

24