Abstract

The present position of fodder for cattle in Madras is far from satisfactory. In most places the cattle are dependent on the straw of cereal crops. The total estimated fodder production is only about 24-53 million tons for the Presidency whereas the total requirement of fodder works out to nearly 58-91 million tons. In most parts of the Presidency, ryots maintain too large a number of cattle, either, for the production of farmyard manure or merely because they do not wish to slaughter them. These animals, unlike the work bullocks and milch cattle are not stall-fed but may be driven out to graze in waste lands. In the case of cattle-breeding or cattle-rearing centres, pastures are maintained or fodder crops are raised to feed the animals. In the Circars, Crotolaria juncea (sunnhemp), in Nellore Phaseolus trilobus (pillipesara) and in Ramnad and Tinnevelly Sorghum dochna var. Irungu (Irungu cholam) are cultivated as fodder crops. In other areas, cattle are allowed to graze on waste lands, current follows and in forests. No systematic grazing principles are adopted and as such the fodder out-put is very poor.

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