ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) scientists have developed different varieties and hybrids of good quality high-yielding fodder crops from the germplasm supplied under the fodder research programme (FRP), to improve livestock productivity.

According to the NARC, 2.03 million hectares were put under fodder crop cultivation in Punjab during 2005-06. This was 83 per cent of the country’s total fodder crop area. The province produced 44.44 million tons of green fodder —80 per cent of the total production. The council has been conducting research on varieties of oats, berseem, vetch, sorghum and millet.

Similarly, evaluation of germplasm of oats, vetch, sorghum and millet has been done in the fodder research programme at NARC. These lines of fodder germplasm have great variations in maturity, morphological characteristics and growth habits.

Therefore, it is expected that in the near future a number of varieties will be evolved by exploiting the genetic potential of this germplasm, through the national coordinated fodder research programme, for various ecologies of the country. The existing germplasm of these crops provides a source for the desired characters for plant breeders to improve breeding programmes.

Agricultural scientists were of the view that regular supply of adequate and nutritious fodder was essential for the development of livestock. Over half of the animal feed comes from fodder and crop residue, one-third from grazing at rangelands, wastelands, canal banks, roadsides and the rest from crops and their byproducts. Inadequate fodder yield is the major limiting factor for livestock production.

In terms of total digestible nutrients (TDN) the county is short by about 28.62 million tons and in terms of digestible protein (DP), by about 1.76 million tons, compared to developed countries.

According to NARC, major fodder crops grown during winters included berseem, Lucerne, vetch, oats, barley and mustard; while during summers these were maize, sorghum, millet and cowpeas.

These crops cover 16-19 per cent of the country’s cropped area. The area, with minor fluctuations, decreased from 2.6 million hectares in 1976-77 to 2.45 million hectares in 2005-06.

However, total production in the corresponding years increased from 45.10 million tones to 55.47 million tones. Similarly, yield per unit area also increased from 17.4 ton per hectare to 22.7 tons per hectares (i.e. about 30 per cent increase) as a result of the concerted research and development efforts by fodder research scientists through the development of improved production technologies at NARC.