AGRO-grazing refers to animal grazing and browsing of mostly natural vegetation and crop residues-cum-stubble in and around agricultural fields of cultivated tracts including natural vegetation along rivers, canals, distributaries, water channels, ponds, lakes, railway tracks, roads, parks, wastelands and scattered crop residues in agricultural fields. It also includes feeding animals on domestic edible refuses found in houses, vegetable and fruit markets, shops, streets parks and all such places.

Although, agro-grazing is an ignored sector, it still is an important source of animal production in the cultivated Punjab where land is mostly irrigated with canal water. The significance of agro-grazing in Punjab can not be under estimated. The assessment of agro-grazing in Punjab reveals the fact that there are 14,14,255 and 18,54,109 agro-grazing animal units and animal herds respectively, which constitute 16.50 per cent of the total livestock population. The percentage of agro-grazing animals in the country was estimated as 8.12. Whereas their number (animal units) per thousand hectares in irrigated land were 224.9.

Similarly, the number of agro-grazing animals (animal units) recorded per 1,000 persons was 19.2. Among the kind of agro-grazing animals, the percentage of buffaloes, cattle, sheep and goats were 52.2, 31.7, 6.5 and 9.6 respectively. The overall strength of agro-grazing animals units per 1000 hectares was estimated at 224.8 in different ecological regions and cropping belts as compared to 199.8 animal units per 1,000 hectares in agro-grazing sites. About 94 per cent of forage requirement of agro-grazing animals were met in rainy season as compared to 57 per cent in winter.

Data collected during a study revealed that on an-average during all seasons of the year, 76.2 per cent forage obtained from naturally growing plants was available for agro-grazing animals throughout the year. According to the survey, the number of families involved in agro-grazing was 33,432. The number of agro-grazing animals sold was 26.7 per cent of the total head per year which stood at 4,95,047 heads valued at Rs5,462.94 million.

On the basis of chemical analysis, it was found that the available natural forage for animal grazing/browsing was of relative quality and fulfilled 98.6 per cent of the nutritional requirements of the agro-grazing animals. The nutritional study of forage further revealed that the total digestible nutrients available in best (standard) forage on an average basis were 88.9 per cent and in commonly available natural forage was 89 per cent. The forage commonly available provided 124.7 K. cal per one gram bio energy as compared to 125 K. cal/ g in best available forage.

As far as the income of the agro-grazers was concerned, the highest gross annual income of Rs1,95,000 was earned by herders whereas the lowest income of Rs13,300 was earned by sheep herder during 2005. Livestock production, though of small magnitude, is an integral part of the various farming systems being practiced in the country, particularly in Punjab.

Animal grazing and browsing not only curtail expansion of undesirable crown of shrubs and trees but also convert the undesirable grasses, herbs and foliage of other shrubs and trees into high value edible products like meat, milk, cheese, ghee and non-edible products like skins, hides, guts and blood etc. The edible products are very essential for national health which at present is not up to the mark. More than 90 per cent people don’t get the desired level of protein and other nutrients essential for health. According to a report, the daily consumption of protein per head in the country is only 58 grams against the required level of 102 grams

The agro-grazing animals not only significantly contribute to national health, but also control weeds which otherwise would have reduced crop yield by 40 to 50 per cent. The grazing animals also increase fertility of agricultural fields by adding urine and dung to the soil. Agro-grazing is the cheapest means of raising animals on natural vegetative cover.

According to an economic survey (2006-07) the population of cattle registered a significant growth of 45 per cent in 2006 as compared with 1996 when it was 16 per cent higher over 1986. Buffaloes and goats increased by 35 per cent and 31 per cent respectively in 2006 over 1996. The number of other animals like asses, mules, sheep, camels and horses increased by 20, 18, 13 and three per cent, respectively in 2006 as compared with 1996.

The total animal population was 90.891, 110.250 and 142.858 million heads during 1986, 1996 and 2006 respectively which reflect a significant increase. On the other hand, the cultivated fodder produced decreased drastically due to intensive increase in human population as cereal production was preferred to fodder to meet human needs for staple food.

The cultivated area is also decreasing alarmingly due to expansion of residential colonies, industrial areas and increasing salinity, water-logging and aridity. There was an acute shortage of forage during 2003. During the last five years (1995/96 to 1999/2000) the gap between demand and supply of green forage increased from 975.3 million tons to 1,099.37 million tons.

The production of green cultivated fodder was enough for only four million animal units (five per cent of total livestock population) during 2000. The acute shortage of fodder is the major reason of under feeding of livestock. According to investigations, in the country especially in irrigated areas, the livestock farmers mainly depend on green cultivated fodder crops and about 85-90 per cent of the forage requirements is met through available green forages which is in short supply.

It is time that the available resources are exploited to provide green forage to the ever-increasing animal population. The natural vegetative cover is the best resource which can provide green forage to animals and can be consumed through grazing and browsing for conversion into valuable edible and non-edible animal products. Agro-grazing, which so far has remained neglected, needs to be promoted to increase animal population in the country.