Feeding dairy animals in India becomes more practical and profitable when farmers use fodder that grows easily around them. This article on Top 10 Feeding Plans Using Locally Available Indian Fodder explains simple, adaptable rations that suit different regions and herd sizes. The focus is on using common crops, crop residues and by products instead of expensive imported feeds. Each plan highlights what to feed, how much to give and why it helps animal health and milk yield. With this guidance, both beginners and experienced dairy farmers can plan balanced diets with confidence. These ideas can be adjusted to local climate and resources.
#1 Balanced feeding plan for a lactating crossbred cow
Start with a basic daily plan for a 400 kilogram crossbred cow giving moderate milk. Offer around 20 to 25 kilograms of good quality green fodder such as hybrid napier, maize or sorghum, chopped finely for easy chewing. Add 4 to 5 kilograms of dry fodder from wheat straw or paddy straw to supply fibre and keep the rumen healthy. Include 3 to 4 kilograms of concentrate mix made from maize, oilseed cakes and bran according to milk yield. Provide one handful of mineral mixture and clean water at all times for better daily production.
#2 Improving paddy straw based rations with simple treatment
For areas where paddy straw is the main roughage, design a plan that improves its feeding value. First, treat part of the straw with urea and keep it covered for a few days as advised by local experts. Feed 8 to 10 kilograms of this treated straw plus 4 to 5 kilograms of untreated straw to maintain chewing. Combine this with 15 to 20 kilograms of any available green fodder such as maize, cowpea or local grasses. Add 3 to 4 kilograms of protein rich concentrate and minerals to support good milk yield and body condition.
#3 Summer feeding plan to support intake during heat
In hot Indian summers, focus on feeding plans that support intake during high temperature. Offer more juicy green fodder during cooler hours of the morning and evening, such as sorghum, bajra, fodder maize and local legume mixes. Provide 3 to 4 kilograms of concentrate divided into two or three meals to avoid digestive stress. Keep dry fodder around 3 to 4 kilograms so that animals do not feel too full and reduce water intake. Ensure shade, plenty of cool clean water, and add extra mineral mixture with salts to help animals cope with heat stress.
#4 Winter plan using berseem and seasonal green fodder
In winter and in cooler regions of North India, farmers often have access to berseem, oats and mustard fodder. A practical plan is to feed 20 to 25 kilograms of a berseem and oats mixture, cut young and offered fresh in two or three feedings. Add 3 to 4 kilograms of wheat straw to provide extra fibre and keep dung firm. Give 2 to 3 kilograms of concentrate mix and adjust quantity according to milk yield and body condition. Regular mineral mixture, common salt and clean water will support fertility and good health through the season.
#5 Feeding plan for pregnant dry cows before calving
Pregnant dry cows need a different plan that protects the unborn calf and prepares the udder for the next lactation. Aim for slightly higher dry fodder and moderate green fodder without overfeeding concentrates. Offer 10 to 12 kilograms of mixed green fodder from maize, sorghum and legumes along with 6 to 7 kilograms of good straw. Provide 1 to 2 kilograms of concentrate mostly from bran and oilseed cakes with added minerals and vitamins. Keep body condition moderate, not too fat or too thin, so calving problems reduce and future milk yield remains strong overall.
#6 Growth focused plan for rising dairy heifers
Growing heifers are future milk cows, so their plan must support steady growth without making them over fat. Provide 15 to 18 kilograms of mixed green fodder based on maize, sorghum and one legume, plus 3 to 4 kilograms of dry fodder for fibre. Offer 1 to 2 kilograms of concentrate depending on body size, using low cost ingredients such as wheat bran, maize, broken pulses and a little oilseed cake. Add regular mineral mixture to avoid delayed puberty and weak bones. This approach helps heifers reach breeding weight at the correct age. Good heifer nutrition reduces future health costs for farmers.
#7 Stepwise feeding plan for young dairy calves
Young calves need a special plan that shifts them slowly from milk to solid feed while keeping them healthy. Feed adequate colostrum in the first few days, then continue whole milk or good quality milk replacer according to body weight. From the second week, offer a small amount of calf starter made from crushed grains, oilseed cakes, bran and minerals. Introduce soft green fodder such as tender lucerne or cowpea leaves from the third week, finely chopped. Clean water, dry bedding and regular deworming will support significant growth and reduce chances of diarrhoea and weakness.
#8 Practical feeding plan for milk buffaloes in villages
Buffaloes usually prefer slightly coarse feeds and can handle crop residues well if the plan is balanced. Offer 18 to 20 kilograms of green fodder such as hybrid napier, maize or sugarcane tops, chopped and mixed with legume fodder to improve protein. Add 5 to 6 kilograms of dry roughage from wheat straw or paddy straw to maintain rumen function. Provide 3 to 5 kilograms of concentrate depending on milk yield, using cottonseed cake, mustard cake, maize and bran. Extra mineral mixture and common salt support strong bones, better fertility and higher fat percentage in milk.
#9 Low cost plan using local agro by products
To reduce feeding cost, farmers can design a plan that uses local by products without harming animal health. Replace part of regular concentrate with ingredients such as rice bran, wheat bran, chuni, gram husk and local oilseed cakes, checked for quality. Combine these with adequate green fodder and at least 4 to 5 kilograms of good dry fodder so that the ration stays balanced. Avoid feeding dusty, mouldy or very fine material which can disturb digestion. Always add mineral mixture because many by products lack important minerals needed for milk production and fertility in dairy herds.
#10 Year round integrated fodder plan for small farmers
A year round feeding plan for small and marginal farmers should match local land, labour and rainfall while using several fodder sources. Encourage farmers to grow at least two seasonal fodder crops, for example sorghum in kharif and oats or berseem in rabi, plus some perennial napier along field borders. Store surplus as hay or silage for lean months. Combine this home grown fodder with limited purchased concentrate, agro by products and tree leaves where available. Regular planning of sowing, harvest and storage helps ensure that animals receive balanced feed throughout the year at lower cost.