भा.कृ.अनु.प.- भारतीय चरागाह एवं चारा अनुसंधान संस्थान, झाँसी

Mandate

• Nutritional evaluation (including antiquality factors) of forages produced under different production systems
• Development of suitable forage conservation techniques and improvement of low grade roughages
• Development of feeding strategies for different types of livestock in relation to available feed resources

Thrust Areas

• Nutritional evaluation of forage resources
• Studies on animal feeding and rumen metabolism
• Feeding management of livestock for sustainable economic production

Working groups

• Forage evaluation and chemistry
• Animal nutrition and grazing research
• Rumen fermentation
• Livestock production & management

Major Achievements

• Economic rations for livestock: Replacement of mustard cake N by 60% with berseem meal N and incorporation of NPN (0.75%) reduced feed cost by Rs 16.32 per day to achieve unit (kg) body weight gain in Jalauni lambs. Average daily feeding cost and cost of milk production (Rs/kg 4%FCM) reduced (P<0.05) by 13.89 and 17.53%, respectively in cows fed experimental diet, hence net daily income was increased (P<0.05) by Rs. 26.71 per cow. It was concluded that mustard cake can safely be replaced by berseem hay meal (BHM) in iso-caloric and isonitrogeneous diet in formulating least cost ration for economic milk production in small holders’ dairy production without any adverse impact on crossbred cows.
• Ensiling of alternative forage resources: Fodder conservation methodology for the ensiling of alternate forages viz. pea haulm, potato haulm and sugarcane top were developed. Green potato haulm could be conserved as silage (45% dry matter) with 2% molasses as an additive. Green sugarcane top could be conserved as silage with or without additives. Silage prepared from Sehima nervosum IG02-703, IG02-713, IG99-191, IG-02-695-1, IG-99-198, IG2045-1 and BS-1 genotypes is of good quality as evident from their pH values.
• Ensiling of tropical range grasses: Silage prepared from Cenchrus ciliaris genotypes viz. IG 96-401, IG 96-50, IG 96-96, IG 96-403, and IG 97-358 were of good quality having DM, pH and lactic acid between 25.5-33.8%, 4.06-4.97 and 0.3-0.95%DM, respectively. Silage prepared from Cenchrus cilairis genotypes viz. IG96-96 and IG96-401 were comparable to maize silage in terms of quality (pH, lactic acid, DM%), intake and nutrients digestibility in lambs. Silage prepared from Sehima nervosum genotypes viz. IG02-703, IG02-713, IG99-191, IG-02-695-1, IG-02-716, IG-99-198 and IG2045-1 is of good quality. Silage DM, pH and lactic acid ranged between 30.6-32.5%, 4.57-4.84 and 0.1-0.24, respectively.
• Alternate fodder resources: Sugarcane grass is perennial crop rich in energy and can meet crude protein requirement for maintenance when fed green. This has good ensiling potential as its silage has pH 4.0 and lactic acid 2.5%DM. Its silage is palatable at par to sorghum; however its nutrients utilization is marginally lower than sorghum.
• In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of fodder and feeds: Four sorghum genotypes viz. PC-5, CSV 17, PVK-809 and SPV 1616 were selected for better stover quality attributes (more protein and higher in vitro dry matter digestibility). Sorghum hybrids, 685A x ICSR 89, 686A x GP 65072, 686A x GD 65195, 673A x GD 65 and 342A x SPV 1680 hybrids selected for higher protein, low fiber and intake, digestibility, energy and NE values for NEL, NEM and NEG.
• Stress management in small ruminants: Stress is the second most important factor responsible for lower performance in farm animals. A THI of 72 is optimum, however, during different seasons it varied from 57-84. During the Summer season, supplementation of barley grain (200 g/h/d) in Bundelkhandi goats resulted in an improvement in energy (43.8 vs. 58.4) and protein (7.95 vs. 9.55) consumption with a positive impact on body weight gain. During the hot-humid rainy season, supplementation of barley grain (200 g/h/d) and NaHCO3 (10 g/h/d) in Bundelkhandi goats resulted in improvement in energy (44.8 vs. 60.3) and protein (8.10 vs. 10.05) consumptions with a positive impact on body weight gain. During the winter season, supplementation of Berseem hay (300 g/h/d) in Bundelkhandi goats resulted in an improvement in protein (8.07 vs. 10.05) consumption with a positive impact on body weight gain.
• Control of aflatoxins-producing fungi through phytochemicals: Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites mainly produced by Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus. They are very toxic to animals as well as plants. Essential oil from Curcuma longa, Ageratum conzoides and Azadiracta indica inhibits the growth of A. parasiticus and A. flavus in PDA medium (In-vitro) at a concentration of 250 μL/L and more. Brassica EO inhibits 100 % fungal growth up to 40 μL/L. However, no growth inhibition was observed in moringa oil even at a conc. of 1000 μL/L.
• Effect of Bt cotton cake on animal health: In India, cotton cultivation has been mainly replaced by transgenic Bt cotton, and as a result, most cottonseed cake, a key protein supplement for ruminants, is derived from Bt cotton. Given the social concerns surrounding the use of transgenic products in food and feed, we conducted a long-term feeding trial to assess the effects of transgenic protein. Our results showed that 96% of the cottonseed cake available in the market is transgenic. A 320-day feeding trial with lambs and rams revealed no adverse effects on body growth, health, or reproductive parameters, with stable blood metabolites and semen quality, confirming the safety of Bt cottonseed cake for livestock feeding.
• Effect of different grazing intensities on soil health and pasture-animal productivity: Long-term effect of 3 grazing intensity pressure viz. control, 1, 1.5 and 3 indicated that plant diversity, pasture quality and herbage intake decreased on increasing the grazing pressure. Lower stocking rate eg. 2 ACU can be maintained without animal weight loss for three months. Further, a lower stocking rate-maintained soil SOC and nutrient status. By adopting optimum grazing pressure, longevity and pastureland can be managed.
• Grazing behavior of small ruminants: Grazing land with about 45% grasses; 55% thorny bushes and shrubs is best for sustainable grazing land management and protocol for grazing practices of animals for amelioration of climatic stress, reducing input cost and increasing profitability.
• Economic importance of Millet-based TMR: Utilizing millet by-products and berseem Hay TMR has been developed for commercial goat production. The cost of the millet-based TMR is Rs 20.80 per kg which is about 12 % less than the Spent grain-based TMR.
• Developed TMR silage: Developed TMR silage of BN hybrid fodder and conc. mixture in 70:30 ratio with DM, CP, NDF ADF contents - 32.95%, 11.60%, 60.77% and 44.19%, respectively. pH and lactic acid content were 4.17 and 3.74%. Feeding trial (Jalauni lambs) indicated better DM, NDF and CP digestibility (64.67, 60.78 and 65.80%). Higher rumen liquor NH3N(mg/dl) and TVFA (mmol/L) (31.36 and 80.83) was found in treated group. Daily body weight gain (80.75g) was higher in silage-fed animals.
• Conservation and improvement of Bhadawari buffaloes: The Network Project on Improvement and Conservation of Bhadawari Buffaloes was initiated in 2001 with the objective of genetic improvement and preservation of this important indigenous breed. Through consistent efforts, a significant milestone has been achieved in the form of an average lactation milk yield of 1500 kg with 8.30% milk fat. Improved Bhadawari bulls and frozen semen doses are regularly supplied to various agencies and farmers to support breed enhancement programs. In the past five years alone, 12 breeding bulls have been distributed to different organizations, frozen semen doses have been utilized in the field for artificial insemination (AI). To create awareness, a dedicated YouTube video on Bhadawari buffaloes was developed and uploaded, which has garnered over 50,000 views to date.
• Conservation and Improvement of Bundelkhandi Goat: The Bundelkhandi goat is black coloured, medium-sized goat, well adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the Bundelkhand region, primarily reared for meat purposes, mainly under an extensive system. Adult goat (12 M) weighs 20.2 kg, daily milk yield is 550 ml, twinning is 22.45% and kidding % is 89.55%. To overcome the limited availability of breeding bucks, 36 selected bucks have been distributed in adapted villages of the Jhansi and Datia districts. More than 195 households and 3812 goats registered so far.

Awards

ICAR Technology certificate awarded in July, 2024:-

• GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS based multi-residue method development for estimation of pesticides and veterinary drugs in animal feeds
• Co-developer in institute’s certified technologies: 09

Central Analytical Laboratory (Plants)

The Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL) also caters to the needs of scientists. In this laboratory, Quality parameter analysis such as dry matter %, acid detergent fiber %(ADF%), neutral detergent fiber %(NDF%), crude protein % (CP%), Acid digestible lignin % (ADL%), Ash %, micronutrients and other silage parameters such as lactic acid %, pH, ammonical nitrogen % is analysed. The rate list for analysis is given below:

Technology Development

• For propagation of Bhadawari buffaloes in the field, 50 selected breeding bulls were supplied to different agencies for semen freezing. More than 14 lakhs semen doses frozen and 11.6 lakh were disseminated for AI, 14030 frozen semen doses deposited in National Animal Gene Bank at ICAR-NBAGR, Karnal.
• Identification and registration of Cenchrus ciliaris tropical grass genotypes (IG96-50, IG96-96 and IG96-401) for ensiling.
• Polymeric polyphenolic compound isolated from Jatopha (J-7) reduced the in vitro methane production from 24.66 to 11.80 ml/g DDM from berseem without altering the DMD. On WS-berseem-concentrate diet, addition of J-7 reduced the in vitro methane production from 25.6 to 10.22 at 0.6% level.
• Addition of polymeric polyphenol compound (AM-5) isolated from Bale reduced the in vitro methane production from 72.10 to 54.42 and 42.03 to 33.91 ml/g DDM from incubation of diets D1 (WS: berseem: CM) and D2 (WS: berseem: CM) respectively without affecting the DMD of diets.
• Developed a methodology for UPLC-FLD-based direct estimation of aflatoxins (AFs) in animal feeds. The workflow has provided a straightforward method for the analysis of AFs in a wide range of animal feed matrices with high sensitivity, selectivity, throughput, and cost-effectiveness. The method allowed a direct analysis of AFs by UHPLC-FLD without a step of derivatization.
• Developed GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS based multi-residue method development for estimation of pesticides and veterinary drugs in animal feeds. The workflow essentially involved a single extraction step, followed by analysis using GC–MS/MS as well as LC-MS/MS. The method offered high throughput residue analysis for a large number of contaminants (344 in total).
• Developed a technology for Sehima nervosum grasses silage. Sehima nervosum, a tropical range grass, is low in sugar content which limits its ensiling, as sugar 7–8% DM is required to initiate the ensiling process. The selected genotypes of Sehima nervosum (IG02-695-1, IG-02-716, IG-99-198) are unique having sugar content >7.0%; could be ensiled without any added sugar content.

Varieties Obtained / Prototype / Machine / Products Developed

• Three genotypes of the grass species Cenchrus ciliaris were identified for silage conservation that can be used during the lean period, based on their sugar content, nutritional evaluation, and ability to produce silage without additives for sustaining livestock. The following genotypes were registered in NBPGR, New Delhi in 2021:
  • IG96-401 — Reg. No. INGR19061
  • IG96-50 — Reg. No. INGR19062
  • IG96-96 — Reg. No. INGR19063
• A millet by-product based total mixed ration (TMR) was designed and developed. Considering the requirements of growing goats for commercial production, this TMR has been developed for easy transport, utilizing millet by-products such as the husk of Kodo millet and Barnyard millet, along with berseem hay.
• TMR Silage developed using BN hybrid/guinea grass and a concentrate mixture (70:30).
• Developed economic rations for livestock.

Ongoing Research Projects