Assessing the suitability of meadows of Vagamon hill ranges of Kerala for grazing of dairy cattle

Abstract

In India, majority of the small-holder farmers are depending on semi-extensive farming system. The cost-effective method of semi-extensive farming is being practised in the hilly regions of Kerala, especially the Vagamon hill ranges of Idukki district. Scientific dairy farming in such semi-extensive farming systems requires evaluation of the quality of grasses in meadows, animal preference to flora and the soil quality. The study was conducted at the Base Farm, Kolahalamedu under Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University where the animals are regularly left out for grazing. The most preferred grass species by the grazing animals was Congo signal in the meadows. Cultivated fodder (Setaria sp.) was also offered to the animals while at the shed. The dry matter content of grass species favoured to meet the dry matter requirement of animals to a major extent and hence the enrichment of soil quality of the meadows will increase the nutritive quality and biomass content of grasses. It is suggested that, proper management of meadows of Vagamon hill ranges with respect to type of grasses and soil quality will favour cost-effective dairy farming

Keywords

• grazing meadows
• kerala
• scientific farming