FODDER RESOURCES AND PASTORAL SYSTEMS IN NEPAL

S.B. Panday¹ M.R. Tiwari ²

¹Senior Scientist, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Nepal

²Animal Nutritionist, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Nepal

Abstract

Livestock are a crucial component of farming systems in Nepal. Traditionally, communal grazing areas and off farm fodder resources have been important for the nutrition of ruminant livestock. The fodder has been gathered in the form of leaves and grasses from common property forest areas. The feed supply is adequate only in the months June to September; rest of the year animals are forced to face feed scarcity. Rangeland, forests, shrub lands and croplands are important forage resources in Nepal. Crop by-products, which has been used as a major part of diet during feed scarce period, is the largest source of TDN (53.8 %) followed by forest (165) and grazing land (10.6%). The grazing system of Northern regions is seasonal according to a migratory system that varies depending on animal species, local geographical conditions and traditional patterns. In the hills and terai, forest and marginal lands and roadsides are main grazing spots available and in many areas are grazed over the year without any rest period.

Introduction

Nepal is situated in Southern Himalayan flank and roughly rectangular in shape with total area of 147181 km ². The average North – South width is about 193 km and east – west length averages to 885 km ². It lies between the fertile Gangetic plain of India and arid plateau of Tibetan Autonomous region of China. The country is landlocked and is bordered by India in East, West and South, and China in North. The country is broadly divided into three ecological regions: terai (plain area), the hills and mountains covering 23, 42 and 35 percent of the area, respectively. Broadly, Nepal lies within subtropical monsoon climatic system but it has a wide variety of climate from tropical in the south to alpine in the north due to its immense topographical variation. About 97 percent of total area is covered by land. The land use data shows that only 5.8 million ha are includes of forests, 1.7 million ha of pasture, 2097 million ha of cultivated agricultural land, and 0.99 million ha of non cultivated agricultural land. In 1999/2000 the number of cattle reached to 7.02 million, buffaloes 3.52 million, sheep 0.85 million, and goats 6.32 million which has pressure on limited arable land, forests and pasture lands (NAP, 2002).

Livestock growth plays an even more important role in reducing poverty and enabling women to participate in the force. It is the most important context for mainstreaming role women in development (APP, 1995). 

Livestock are a crucial component of the farming system in Nepal. They contribute to household subsistence and incomes, draught power and recycling of nutrients essential for the fertilization of cultivated land. Traditionally, communal grazing areas and off farm fodder resources have been important for the nutrition of ruminant livestock. Increasing pressure on land, together with changing access rights to communal resources, has led to a decrease in availability of off farm fodder resources. Seasonal feed shortage are becoming more severe and according to farmers report, this limiting livestock productivity in many areas of the country.

Feed shortage and / or poor quality fodder at the end of the dry season in March to June are main constraints to live stock. Traditionally, fodder has been gathered in the form of leaves and grasses from common property forest areas. These off farm sources are particularly important in the dry season, providing a high protein supplementation to low protein crop residues diet (LPS, 199).

The feed and fodder supply is said to be adequate only during the months of June to September, rest of the year animals are forced to face the feed scarcity. During the lean period (October to May), the main sources of TDN provided to the ruminants are mainly from the cereal straws (51%), green grasses (30%) and fodder tree leaves (12%). Despite the shortage of feeds, most of the available feed resources are not fully utilized. However, there is ample scope of increasing and improving available feed resources base by developing and / or adopting technologies to use non-conventional feed resources (Joshi and Panda, 1987.

Fodder Resources

Animal Nutrition is a constraint in most of Nepal brought by an increasing number of animals, which must compete for existing feed resources. Not only does this adversely affect animal productivity but, under marginal conditions the livelihood and physical environment of farmers is increasingly placed at risk. In all areas of Nepal malnutrition of animals is evident. in some areas more than others, the level of feeding is insufficient for most of the animals life, while in the most other locations substantial under feeding for periods of the year is common.

The acute shortage of livestock feed in Nepal as well acknowledged and it estimated that only three months of total feed requirement for animals is met on an annual basis. Forage and feed availability is influenced by factors such as agro ecological zones, farm size and breed of livestock (LMP, 1993). Rangelands, forests, shrublands, and croplands are important forage resources in Nepal. These various land types produce green biomass in the form of grasses, sedges, herbaceous growth, tree foliage and crop residues that are consumed by livestock.

Sources of feeds and fodders and their contribution in TDN supply/TDN sources

Major sources of TDN supply are presented in Table 1. Crop by products by far represented the single largest source of TDN (53.8%) followed by forest (16.0%) and grazing land (10.6%).

Source: APROSC, 1986

TDN supplies from by-products is given in Table 2. Among different crops grown in Nepal paddy (69.69%) contributes the highest amount of by products followed by maize (10.62%) and wheat (8.69%). Crop such as oilseeds, barely and millets (11.01%) together are also found to some extent contributing to by products.

Table 2: TDN supply from crop by products ('000 MT)

Source: Statistical Information on Nepalese Agriculture (1999 / 2000)

Roughages

Roughages make up most of the ruminant’s diet in Nepal. These include cereal straws, green grasses and tree leaves.

Green grasses

During the monsoon season (June-September) plenty of natural green grasses are available. During this short period animals receive adequate amount of green grasses in their diets. Although, after the rainy season the green grasses progressively mature and start setting the seeds, which results in the reduction of the availability of the nutrients from these grasses. Consequently, during the long dry season (October – May) there is low availability of green grasses.

Tree leaves

Nepal is rich in diversity of its vegetation. Over hundred tree species are used as source of green fodder during the scarcity period (Amatya, 1990). Fodder trees are the main sources of green fodder during November to May months. Lopping fodder from the forest is also very common. Forest fodder trees are estimated to contribute about 45 percent of animal feed in the hills. Raising fodder trees on wasteland is a common practice in the hills. The yield of fodder trees varies from 50-200 kg of fodder per tree per year. The annual yield and life of a fodder tree depends on the scarcity and frequency of lopping. Some of the common used forage resources are give in Table–3.

Table 3. Commonly used forage resources

Cereal straw (Crop residues)

Crop residues like rice straw, wheat and millet straw, by – products and corn stover constitute an important source of animal fed in the winter along with fodder leaves. It is estimated that almost 3 million MT of crop residues are produced each year in the mountains and hills of Nepal (Joshi and Panday, 1987). About 70 percent of its used as animal feed and rest is roofing, bedding etc. Feeding value of these nutritionally poor residues being improved by Chaffing and urea treatment.

Concentrate

The use of concentrates in the rations is mostly limited to the productive animals. These are used mainly as the ingredients in the compounded rations.

Cereal and their by – products

Maize is used as a source of energy in most non-ruminants’ rations. Limited amount of wheat is also used in the commercial rations. Rice bran, rice polish, wheat midlings, wheat bran is the major cereal by – products used in the commercial rations. Milch animals and working bullocks are generally provided some supplements of cereal by products in most farm households of the country.

Oilseed cakes

Mustard oilseed cake is the largest source of oilseed cake in Nepal. However, its use in the commercial ration for non-ruminants is limited due to its anti nutritive effects (Joshi, 1988). Soybean meal as well as groundnut cakes are important to be incorporated in most commercial rations.

Non-conventional feed resources

Due to limited industrialization based on agricultural commodities, severe of the agro industries by products is yet considered non-conventional feed resources in Nepal. Molasses has been used in livestock ration to some extent as several sugar mills have been operating in the country. Due to the establishment of several brewing industries, brewers’ grains and the yeast are also available and being utilized in some extent for animal consumption. Although, its utilization has been very limited, sal seed cake, Cassia tora seeds are also used to some extent in animal feeding. However, There is ample of scope in bringing in several non-conventional feed resources or animal feeding in Nepal (Joshi and Singh, 1989).

Pastoral System

In the country closely related with cropping and utilization of forest resources. The tremendous diversity of ecological zones and farming and livestock production systems in Nepal demands specific intervention measures for improving forage resources in the different ecological zones and production systems. Strategies for improving forage resources can be broadly divided into three separate components:

1.      Northern pastures

2.      Mid hills

3.      Terai

The Northern Regions

The Northern pastures region includes all of northern and can generally be thought of as those areas at elevations above 3000 meters. This region includes the northern border regions in the Trans – Himalayan zone and high elevation grazing lands in the high – Himalayan zone. Permanent snow clad peaks, extreme old and alpine temperate climate characterize high altitude areas (Sharma, 1988).

Grazing system

The growth and use of these rangelands is very seasonal. In the humid, temperate hills grass only grows in the summer when temperatures are highest and the monsoon rainfall and high radiation regime result in very rapid growth of the pasture. In the arid steppe areas grass growth is much less and lack of moisture as well as low temperatures are major constraints.

The grazing of these areas is also seasonal according to a migratory system that varies depending on animal species, local geographical conditions and traditional patterns. Breeding herds of Yaks graze the alpine meadows at altitudes of up to 5000m or more during the summer accompanied by herders. During the winter the herd brought down around 3000 m and herded near the village or allowed to graze unattended in forests around the winter snowline. No supplements are fed to Yaks except when used for pack purposes, as most commonly occurs during the autumn and spring months.

Migratory herds of sheep and goats move up from villages in June – July to graze the alpine pastures during the summer and return with the approaching winter in October – November to graze common grasslands and degraded forests above the villages. After November flocks move down into the mid hills where they graze crop stubble and fallow lands in return for their manure contribution.

Cattle, Chauries and buffaloes may join the summer grazing migration but are more likely to be stall fed during the winter on conserved hay and tree fodder. Milking animals especially will be kept near the village while lactating, and in addition to available grazing, will be fed supplements of grain, salt, etc.

Breeding herds of horses, and mules, being rested from their winter transportation work, also join the migration to the high pastures in the summer.

Thus, many livestock owned by villagers living in the mountains at 2500 – 3000 m move in winter to the croplands of the mid hills at 1000 –2000 m. In summer when such livestock return to the high land villages and alpine meadows, livestock from the mid hills joins them.

In some areas the traditional transhumance cycle included, or evens year round, grazing of herds of Yak and Chauries or flocks of sheep and goats in Tibet. Restrictions on animal numbers and greatly increased fees for pasturage imposed by the Chinese government have made this option much less attractive, therefore that many animals now remain in Nepal and create the competition for available grazing.

The Hill Regions

The hills of Nepal constitute the southern foothills of the Himalaya at elevation of between approximately 300 –3000 m.  This includes the intensively settled valleys and mountain sides leading up to patches of grassland and forest, which varies in condition from sparsely covered to relatively untouched depending on accessibility. Climate is generally temperate with considerable variation in micro – environments, created by the rugged topographically, and varying according to elevation, direction and steepness of slope, solar radiation and cloud cover, The hill slopes are generally carved into terrace which have been built over hundreds of years.

Grazing System

In the hills, forest and marginal lands and roadsides are main grazing sites available and in many areas are grazed year round without any rest period. Due to continuous and high grazing pasture, regeneration of palatable species is very much suppressed. Under these circumstances grazing lands have deteriorated severely and much of them have been invaded with noxious weeds like European spp. Forest grazing in many areas is also deteriorating.

However, where villages in the hills still have access to adequate forest resources an annual cycle is followed. Generally all ruminant animals are grazed year round and depend on forest areas for both forage and pasture. Only milking animals are stall fed because these animals need more care.

The grazing cycles of buffalo and cattle differ. Buffalo are driven out to the upper hill grazing area in mid May and graze there until September, whereas the cattle generally graze in the upper hills only for a month or so from August to September – October. The sheep and goats are sent out to pasture near the village each morning and brought back to pens each evening, mainly because of risk of predation. From October, buffalo and cattle graze on agricultural land to manure the fields for winter crops. From November until March the animals are kept in stalls and fed tree fodder and crop residues. During this period they are driven out to nearby communal or private pasture / range lands and brought back to the house at night. In April – May the animals again graze on cropland to manure the fields for summer crops. Where traditional social controls are employed to manage forest and grazing land, the community as a whole takes responsibility for the maintenance of a sustainable pasture forest management system.

The Terai Regions

The Terai, adjacent to India, is a narrow strip of land, never more than 50 km wide, stretching 800 km in an east – west direction along the southern side of the Siwalik range, which constitute the foothill of the Himalayas. Several broad valleys are found north of the Siwaliks; these are the Dun or Inner Terai. Elevation of the Terai ranges from 60 m near the Indian border to 300 m near the hills. The terai has a humid subtropical climate with rainfall averaging 1600 mm per year, mostly during the June – September monsoon.

Grazing System

Animals are grazed year round even though the availability of forage is minimal at most times of the year. Children usually herd the grazing animals. During the summer monsoon from June to September grazing is mainly confined to the roadsides and any available public land. This is to avoid damage to the growing crops. From September to December as the crop ripens and is harvested, the animals graze the bunds under strict supervision – usually as individual animals. From December to June grazing moves to the harvested and fallow lands where they are managed as a herd.

Conclusion

Approximately 18 million ruminant livestock got TDN supply from the sources such as grazing, forest, fodder and crop by – products. These feeds are not sufficient to meet the growing population of the ruminants in Nepal. Pastoral system in the Himalayan region is to some extent satisfactory. Similarly, pastoral system in the Hills and Terai is almost non-existent. Quantity and quality improvements in the available feed resources of Nepal are the prerequisite for increasing productivity of the ruminant population in the country.

References

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