Balanced feeding for improving livestock productivity - Increase in milk production and nutrient use efficiency and decrease in methane emission

Balanced feeding for improving livestock productivity
Increase in milk production and nutrient use efficiency and decrease in methane emission

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 2012

In developing countries feed shortages notwithstanding, considerable potential exists to increase production levels across a range of growing, lactating and beef animals by addressing the problem of imbalanced nutrition. The data on improving milk production efficiency in dairy animals through balanced feeding suggests that there is considerable scope for enhancing milk production with strategic use of the existing feed resources. This is possible through the transfer of scientific knowledge, in an easy-to-use and easy-to-implement manner to milk producers. The aim should be to promote feeding of a balanced ration in sufficient quantities and containing all essential nutrients. This paper outlines an approach used by National Dairy Development Board, India to balance rations at the doorsteps of smallholder farmers. This initiative has relevance for many other developing countries.

ABSTRACT

Acknowledgements
Executive Summary

Introduction

Productivity of dairy animals in india

A balanced ration and ration balancing programme

Implementation of the ration balancing programme

Impact of feeding balanced rations

Knowledge transfer to milk producers on other related aspects

Relevance of the ration balancing programme to other developing countries

Conclusions

Bibliography

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ISBN 978-92-5-107303-2

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