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Animal feed or fodder is foodstuff that is specifically produced or obtained to feed livestock such as cattle, sheep, chickens etc. Though most of the animal feed is from the plant world some of it is of animal origin. It is also defined as coarse food composed of entire plants or leaves and stalks of a cereal plant especially for cattle and horses.
Types of Fodder: There are three main types of fodder. These comprise Hay, Silage and Yeast Extract.  Hay, in simple terms is described as grass that is cut and dried for animal feed. It is the leafy content that reflects the quality of hay. In hot and dry climates, hay is made from dry and coarse grasses that have very low nutritional content. The farmers have no option but to feed the same. The process involved in obtaining hay includes mowing and cutting of grasses in the initial phase. The chopped material is allowed to dry so that the moisture is removed. The dried grass is then processed into storage in the form of bales and stacks. Commonly used plants for hay are ryegrass, alfalfa, clovers. Alfalfa grass is popular because it makes superior hay for horses and cattle.
Silage is another type of fodder prepared by storing and fermenting green forage plants in a silo or pit. It is mainly fed to cud chewing animals such as cattle and horses. Silage can also be made from other field crops such as oats and peas. Sometimes a mixture is used to prepare silage and is known as haylage. This is commonly used as dairy cattle diets. Another form of silage popularly known as baylage is also used to feed cattle. In this case, grass is cut and baled when fairly wet, the dry matter being seventy percent. The bales are wrapped and allowed to ferment for a limited period of time. Yeast extract is another type of fodder obtained by allowing the yeast cells to break up. This helps in breaking down the protein into simpler compunds that are easily digestible. The common name for this is yeast autolysates which means that a cell self destructs itself in order to generate healthiness for the entire organism. Yeast extract is often recommnded as a source of vitamin B 12.
Plants grown for Fodder: Some pf the plants grown specifically for fodder include grass, ryegrass, oats, alfalfa, millet, red clover, sorghum, wheat, turnip etc..Grasses are a common source of fodder. Ryegrass is a species of grasses, has a high nutritive content and is used in the form of hay. Wheat is a widely grown plant that has several benefits apart from being fit for human consumption too. In some places wheat is cultivated to serve as animal feed. Otherwise in most cases it is the straw that is used as fodder. Though it has low nutritive content it is valued for providing the roughage component. In cold climates it provides a source for generating heat in the digestive guts of animals and helps them maintain body temperature. Sorghum is a plant that is used for food, fodder and for production of alcoholic beverages. This plant is grown mainly in arid region because it is heat tolerant.
Fodder plants: Alfalfa is a perennially flowering plant that is cultivated as an important forage crop. This plant has the ability to produce feed that is high in protien content regardless of whether or not the soil is rich in nitrogen. It is reselient to droughts and arid conditions. In many parts of the world maize is grown as its uses are multi purpose. Maize is a feed for livestock in particular the green cornstalks. The cornstalks are used to make silage. Turnips as fodder are popular in Europe and colder regions because they grow easily in cold climates and can be stored after harvest for a long duration of time.
Oats and Poplar: Oats is a cereal widely grown as fodder in temperate and sub-tropical countries. While the green plants act as good forage, making good hay and silage, the straw is used to provide the roughage. Oat forage, hay straw and grain are popular horse fodder in many parts of the world. In some parts of China high yeilding poplar plantations have been developed to obtain animal feed. Poplar plantaions have been combined with agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry to derive maximum benefit. Mass of poplar leaves are grazed by animals in plantation areas.
Health Concerns: There are some health concerns related with animal feed that are based on animal origin such as meat and bones. It is primarily used in animal feed in order to improve the amino acid profile of the feed. Such ingredients can cause diseases such as mad cow disease in animals. Fodder that is plant based is recommended for avoiding the health risk.
Many species of fodder plants are depleting due to the loss of forest cover, grazing lands and change in cropping patterns. On the other hand there is an incresing demand of more fodder because of introduction of livestock that are high yielding that have to consume more fodder. This crisis is further hit during drought like conditions. Farmers who cannot sustain their livestock are forced to sell animals under duress.
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