Fodder quality and availability are major determinants in profitable ruminant production system. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Tamil Nadu and other related institutions promote fodder production through several schemes and projects. Intensive fodder production through promotion of sustainable fodder production model under irrigated condition is one among them. The objective of the present study was to validate the fodder production potential of the ten-cent model for livestock feeding. In livestock farm complex Madhavaram, ten-cent model fodder plot was established with Hybrid Napier grass variety Co (BN) 5 in 4 cents area; fodder maize (African Tall) in 1 cent; fodder sorghum (CoFS 31) in 2 cents; fodder cowpea (Co 8) and Velimasal (Desmanthus virgatus) in 1.5 cents area each; Agathi (Sesbania grandiÀora) and Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) were cultivated as boundary plantation. Standard agronomical management practices were adopted during the study period (15 months) and fodder was harvested at specified intervals. The total biomass yield realized was 9918 kg. The average yield/cut (kg) of Co5, sorghum, maize, cow pea, Desmanthus and Agathi/Subabul were 1340.0, 264.6, 160.0, 178.0, 71.0 and 98.0 kg respectively. Highest fodder yield was noticed during south west monsoon season (2492.0 kg) followed by north east monsoon season (1796.5 kg) and lowest yield noticed in summer season (1465.0 kg). The total CP and TDN yield (on dry matter basis) of ten-cent model fodder plot, estimated from available standards were 1121.71 kg and 5586.58 kg respectively during the study period. The results of this study revealed that quantity and quality of fodder harvested from the ten-cent model fodder plot can support one cattle or five goats for a year. It is possible to sustain one cow or five goats through fodder production in the ten-cent model fodder plot.

A solar dryer was designed and constructed to dry fodder for livestock. The objectives of this project were to design and construct solar dryer systems for fodder drying and to evaluate the performance of the systems developed so that farmers can compare and choose an appropriate drying system to dry fodder. Two types of solar driers were designed in this study named as a) prototype solar dryer and b)greenhouse solar dryer. The performances of both systems were evaluated by observing their ability to achieve and maintain an optimum temperature of 60oC for a perfect drying process. In 2011, the prototype solar dryer was constructed at the Malaysia Veterinary Institute; however the results obtained were not as expected as the highest temperature achieved with the system was 44.9oC. Therefore, in 2012, the greenhouse solar dryer was constructed to replace the prototype model and the system has the ability to achieve the temperature up to 72.7oC.

The carrot tops had high crude protein (144 g/kg), calcium (24.3 g/kg) and phosphorus (7.7 g/kg), comparable to sun hemp (Crotalaria junctea), fodder berseem and oil cakes, respectively. Milk from animals fed with carrot tops were free from residues of organochlorine, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides. Carrot tops are perishable in nature and hence were preserved as feed blocks to extend shelf life. The nutritional value and keeping quality of the blocks were also studied. The studies revealed that carrot whole tops can be a promising alternate source of green fodder, especially in hilly regions where there is a shortage of green fodder during winter.