Desk Report: Around 1537.01 lakh tonnes of granular and fibre-type animal feeds are required in the country, but only 783.32 lakh tonnes of animal feeds are currently being produced locally in the country, sources said. As a result, the nation suffers from a shortage of about 54.86 lakh tonnes of granular food for animal feed. There is also a shortfall of 100 lakh tonnes of straw and 598.73 lakh tonnes of green grass, making it difficult for farmers to raise cattle and milch cows.
That is why the production of meat and milk are being hampered in the country, sources said.
According to sources in the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), granular foods like maize, wheat, soybean, oilseeds, protein concentrates and feed additives are not being produced at a satisfactory level to meet the demand for animal feed.
Locally, 22.07 lakh tonnes of maize are being produced against the demand for 31.10 lakh tonnes. Soybean production is 5.5 lakh tonnes against the demand of 14.91 lakh tonnes. Some 2.84 lakh tonnes of chaff are produced while the demand is 35.21 lakh tonnes. The volume of oilseeds produced is 6.75 lakh tonnes against the demand for 26.13 lakh tonnes, DLS sources said.
The annual production of straw is estimated at 159.16 lakh tonnes against a demand of 259.26 lakh tonnes, while green grass output is at 492.92 lakh tonnes against the demand of 1,091.65 lakh tonnes, the DLS sources added.
The sources further said the high prices of animal feed were also hampering the fattening of cows and production of milk as well.
“Local production like meat and milk will increase if animals are fed properly,” Dr ABM Khaleduzzaman, assistant director (farms) of DLS, told The Independent. The owners of commercial farms are providing a balanced diet to their animals, but individual farmers in rural areas face difficulties in feeding their animals a balanced diet because of the shortage of animal feed, he said in reply to a query. He suggested increasing the production of animal feeds like maze, soybean and other items locally to meet the demand.
“We are working with the Department of Agriculture Extension to enhance the granular feeds and green grass production. We are also encouraging local people to cultivate green grass next to the roads in rural areas, so that farmers can feed this grass to their animals,” Khaleduzzaman said.
According to the sources, there are 442,991 commercial farms across the country. There are around 1.22 crore mature cows and buffaloes in the country, which are able to give birth. Besides, some 73 lakh calves are produced annually across the country, according to the DLS. Of them, 36.50 lakh are female
calves. There are around 2.05 crore female goats and sheep in the country. Of them, 1.23 crore are mature animals that are able to give birth. Some 2.46 crore yearlings are produced annually in the country, the DLS sources said.