The efficient use and management of natural resources are important factors for success in agricultural farming. An experiment was conducted on round the year fodder production at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan during 2017–18 to 2019–20 by harvesting rainwater from the rooftop of buildings and irrigating crops using a solar operated water pump though drips and micro-sprinklers for efficient use of harvested water. In the 3 m inter-row spaces of bajra napier hybrid (BNH) variety CO 4, three legumes Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Clitoria ternatea (butterfly pea) and Lablab purpureus (sem) received 40 and 60 kg P/ha, grown as intercrops during the rainy (kharif) season and lucerne in succession on residual P during winter (rabi) season. Among three kharif legumes, significantly higher green (11.19 t/ha) and dry (1.60 t/ha) fodder yields were recorded with cowpea that received 60 kg P/ha. An average 243.97 t/ha green and 37.55 t/ha dry fodder yields was recorded from the system in which share of BNH in green and dry fodder yield was 67.57 and 61.81% respectively. BNH gave 164.85 and 23.21 t/ha green and dry fodder from six cuts, kharif legumes contributed 7.43 t/ha in the green fodder and 1.12 t/ha in dry fodder from a single cut and lucerne produced 71.53 t/ha green and 10.32 t/ha dry fodder from the seven cuts in a year. This system has the capacity to meet out the green fodder requirement of 4–5 adult cattle unit (ACU) round the year from the land unit of 0.1 ha.

The present study was conducted to assess the effects of grazing and stall feeding on water intake in Tharparkar and Rathi cattle in their native tract of hot arid zone. Lactating cattle (Tharparkar 10; Rathi 10) and heifers (Tharparkar 10; Rathi 10) of each breed were divided into two groups, forming grazing and stall-fed group at Jodhpur and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan. Observations were recorded for water intake, dry matter intake and milk yield in the morning and afternoon regularly, twice weekly for six weeks during each season (summer, winter and rainy) continuously for two years. Water intake in lactating cows and heifers of both the breeds followed the pattern of THI during summer season. Rathi cows had higher water intake/kg W0.75 than Tharparakar cows, however, Tharparkar heifers had higher water intake/kg W0.75 than Rathi heifers. Grazing Rathi cows had significantly higher water intake than stall-fed cows. Study revealed that Tharparkar cows had lesser water intake per kg W0.75 and per kg milk yield basis; however, Rathi heifers had lesser water intake per kg W0.75 basis in their native tract.

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of thornless cactus on water intake and nutrient utilization in Tharparkar young bulls in hot arid zone of Rajasthan. Eight Tharparkar young bulls were distributed randomly into two groups of four in each, as control (T-0) and treatment (T-1). The animals in each group were fed individually dried chaffed Cenchrus ciliaris grass ad libitum, 1.0 kg of pelleted concentrate mixture in T-0, while 1.0 kg of pelleted concentrate mixture and 2.5 kg of fresh chaffed cactus cladodes in T-1. Total dry matter intake (g/kgW(0.75)) was 102.5 and 96.9 in animals of T-0 and T-1 group, respectively, whereas water intake for respective groups was 488.09 and 413.64 ml/kgW(0.75). Total digestible nutrient content differed significantly (P<0.05) between the groups and the values were 55.95 and 70.43% in T-0 and T-1 group, respectively. The study suggested that cactus cladodes can be supplemented in the ration of cattle without any adverse effect on health status of animals.

The present study was initiated with the objective to assess the feeding strategy comprising Prosopis juliflora pods (PJP) in two forms as alternative feed resource for sustainable goat production for dry season in arid areas. Eighteen growing goats (Marwari and Sirohi breed) were distributed into three groups. The roughage offered was similar to all the animals, however, concentrate mixture was standard for the goats of control group (PJP0), whereas, 50 percent ground PJP in PJPG group and 50 percent as such (entire/non-grinded) dried PJP in PJPE group were included by replacing the standard concentrate mixture. The observations on the animals were recorded for a period of seven months. Fifty percent replacement of concentrate mixture from similar to that of the standard concentrate mixture of PJP0 with crushed and entire PJP made diets economical by ₹ 471.50 and 521.50/quintal basis in PJPG and PJPE, respectively. Daily dry matter intake (DMI)/100 kg body weight was 4.53±0.19, 4.68±0.11 and 4.79± 0.17 kg in PJP0, PJPG and PJPE, respectively. The average body weight gain and body condition score of the animals did not differ significantly between the groups. Five goats from all the groups were bred, which became pregnant and delivered kids normally. The results revealed that the feeding of concentrate mixtures containing either 50% ground or entire PJP to the arid goats did not adversely affect growth performance, reproduction and cud chewing. Moreover, the adopted feeding strategy made Prosopis juliflora incorporated concentrate diets more economical than the commercial one.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of steaming-up on the performance of grazing does in arid region of Rajasthan. Twenty-four goats carrying last trimester of pregnancy were selected and divided randomly into untreated (T0) and treated (T1) groups having 12 goats in each. Animals of both the groups were let loosed for grazing in the morning and were offered concentrate feed in the evening. Goats of T1 group were fed additional concentrate feed @ 300g per animal per day. Average body weight gain of goats was significantly (P

Paper presented in National Seminar on Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Challenges in Thar Desert” Desert Regional Centre, Zoological survey of India, Jodhpur, July 9th, 2010. 144p

Optimum and sustainable utilization of indigenous and shrubs play an important role as source of variety of economic products besides their ecological role. Among arid shrubs, Haloxylon salicornicum (Moq.) Bunge ex Boiss. locally called as Lana is an important shrub of western Rajasthan. It remains green during the lean period and resists grazing by animals. Its fruiting tops are traditionally harvested at fruiting stage and utilized as animal feed by mixing with other local feeds. Results of the feeding trial conducted have shown that conventional concentrate can be replaced by 25 and 50% with Lana seeds with perianth in the ration of cattle and goats. The present study aimed at drawing attention on the potential of this and shrub focusing mainly on its potential as browse shrub and to supply nutritious feed to livestock in hot and region.

The aim of this study was to evaluate in a quantifiable manner the economic feasibility of raising and goat breeds under different regimes. One-year-old Marwari (15) and Parbatsari (18) goats were equally divided and allotted to extensive (control), semi-intensive and intensive (complete diet) systems. Lactating does gained significantly higher post-partum body weight gain along with higher kidding rate and prolificacy under intensive system than those reared under semi-intensive and extensive system. Highest total lactation yield of Marwari and Parbatsari does was also recorded for intensive group followed by semi-intensive group and lowest in extensive group. Similarly, peak yield was recorded significantly higher in both the breeds (Parbatsari and Marwari) under intensive and semi-intensive systems than control group. Economic analysis of these three systems revealed that total return were maximum in intensive management system but input cost was also high in this system, therefore, the net return was more in semi-intensive system. Higher incremental return per goat/year was Rs 235.9 (Marwari goat) and Rs 226.3 (Parbatsari goat) in semi-intensive system and comparative lower incremental return per goat/year was observed in intensive system (Rs 188.2 and Rs 108.2 for Marwari and Parbatsari goats, respectively). It could be inferred from ongoing observations that farmers of and region may use semi-intensive system for producing more milk with low input cost in order to strengthen the goat enterprise in the fragile eco-system.

Kidding performance of Marwari and Parbatsari goats was studied under different management systems in the arid zone. One-year-old 15 Marwari and 18 Parbatsari goats were divided into three uniform groups and maintained under extensive, semi-intensive and intensive systems of management up to three lactations. Higher kidding percentage (>80%) was observed in intensive and semi-intensive systems. Average twinning percentage was observed to be 4.5, 14.8 and 25.0% in extensive, semi-intensive and intensive system of management, respectively. The effect of management system was found to be significant on body weights of goats at different physiological stages. Higher body weights of goats at breeding, kidding, 3 months and 6 months of lactation were found in intensive followed by semi-intensive and extensive groups. Parbatsari goats showed better kidding performance in respect of kidding rate, prolificacy and body weights at kidding and after kidding and during the lactation. The body weights of Parbatsari was significantly (P<0.01) higher than Marwari goats at breeding, kidding, 3 months and 6 months of lactation. The mean body weights of Marwari and Parbatsari goats irrespective of management system were 24.6 and 28.4 kg at breeding, 25.9 and 30.4 kg at kidding, 25.9 and 30.1 kg at 3 months of lactation and 21.3 and 31.3 kg at 6 months of lactation, respectively.

Paper presented at 8th World Conference on Animal Production, held at College of Agriculture & Live Sciences, Seoul National University, Suwcon, KOREA from June 28 - July 4, 1998. Vol. I : 212-13