Livestock Production Under Hill and Mountain Zone Agriculture is totally animal dependent Mechanization is not possible due to undulating terrain High soil erosion, without manuring agriculture is not possible

Agriculture is mostally rained Ecologically fragile zone, land sliding is very common Land holdings are very small and fragmented

Winters are very cold Grasses completely dry during winter season Productivity of the animals is extremely poor due to the poor nutrition

Lush pasture available during rainy season in plenty. Most of the feed resource of the region comes from the forest and pasture for the feeding of the animals. 67 percent area of the total geographical area of the Uttaranchal is under forest and only about 12 area is under agriculture. Lush pasture available during rainy season in plenty.

Cultivation of fodder crop is not being practiced. Scarcity of quality feed is the main characteristics. Forest is the lung and soul of the hill people means they are dependent for every thing on it.

Land Use Pattern of Uttaranchal Sl. No. Particular % Area 1. Forest 63.00 2. Permanent Pasture 4.25 3. Tree and Shrubs 4.00 4. Agriculture 12.50 5. Other 16.25

Contribution of feed and fodder 18% comes from crop and crop residue 50% comes from grasses 32% comes from tree leaves

Thrust area Identification of suitable temperate grasses for the region and its nutritive evaluation. Improvement and evaluation of pasture by using suitable exotic/local grass species. Development of suitable package of practices for the conservation of green fodder during rainy season for use during lean period and its evaluation. Identification and nutritive evaluation of fodder crops for the region.

Development of complete economic ration using locally available feed resources (forest/pasture/Agricultural by product) for various categories of the animals. Identification of suitable fodder tree species for the region and its effect on livestock production. Studies on anti- nutritional /toxic factors on different feed resources. Improvement of livestock production by strategic supplementation at farmer’s level.

Fig: Showing the adequate amount of grasses and shrubs in the NCP Project field Latoli of I.V.R.I. Mukteswar during the rainy season along with grazing Goats

Fig: Showing the adequate amount of grasses and shrubs in the field, Latoli of I.V.R.I.Mukteswar during the rainy season

Fig: huge Landslide in the NCP Project area Fig: huge Landslide in the NCP Project area. Heavy soil loss due to heavy and continuous rainfall is a very common feature of hill and mountain zone fields .

Fig: huge Landslide in the NCP Project area Fig: huge Landslide in the NCP Project area. Heavy soil loss due to heavy and continuous rainfall is a very common feature of hill and mountain zone fields .

Fig: Showing the condition of grasses of NCP Project area during the winter season .All the grasses has been completely dry due to low temperature of winter.

Fig: Showing the condition of grasses of NCP Project area during the winter season .All the grasses has been completely dry due to low temperature of winter.

Fig: Showing the goat kept under cut and carry system

Fig: Showing the excellent growth of Kikua grass on the bund

In harsh and arid conditions trees often provide more edible biomass than pasture and this biomass remains green and high in protein, even when pastures dry off and senesce, due to their deep rooted nature. Trees are able to tap water and nutrient resources deep in the soil profile. Many trees have micro-organisms associated with their root systems that allow them to mobilize soil bound mineral resources such as phosphorus and to fix N2 from the atmosphere into organic compounds. In mixed farming areas, the tree-strata concept significantly raises the overall photosynthetic capacity of the agricultural system by enlarging the leaf-area index.

It is estimated that the contribution from the forest is above 24% of the total TDN supply, mainly as fodder leaves. In some areas of the hills of Nepal and Uttaranchal up to 90% of the feed come from the forest tree leaves. In general, shrub and tree foliages are higher in tannins than pasture plants, and leguminous forages from the tropics are generally higher in tannin than those from the temperate countries.

The most important property of tannins is their strong affinity for enzyme and feed protein. Tannin content, potentially alters the use and value of tree foliages and for the poor utilization

In several cases livestock death have been associated with high tannin content of some foliages.

Tannins may indirectly affect rumen function by reducing rumen ammonia levels through decreased protein degradation in the rumen. If rumen ammonia levels decrease below 80 mg N/l then fiber digestibility may be depressed and digestibility is reduced. Whenever tannins are present in forages there may be a need to supplement ruminants with a non-protein nitrogen source for maintaining rumen ammonia level.

At high levels of tannin intake, both mucoproteins and the epithelial cell lining of the digestive tract are affected. This alters the integrity of the gut wall causing problems of gastritis, slowed propulsion of feeds and constipation At higher levels (5– 9%) tannins become highly detrimental as they reduce digestibility of fiber in the rumen by inhibiting the activity of bacteria and anaerobic fungi, high levels also lead to reduced intake . Above 9% tannins may become lethal to an animal that has no other feed .

There is a long list of other secondary plant compounds like Cyanide, nitrate, fluoroacetate, cyanogenic glycosides, saponins, oxalates, mimosine , saponin and various sterols other than tannins.

Trees play an important roles as they provide employment generate income protect soil from water and wind erosion cycle nutrients through leaf fall Store carbon, which is important in decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide accumulation and thus reducing the Greenhouse Effect.

Use of trees for improving fodder supply The scarcity is seasonal, from October to May, and during this long dry period fodder trees and shrubs are the major source of green fodder. Forest is the major source of leaf fodder and bedding material for livestock. Indigenous as well as exotic tree species, like Leucaena, Gliricidia, Sesbania, etc., should be used to stabilize the exposed and degraded soils and help regenerate natural succession. It is needed to identify a few, promising fodder tree species and establish their sivilcultural practices, propagation techniques, lopping techniques and measure their chemical composition (including anti-nutritional value factors) and feeding value.

Planting of broad-leaved species should be encouraged in place of conifers. Grasses/legumes can be incorporated along with plants to maintain ground cover and avoid soil erosion. Species should be selected which require less root depth and are frost tolerant, shed tolerant and less susceptible to browsing by livestock.

Farmers should be educated on the benefits of agro forestry to encourage private plantating of multipurpose tree species. A participatory approach can be used to identify the farmers' preferred species for forest or private plantation Help can be given to the farmer to prepare a fodder calendar, depending upon the size of the herd.

Future Research requires Research is needed to determine the nutritive value of fodder tree and shrub leaves Stall feeding practices for livestock in hills. Little information is available on the anti-nutritional substances present in the fodder tree leaves. On-farm research is required to determine the optimum level of fodder leaves supplementation Detoxification of tannins and other antinutritional factors