Silvi-Pastoral and Horti-Pastoral Models for Small Ruminant Production

Abstract

Rainfed agro-ecosystem has a distinct place in Indian Agriculture, occupying 67% of the cultivated area, contributing 44% of the food grains and supporting 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock population (Venkateswarlu, 2005). The farming systems in rainfed areas are quite diverse with a variety of crops, cropping systems, agroforestry, horticulture and livestock production. Among the livestock, small ruminants are very important resources and contribute meat, milk, fiber and other functions that are significant to the productivity, stability and sustenance of many farming systems more so on dry lands. Tree leaves and pods form a natural part of the diet of many ruminant species and have been used traditionally as sources of feed for domesticated livestock in Asia, Africa and the Pacific and serves as protein banks to supplement grass or crop residues in dry season (Bhatta et al., 2005). It is suggested to develop silvopastoral systems/models by introducing trees/shrubs into natural pasturelands/waste lands to provide nutritious green foliage through out the year (Singh, 1995). Similarly, horticulture and small ruminant (sheep and goat) production systems play a vital role in sustenance of livelihoods of rural poor of rainfed agro-ecosystem (Pasha 2000) in arid and semi-arid regions, where crop production is a risk-prone enterprise due to uncertain rainfall and frequent draughts. In general, farmers develop plantation trees for timber and orchards for fresh fruit production and are not considered as potential grazing resources. Moreover, small ruminants are primarily maintained on natural pasturelands/waste lands with in situ grazing and the productivity is constrained by the low quality of native grasses as well as the shortage of good quality forage, especially during the dry season. Hence, it is suggested to develop silvopastoral/hortipastoral systems/models by introducing pasture and foliage component under trees so as to provide nutritious green forage and foliage (Pathak and Roy 1994) to small ruminants for getting higher production from unit of land in rainfed areas.