Animal husbandry is an integral part of agriculture. To develop this sector, key areas such as animal health, breeding, feed management, and market management are essential. About 70% of the total costs in animal husbandry go towards feed management. In Nepal, agricultural by-products, straw, green grass, dry grass, shrubs, leaves, and grains are mainly used as feed. Currently, approximately 39% of animal feed consists of grass, 26% crop residues, and 8% agricultural by-products. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development’s statistics for the fiscal year 2020/21, Nepal produces 1,060,487 metric tons of cow milk and 1,419,412 metric tons of buffalo milk. Additionally, 520,742 metric tons of meat, 584,000 kg of wool, 104,623 metric tons of fish, and 14,93,550 eggs are produced annually. The animal husbandry sector contributes 5.56% to the national GDP. In Nepal, 12% of the land is covered by pasture, and balanced and appropriate feed usage is crucial for sustainable production and successful business operations.
Due to the geographical terrain, availability of pasture, temperate climate, and lack of arable land, animal husbandry is the main occupation in the Himalayan region. The hilly regions are being developed as areas that can improve breeds, promote commercial livestock farming, increase productivity, and create employment. Meanwhile, the Terai region is focusing on organized livestock farming, increasing productivity, commercialization, and introducing new breeds.
Knowing nutrition
Nutrition refers to the essential food elements needed for growth, health, and production. Nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In agriculture, crops like maize, rice, millet, buckwheat, and barley are commonly used as sources of carbohydrates, while legumes and oilseeds are primary sources of protein. Proper nutrition helps provide energy, strengthen weak muscles, ensure appropriate growth and development, maintain the health of pregnant animals and their offspring, and enhance disease resistance. Feed management significantly impacts animal productivity by guiding what, how much, and how to feed animals based on their age and production stage, such as growth, pregnancy, lactation, or work.
Insufficient energy in animal diets can lead to stunted growth, reduced reproductive capacity, and decreased milk production. A lack of protein can cause stunted growth, and emaciation, and hinder the development of immunity, negatively affecting reproductive activities. Vitamin deficiencies can cause various issues in goats, such as reduced immunity, reproductive problems, and poor body condition. A lack of minerals can lead to reduced appetite, stunted growth, bone development issues, irregular breeding cycles, reduced milk production, and stillbirths. In rural areas, local grasses, bran, grains, husks, and dried straw are commonly used as animal feed.
The Nepal Agricultural Research Council has developed improved grass varieties to boost livestock production. The council has also developed various feeds, such as urea molasses mineral blocks, urea-treated straw, total mixed rations, and pellet-based feed. However, nanotechnology has not yet been developed in the field of animal nutrition in Nepal. In simple terms, nanotechnology, also known as nanobiotechnology, is a technology that manages biological and non-biological substances by combining them at a microscopic level. Nanotechnology allows for the encapsulation of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds into nanoparticles, making them more effective.
Addressing feed shortages
Since fiscal year 2012/13, the Forage Mission Program has been implemented to develop 45,000 hectares of grassland. In the fiscal year 2013/14, the mission was implemented in 25 districts, and from the fiscal year 2014/15 onwards, it was implemented in 10 districts, contributing positively to the development of animal feed.
Techniques such as producing hay and silage from excess grass during peak production periods have been developed to ensure continuous production during lean seasons. Balanced animal feed should contain various nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Feed should be palatable, easily digestible, fresh, and abundant, and should be free from harmful substances like tannins and alkaloids.
Currently, there is a 33% shortage of dry matter and a 50% shortage of total digestible nutrients in Nepal. Around 37% of the pasturelands and rangelands, which are crucial for livestock in the high mountains and Himalayan regions, are now at high risk due to limited accessibility and high stocking density.
Boosting livestock productivity
Nepal is self-sufficient in milk production and is close to self-sufficiency in meat and egg production. The development of animal infrastructure and changing attitudes among farmers are positive signs. To develop the livestock sector, it is necessary to manage resources, promote livestock-based industries, improve breed quality through nitrogen semen management, enhance knowledge, skills, and efficiency, ensure quality control, manage feed effectively, strengthen marketing, manage human resources, increase the export of animal products, commercialize the sector, and protect livestock. Ensuring the availability of quality animal feed is essential for the growth and development of modern, commercial livestock farming, which is vital for increasing animal productivity and production.
To make livestock farming sustainable and competitive, and to achieve maximum returns, the availability of balanced and quality animal feed must be ensured. As the livestock sector becomes more commercialized, there is a need for self-sufficient feed systems to reduce the trade deficit caused by large-scale imports of feed, raw materials, and feed supplements.
Moreover, developing and expanding grass-based livestock farming methods, producing animal products at low costs, increasing livestock productivity, achieving national self-sufficiency in animal products, promoting import substitution and export, developing livestock farming as a profitable and dignified profession, and advancing research and the use of innovative technologies in feed management is crucial. The conservation, promotion, and scientific utilization of pasturelands are also essential for the development of commercial animal husbandry and the overall livestock sector.
