Bhubaneswar, May 13: The forage farm of Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) has revamped dairy farming in Bhubaneswar and nearby areas producing over 80 quintals of grass per month.
The OUAT forage farm located near Tapoban in Khandagiri area of the city is fulfilling the grass need of dairy farmers by selling the fodder at Rs 1.5 per kg.
The consumption of green fodder is ultimately benefitting the dairy farmers by enhancing the milk yield of milch cattle. Cattle and other small ruminant owners are gathering at the farm for grass as it is being sold at a pocket friendly price, said OUAT scientist Dr Arabinda Dhal.
With the increasing demand of unprocessed cow milk by Bhubaneswar residents, the traditional milk sellers have turned some scale dairy farmer. They are solely depending on the forage farm for their milch cattle. Besides, Raj Bhawan, Nandankanan, OUAT livestock farm depending on this forage farm for their ruminants, he added. The forage farm is selling grass twice a week – on Tuesday and Friday.
The farm spread on six acres is selling around 20 quintals of grass per week. Three employees of OUAT and seven daily wagers have been engaged in grass cultivation. It is cultivating 16 specices of grass and Napier bajra hybrid is a highly demanded fodder of the farm that began in 1987, said Dr Dhal.
