eChapters

non-herbaceous plants that are accessible for animal foraging.
Flour: It is soft, finely ground meal of a grain which mainly consists of gluten and starch.
Fodder: Fodder covers various agricultural products specifically intended for the nourishment of domesticated animals. The term “fodder” is particularly associated with the provision of food to these animals, which may include plants that are harvested and delivered to them, as opposed to the food they gather independently through foraging. Any green plant or crop meant for animal feeding for supply of nutrients and bulk.
Forage crop: A crop of cultivated vegetation or portions of plants, excluding detached grains, that is grown specifically for grazing or harvesting to serve as animal feed. Forage and roughage these two terms are used interchangeably. Forages include hay, straw, silage and pasture while roughage include rice husk, groundnut shells.
Forage crops: It denotes the wild as well as cultivated green plants used for feeding of domestic animals like cattle, buffaloes, goat, sheep, horses, etc.
Forage: Forage includes consumable plant materials, including grasses, legumes, herbs and shrubs, as well as hays and silages. These materials are either grazed or ingested by livestock to meet their nutritional needs and dietary requirements within agricultural ecosystems.
Germ: It is the embryo of any seed. eg. Wheat germ meal (25% CP and 7% EE)
Gluten: When flour is washed to remove starch, a tough, viscid nitrogenous substance remains which is known as gluten. eg. Corn gluten.
Herbage: Herbage denotes the various plants, grasses, or vegetation that are specifically designated for the nourishment of livestock. This term generally encompasses the softer, green portions of plants that are appropriate for animal grazing.

Natural disasters frequently lead to significant shortages of animal feed, a common challenge faced by livestock owners. Events such as earthquakes, landslides, heavy rainfall, flooding, droughts, and cyclones can severely impact the well-being of livestock. Intense rainfall is often the primary factor contributing to both flooding and landslides, particularly in the hilly regions of India, where such landslides are a regular occurrence. The essential components of animal feed include both green and dry roughages, with dried roughages, such as straw, constituting approximately 60 to 80 percent of the total dry matter intake for livestock. Unfortunately, the occurrence of landslides or floods can abruptly disrupt transportation networks, including roads and railways. Consequently, livestock owners are compelled to rely on locally available unconventional feed sources during these challenging times.
Unconventional Feed Resources: In periods of resource scarcity, various unconventional indigenous ingredients can be employed. Such times may see the utilization of materials like tapioca, jackfruit, pineapple waste, sugarcane bagasse, rice bran or rice polish, water hyacinth, rubber seed cake, chicken litter and droppings, tea waste, urea and molasses, all of which can serve as valuable feed components. In comparison, low-quality rice straw and fallen leaves from trees are the predominant roughages, constituting approximately 60 to 70 percent of the total feed for cattle. The main sources of roughage during scarcity typically include straws from cereals or pulses, fallen leaves, dried grasses and foliage from forests and jungles. The collection or harvesting of roughages can be challenging due to their bulk, particularly in the case of forest leaves. Additionally, the volume of these materials presents significant transportation challenges. Consequently, chaffing roughages at the harvesting site emerges as the most effective solution for facilitating transport and minimizing costs. The densification of chaffed roughages further enhances their transport efficiency. Chaffing roughage is essential for the preparation of complete feed blocks (CFB) and total mixed rations (TMR).

Dry Methods
1. Decortication and dehulling: The process of decortication for groundnuts and cottonseeds enhances the nutritional profile of the resulting cakes by eliminating the outer layers, which are notably high in crude fiber. Similarly, dehulling or dehusking of pulses and grains also contributes to an improved nutritional value.
2. Cracking and dry rolling: This technique involves the fragmentation of the kernel into smaller particles through the application of pressure using dry rollers. This method increases the surface area of the grains, thereby enhancing their digestibility.
3. Crimping: In this method, the traditional rolling of grains is substituted with the use of corrugated rollers, a process referred to as crimping.
4. Crumbles: The term “crumble” refers to the process of grinding pellets into a granular form, which is particularly beneficial for chick feed.
5. Popping or puffing: This technique involves the dry heating of grains, which must contain a moisture content of 10-14%. The final moisture content in the popped grains is approximately 3%. During this process, grains are subjected to temperatures ranging from 370 to 425 degrees Celsius for 15 to 20 seconds, leading to the rupture of the endosperm due to the rapid expansion of steam. This results in an increase in grain size and enhances both palatability and digestibility.
6. Micronizing: This process employs infrared heat energy on grains, resulting in the breakdown of glucosidic bonds between starch molecules.
7. Roasting: In roasting, grains are exposed to direct flames at a temperature of 148.9 degrees celsius. This method not only expands the grains but also inactivates protease inhibitors in whole soybeans, thereby improving their nutritional quality.

Straw represents a category of low-density feed characterized by a high concentration of structural carbohydrates, specifically cellulose and hemicellulose, while exhibiting low levels of carbohydrates, nitrogen and minerals, along with variable lignin content. Lignin serves as a physical barrier, inhibiting the microbial degradation of these materials. Straw is having low digestibility due to following reasons:
• Reduced voluntary intake due to unappealing taste.
• Low digestibility and nutritional value.
• Nutritional deficiencies, particularly in crude proteins, essential minerals, and vitamins.
• The presence of anti-nutritional components such as lignin, silica, tannins, and oxalates.
The primary aim of treating low-quality roughage includes:
• Enhancing voluntary intake by improving palatability.
• Increasing digestibility to boost the intake of digestible energy.
• Minimizing losses during digestive processes.
• Breaking down cellulose and hemicellulose from lignin and silica to enhance digestibility.
• Expanding the surface area available for microbial action and enzyme activity, thereby improving digestibility.
• Reducing bulkiness through densification.
The processing of low-quality roughages can be achieved through various methods.

Straws consist of the stems and leaves that remain after the threshing of mature seeds. These materials are characterized by their high fiber content and lignin, while offering minimal nutritional benefits. Straws are primarily utilized as feed for ruminants, rather than for monogastric animals such as pigs or poultry.
Paddy and wheat straw: These are byproducts of grain harvesting and are commonly used as a primary feed source for cattle and buffalo. Their nutritional profile is low, with approximately 3-5% CP and 40% TDN. They are deficient in essential minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and proteins. Paddy straw contains about 6-7% lignin in its dry matter, which is lower than that found in other cereal straws. However, it has a high ash content (17% of dry matter) and elevated silica levels. Notably, the stems of paddy straw are more digestible than the leaves. The addition of urea can enhance the feeding value of straw, although the high lignin content may diminish its palatability. Urea treated rice straw contains around 8.1-9.5% CP (normal level is 3.5-5.3%) where as urea treated wheat straw contains around 8.5-9% CP (normal CP is 2.63-4.20%). Additionally, paddy straw contains significant amounts of oxalic acid, which can hinder calcium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, while also contributing bulk to their diet.
Barley straw: It has a nutritive value comparable to that of oat straw, but it presents challenges due to the presence of barbed beards. Its composition includes 0.30% DCP and 48% TDN.
Oat straw: It is regarded as one of the superior options for cattle feed, being soft, palatable and more nutrient-rich than other straw types. On average, it contains 0.3% DCP, 48% TDN, 0.38% Ca and 0.07% P.
Pulses straw: These includes varieties such as black gram, green gram, moth bean, pigeon pea and cow pea, is relatively palatable and nutritious for cattle. Among these, black gram, green gram and moth bean straws are particularly noted for their palatability and nutritional value. While the energy content of these straws is similar to that of cereal straws, they tend to provide a better
source of digestible protein. For high milk-producing cattle, supplementation with energy-dense feeds like cereal grains is often necessary.

Plants and many agro-industrial by-products incorporated into livestock diets may harbor a range of anti-nutritional compounds. These substances can adversely affect optimal nutrition by deactivating specific nutrients, obstructing the digestive process, or diminishing the metabolic efficiency of feed, ultimately leading to negative consequences for animal health and productivity. The naturally occurring plant compounds found in feed that disrupt feed utilization (FCR), lower production levels, and compromise animal health are referred to as anti-nutritional factors. Additionally, natural toxicants present in feed can hinder the absorption and utilization of nutrients in livestock. Therefore, it is essential to implement effective detoxification methods for these feed materials to mitigate toxic effects and ensure their safe incorporation into animal diets. A foundational understanding of these toxicants is crucial prior to undertaking detoxification and subsequent use in livestock feeding.
Natural toxicants can be categorized based on their chemical properties into several groups: Proteins, Glycosides, Phenols, and Miscellaneous toxicants. The chemical characteristics, pathogenic effects, and detoxification strategies for these compounds are briefly outlined below.
Proteins
1. Protease inhibitors: Protease inhibitors are prevalent throughout the plant kingdom, particularly in the seeds of many cultivated legumes. These inhibitors possess the capability to obstruct the function of proteolytic enzymes in the gastrointestinal systems of animals. Specifically, trypsin inhibitors form irreversible complexes with trypsin, rendering the enzyme unable to fulfill its role in protein digestion. This interaction prompts the intestine to secrete cholecystokinin, which in turn stimulates pancreatic enlargement. The presence of trypsin inhibitors in raw soybean can hinder the availability of methionine, leading to adverse effects in young chickens fed raw soybean meal,
including pancreatic hypertrophy, reduced growth rates, gallbladder contraction and increased bile acid excretion, similar to observations in other monogastric animals. In contrast, ruminants can effectively utilize untreated leguminous seeds. Consequently, the amino acids that would typically be released by trypsin are not reabsorbed, leading to their loss when trypsin interacts with these inhibitors. These substances, which are proteinaceous in nature, hinder the activity of certain digestive enzymes, ultimately impairing the growth and performance of non-ruminant animals. High concentrations of protease inhibitors are found in various leguminous seeds, such as soybean, kidney bean and mung bean. There are two primary types of protease inhibitors: a) Kunitz inhibitors, which possess a single active site that binds exclusively to trypsin and b) Bowman-Birk inhibitors, which contain two active sites that can bind both trypsin and chymotrypsin, thereby inhibiting both enzymes. Detoxification: These protease inhibitors are primarily heat-sensitive and appropriate heat treatment of leguminous seeds-such as roasting, toasting, popping, autoclaving (at 120°C and 15 lbs psi for 20 minutes), and cooking-can effectively inactivate them. It is important to avoid overheating during these processes.

When green forages are dried to approximately 85% dry matter, they retain a significant portion of their nutrients, including carotene, and are referred to as hay. Compared to straw, hay is both more nutritious and more palatable. High-quality hay should exhibit a leafy structure, be pliable, possess a green colour and be devoid of mold, weeds and dust, while also emitting a pleasant fragrance. It is essential that the moisture content does not exceed 15% (ideally between 12-14%) to ensure safe storage without the risk of fermentation or combustion.
Objectives of hay production
The primary goal of hay production is to lower the moisture content of green fodder to a level that effectively inhibits the activity of both plant and microbial enzymes.
Benefits of hay production
• Hay serves as a nutritious feed source for livestock during periods of scarcity.
• High-quality legume hay can substitute for concentrates, thereby lowering production costs.
• Fodder can be harvested at optimal times to maximize nutrient accumulation in the plants.
Crops suitable for hay production: Fodder crops with soft and flexible stems are ideal for hay production. Green oats are considered the best option for this purpose. Other suitable crops include green berseem, lucerne, cowpea, stylo, and various natural grasses, provided that leaf shattering is minimized. Both annual and perennial grasses, such as anjan, doob, rhodes, and sudan grasses, are also appropriate for hay making. However, cultivated cereal fodders like maize, sorghum and bajra are better suited for silage production than for hay. If using thick-stemmed crops for hay, it is necessary to chop or crush them into smaller pieces.

Definition of silage: Silage refers to the product obtained when fresh, high-moisture green fodder undergoes fermentation in a controlled anaerobic environment. This process generates volatile fatty acids that help preserve the green material for an extended period.
Ensiling: The act of preserving green fodder as silage is termed ensiling
Silo: A silo is a sealed container designed for the preparation of silage. In India, pit silos are commonly used, typically measuring 2.4 to 3 meters in depth. For every cubic meter of space, approximately 400 kg of fodder can be accommodated, while a cubic foot can hold between 18 to 22 kg of fodder in a pit silo. Other types of silos include trench silos, bunker silos and tower silos. In rural areas, katcha silos are often constructed by excavating a pit or trench in the ground, with the walls and floor usually coated with a mixture of cow dung and clay in a 1:1 ratio.
Crops suitable for silage making: Crops that are high in soluble carbohydrates are ideal for silage production. Suitable options for ensiling include maize, sorghum, pearl millet, Napier grass and oats. Leguminous fodder crops are generally not suitable for ensiling unless they are combined with carbohydrate-rich fodders in a ratio of 1:3. The recommended ratio of green, succulent fodder to dry straw is 4:1 and the crops should contain approximately 30-35% dry matter at the time of ensiling. Hollow-stemmed plants are typically unsuitable for ensiling due to the air trapped within the stems; however, if the stems are trampled, they can yield good silage. To effectively ensile cultivated or natural grasses an addition of 3-3.5% molasses is necessary. Grasses and legumes present challenges for ensiling; grasses tend to be low in soluble carbohydrates, while legumes possess high moisture content, elevated protein levels and increased mineral content, which enhance their buffering capacity and resistance to pH fluctuations. Harvesting: The crop should be harvested between flowering and milk stage as they contain maximum amount of nutrients at that time. Crops with thick stems are suitable for silage making whereas thin stemmed crops are conserved for hay making.

Roots: The main distinguishing characteristic of roots is their high moisture content, which may vary from 75 to 90 percent. Their CF content ranges from 4 to 13 percent. The organic substance of the root is highly digestible and mostly composed of sugars (50-70% DM). Glucose and sucrose is the primary sugar. Although the CP content of roots is often low, the rumen’s protein degradability is extremely high (80-85%). Mangles, swedes, turnips, carrots, sugar beets and fodder beets are among the most popular root crops used to feed farm animals. Although sugar beet is a significant root crop, it is typically not fed to animals as such because it is cultivated largely for its sugar content. Nonetheless, sugar beet pulp and molasses (from both sugar beet and sugarcane) are significant and nutrient-dense animal products that are by-products of the sugar extraction companies. Although pigs are fed roots with higher DM concentrations, like fodder beet, they are not a favourite diet for pigs or poultry due to their bulkiness.
1. Swedes and turnips: Turnips (Brassica campestris) & swedes (Brassica napus) share a lot of chemical similarities, but turnips typically have less DM than swedes. Glucose and fructose are the primary sugars found.
2. Turnip (Brassica rapa): Turnips are root vegetables of cruciferous family. They are usually grown in temperate climates. Humans like a smaller variety, while animals are provided a larger variety. It has 8–10% DM, 12–13% CP and 75–80% TDN. Cultivars with yellow flesh have higher protein content than those with white flesh. Instead of passing through the animal, the volatile material that taints milk is absorbed by the milk from the air. Both turnips and swedes can taint milk if they are offered to dairy cows during or just before milking time.

These include mainly tomato pomace, jack fruit waste, pineapple waste, apple pomace and citrus fruit processing waste.
1. Tomato pomace (Lycopersicon esculentum): Tomato pomace consists of the remnants of tomato processing, including peels, crushed seeds, and minimal pulp, which are left after extracting juice, paste, or ketchup. Following juice extraction, the pomace is typically dried and ground. Due to its high moisture content, artificial drying methods can be costly, making sun drying a more favorable option. The pomace should be dried until it reaches a crisp texture. After drying, it is essential to grind the pomace and incorporate the resulting product thoroughly into the diet. The composition of tomato pomace includes 93.5% DM, 17-22% CP, 39% CF, 11.1% EE, 0.44% Ca and 0.36% P, with 55% TDN. In terms of dietary inclusion, tomato pomace can be incorporated into the rations of adult bullocks and milch cows at levels of up to 50% and 16%, respectively, without negative effects. In dairy cows, the intake of dry matter, milk yield and milk composition remained unaffected. Additionally, fresh tomato pomace can serve as a supplementary feed for growing and finishing pigs. Notably, feeding growing pigs a diet containing 6% fresh tomato pomace resulted in a significant increase in feed consumption compared to those receiving a standard commercial mash.
2. Citrus by-products: Citrus fruits encompass several significant varieties, with the most notable being the orange (Citrus sinensis), lemon (Citrus limon) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). The by-products derived from citrus processing are affected by various factors, including the fruit’s origin and the method of processing employed. Consequently, the nutritional value of these by-products varies based on the type of waste and the specific fruit involved. The citrus by-products contain 1.7-7% TA, 1.2-2.1% EE, 5.7-8.6% CF, 2.2-4.2% CP, 65-75% NFE,
10.2-16.5% total sugar, 1.3-6.5% lignin and 4.4-12.8% pectin. Fresh citrus pulp waste is considered palatable for cattle, with a consumption capacity of up to 10 kg per day. Dried citrus pulp can be incorporated into animal feed at levels as high as 45% of the total ration. However, it is important to note that the digestibility of this feed in sheep diminishes when the inclusion exceeds 30%.

Unconventional feed ingredients are those feed ingredients that are less commonly used in formulations or whose nutritional properties and feeding value are less well understood. Hence, these feeds are not traditionally used for animal feeding either by farmers or by feed manufacturer.
Unconventional feed resources
Concentrates sources: These are mainly mangoseed kernel, neemseed cake, rubberseed cake, tamarindseed cake, tamarind seed kernel, tapioca waste, salseed cake, safflower cake, nigerseed cake, spent tea waste, mahua cake, karanj cake.
Tree leaves and fallen tree leaves: Banyan, peepal, mango, teak, bamboo, neem, gliricidia, banana, cassava, mulberry.
Other by-products: groundnut shell, paddy husk, maize cobs, bajra cobs, jowar cobs, husk of bengal gram, black gram, green gram, sugarcane tops, bagasse, water hyacinth, molasses etc.
Marine and aquatic waste: Fish waste, frog meal.
Starch industry waste: Maize germ, maize bran, maize gluten.
Brewery waste: Dried brewer’s grain (after extraction of malt)
Slaughter house by-product: Blood meal, meat meal, meat and bone meal, tankage.
Poultry industry by-product: Feather meal, offal meal/ poultry waste meal, hatchery waste.
High moisture agro-industrial by-products: vegetable and food processing residues, apple/tomato/pineapple pomace, citrus processing waste.

Protein supplements can be obtained from animal origin or plant origin. Animal origin has mostly over 47% CP, 1.0% Ca, 1.5% P and fewer than 2.5% fiber while plant origin has mostly less than 47% CP, 1.0% Ca, 1.5% P and over 2.5% fibre. Other sources from which protein supplements can be obtained include NPN compounds, single cell protein etc.
Plant Origin Oil Cakes
In India, oilseeds occupy a significant position in terms of both production area and economic value, ranking second only to food grains. The country is the third-largest producer of oilseeds globally, following the United States and China. Approximately 12-13% of the world’s oilseed cultivation occurs in India, contributing to 6-8% of global oilseed output and 5-7% of the world’s oilseed cake production. Additionally, India is a notable exporter of soybean meal, generating substantial foreign exchange earnings.
The agro-ecological conditions in India are conducive to the cultivation of seven key edible oilseeds, namely groundnut, soybean, mustard-rapeseed, sesame, sunflower, safflower and niger. Furthermore, India also produces two significant non-edible oilseeds: linseed and castor. The country is involved in the production of tree oilseeds as well, including coconut and oil palm.

Cereal grains and cereal by-products
The appropriate nutrition of livestock necessitates the inclusion of a specific proportion of cereals and their byproducts. For poultry and swine, cereals constitute the primary element of their daily dietary intake. Consequently, there exists a direct competition for these cereal resources between livestock and humans. Specifically, only 2% of rice and wheat, 5% of sorghum, 10% of barley and maize, and 50% of bajra and ragi are allocated for animal feed.
Cereals belong to the Gramineae family and are classified as annual plants (Khariff). These grains are primarily composed of carbohydrates, with starch being the predominant component of their dry matter, concentrated in the endosperm. Cereal grains are abundant in TDN and net energy, making them highly palatable to livestock. The DCP content ranges from 7% to 10%, while TDN levels fall between 70% and 80% for ruminants. In non-ruminants, such as pigs and poultry, these energy-rich grains can be incorporated into their diets at proportions of approximately 50% to 70%.
Structure of a grain: Grain kernels are referred to as caryopses. Those grains that possess husks, such as oats, barley and rice, are classified as covered caryopses, while grains that lack husks, including maize, wheat, rye, and sorghum, are termed naked caryopses. Each kernel, excluding the husk, consists of two primary components: the pericarp and the seed.
Pericarp: This structure is composed of two distinct layers. The outer layer, which includes the epidermis and hydroderm, is collectively known as the beeswing. The inner layer of the pericarp is characterized by the presence of cross cells and tube cells.
Seed: The seed is further divided into four components: the seed coat, hyaline layer, endosperm, and germ (embryo). When the grain undergoes processing that removes both the germ and the starch endosperm, the remaining parts of the seed along with the pericarp are referred to as bran.

Tree leaves serve as a traditional source of roughage for livestock such as sheep, goats, cattle, and buffaloes. During the initial growth phases, these leaves exhibit a relatively high crude protein percentage alongside lower fiber content. However, as the tree matures, there is a notable decline in protein levels and a corresponding increase in crude fiber content. Generally, tree leaves are abundant in Ca, often containing two to three times the amount found in cultivated fodder, but they are deficient in phosphorus, leading to an imbalanced Ca to P ratio. The presence of tannic acid further reduces the digestibility of the protein found in these leaves. The dry matter content of most tree leaves typically falls within the range of 30-40%, accompanied by a significant protein concentration. Although the crude fiber percentage in tree leaves is lower than that in grasses and hays, their digestibility remains poor due to the tannic acid content. Additionally, while the ether extract in tree leaves is relatively high, it is often less digestible compared to that found in cultivated fodder.
Leguminous trees and shrubs
Animals that graze on mature grass pastures frequently enhance their diet by consuming the leaves of trees and shrubs, many of which belong to the legume family. The term ‘browse’ refers to the food obtained in this manner; in addition to being consumed directly by animals, browse can also be harvested and transported to livestock kept in enclosures. The leaves of leguminous trees are notably rich in protein (200 300 g/kg DM) and minerals, although they also contain a significant amount of fiber (50 60% neutral-detergent fiber/DM). The presence of tannins and potentially other compounds can reduce the palatability of browse, suggesting that its nutritional value may serve as a reserve food source for times when grass is no longer accessible. A prominent example of a browse species is leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), commonly referred to as ipil-ipil, which is an important tropical legume widely cultivated across various regions. It serves as a significant source of protein and minerals and is abundant in β-carotene. However, it also contains the toxic amino acid
mimosine. Other notable leguminous forages include Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), Sesbania (Sesbania sesban) and Acacia (Acacia angustissima).

Aquatic plants are recognized as a valuable forage crop, ideally utilized in their fresh state, dried as hay, or preserved as silage. Their suitability and profitability vary depending on the type of livestock being fed. These crops do not occupy arable land and require no investment for cultivation; however, there are costs associated with harvesting. Feeding aquatic plants directly in their natural habitat is infrequently feasible due to factors such as water depth, risks posed by mud and pathogens, and potential contamination of the water by livestock.
1. Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Water hyacinth is a perennial herb that floats freely on the surface of freshwater, including rivers, lakes, canals and ponds. In India, the dried form of water hyacinth or its ensilage is utilized as feed for cattle, owing to its high protein content. The amino acid composition of water hyacinth renders it an appropriate feed option for pigs as well. Typically, the plant is chopped and fed directly to livestock; however, its palatability is compromised by the presence of oxalate crystals in the leaves, which can cause oral irritation in animals. Additionally, cattle may experience adverse effects such as diarrhea and increased urination when consuming water hyacinth. This issue can be mitigated by supplementing the diet of adult cattle with groundnut and paddy straw alongside water hyacinth. Ensiling is an effective preservation technique that improves the palatability of water hyacinth. Due to its high moisture content, it is advisable to wilt the plant in the shade for 48 hours, or alternatively, prepare silage by mixing it with straw in a 4:1 ratio. The addition of molasses is to enhance the soluble carbohydrate content. The DCP and TDN in the silage are measured at 5.64% and 40.26%, respectively. The nutrient composition of water hyacinth includes 5.80% DM, 18.30% CP, 22.60% CF, 2% EE, 21.10% TA, 9.50% Ca and 6.30% P. The nutritive value of fresh water hyacinth is 7.66% DCP and 43.73% TDN, with oxalic acid content ranging from 2.50% to 3.60%

their starchy seeds, which are scientifically referred to as caryopsis. These plants, along with cereal fodders and grasses, typically exhibit a determinate growth pattern and the quality of their herbage tends to decline following the flowering stage.
Kharif Crop (Hot and Wet Season)
1. Bajra /Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum/typhoides): Bajra, also known as pearl millet, ranks as the fourth most significant cereal crop, following rice, wheat and sorghum. This crop is primarily cultivated for both grain production and as fodder. It thrives predominantly in the arid and semi-arid regions of India, where it is typically grown as a rain-fed crop during the Kharif season, specifically in the months of June and July. Bajra is characterized by its rapid growth and resistance to diseases, making it an ideal fodder option; however, it is not well-suited for areas with high rainfall. Harvesting and yield: The average yield of green fodder from bajra is approximately 300-400 quintals per hectare. When harvested for grain, the kadbi production can reach 50-60 quintals per hectare. For optimal fodder production, harvesting should occur before the flowering stage or at the 50% flowering mark to ensure quality feed for livestock. Nutritive value: At the flowering stage, the CP content is around 4.50%. The initial cutting is recommended 50-80 days post-sowing, with subsequent cuts occurring every 35-40 days, maintaining a cutting height of 15 cm above ground to promote re-growth. A total of two cuts can be achieved for enhanced yield. Bajra serves as a non-maintenance type of fodder. It is typically harvested and provided to livestock as green fodder, with the potential for conversion into hay or silage. However, the straw produced from bajra is of inferior quality, containing only 4-5% CP and 1% DCP. Additionally, this fodder is high in oxalates, necessitating supplementation with calcium sources such as DCP or calcium-rich leguminous fodder. The composition of bajra includes 8.52% CP, 1.76% EE, 54.91% NFE, 25.01% CF, 9.80% TA,
0.55% Ca and 0.27% P on DMB. The DM content is 22%, with 13% TDN and 0.90% DCP on as-fed basis. When expressed on DMB, the DCP and TDN values are 3.04% and 48.47%, respectively.

Legumes
Mutualistic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, form symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants, including various species within the pea family. The Leguminoseae family is particularly recognized for its ability to engage in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and its resilience to drought conditions. Among pasture legumes, clovers (Trifolium spp.) are predominant, with red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (Trifolium repens) being the most prevalent species in cooler, wetter regions like Europe and New Zealand. Clovers exhibit a higher protein and mineral content compared to grasses, particularly in terms of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper and cobalt, although their nutritional value tends to diminish as they mature.
The sugars found in clovers are akin to those in grasses, with sucrose being the primary sugar. While fructans are typically absent, starch is present, with concentrations in dried red clover leaves reaching up to 50 g/kg DM. In the UK, lucerne is characterized by its high fiber content, especially in the stems, which can reach crude fiber levels of 500 g/kg DM at the late flowering stage. Lucerne cultivars are categorized based on their flowering times, with early-flowering varieties recommended for UK conditions. These varieties generally bloom in the second week of June; however, to ensure acceptable digestibility, the initial harvest should occur at the early bud stage (end of May), when the anticipated digestible organic matter (DOM) content is between 620 and 640 g/kg DM. Subsequent cuts should be made at intervals of 6 to 8 weeks, yielding DOM values of 560 to 600 g/kg DM. In Britain, the limited area of lucerne cultivated is primarily harvested for silage or artificial drying, whereas in other regions, particularly the USA, where it is referred to as alfalfa, the crop is also utilized for grazing. Berseem, also known as Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum), is a significant leguminous plant cultivated primarily in the Mediterranean region and India. Its rapid growth during the cooler winter months in subtropical climates is highly regarded, along with its ability to recover effectively after being cut or grazed. The nutritional profile
of berseem is comparable to that of lucerne. Additionally, crops such as peas (Pisum sativum) and faba beans (Vicia faba) are occasionally cultivated as green fodder. When harvested at the early flowering stage, these crops exhibit a nutritive value akin to that of other legumes.

Grass and Forage Crops
Grassland can be divided into natural grassland and cultivated grassland. Natural pastureland includes rough and hilly grazing land. Grasses, legumes and herbs are examples of natural grassland. Cultivated grassland can be divided into temporary grassland and permanent grassland.
Chemical composition of grassland
Dry matter: The composition of the dry matter is dependent on the relative proportions of cell walls and cell contents. In very young grasses its moisture content is 75-85% while in mature material its moisture is around 60%.
Crude protein: Proteins represent the nitrogenous substances found in herbage, with true protein constituting approximately 80 percent of the total nitrogen content. While the overall protein concentration diminishes as the plant matures, the relative distribution of amino acids remains relatively stable. Additionally, the amino acid profiles of proteins show minimal variation across different grass species. Approximately half of the cellular protein in grasses is comprised of a single enzyme, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, which is crucial for the photosynthetic process of carbon dioxide fixation. The average crude protein content ranges from about 3% in very mature herbage to as high as 30% in young, heavily fertilized grass. In mature herbage, a considerable portion of the protein may be indigestible due to its association with fiber, specifically in the form of acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN). Grass proteins are notably abundant in the amino acid arginine and also contain significant levels of glutamic acid and lysine. They exhibit a higher biological value for growth compared to seed proteins. Methionine is identified as the first limiting amino acid, followed by isoleucine, which is not utilized by ruminants. The rumen displays a rumen degradable protein (RDP) level of 80-90%. The primary constituents of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) include amino acids, amides, and nitrates. In the rumen, excessive nitrates (-NO3)
are converted into nitrites (-NO2), which subsequently lead to the conversion of ferrous ions to ferric ions (methaemoglobin), rendering them incapable of transporting oxygen.

Forages can be classified according to the nutrient density in the dry matter.
Roughages: These are diets that have more than 18% crude fiber, more than 35% cell wall content, and less than 60% TDN on DMB. There are two types of roughage: dry roughage and green roughage. Roughages are classified as succulent or non-succulent according on their moisture content. Succulent feeds are ones with greater than 80% moisture. Non-succulent feed contains less amount of moisture. Roughages can also be classified based on legumes, for example, leguminous and non-leguminous roughages. Roughages are divided into three types based on their nutritional content (on DMB): maintenance, productive and non-maintenance.
Roughages: Feedstuffs having more than 18% crude fibre, more than 35% cell wall contents and less than 60% TDN on dry matter basis (DMB) are known as roughages. There are two kinds of roughages, dry roughage and green roughage. On the basis of moisture content the roughages can be classified into succulent and non-succulent. Succulent feeds are those which contain more than 80% moisture. Feed contains lesser amount of moisture is known as non-succulent. Roughages can also be classified on the basis of legumes. e.g. leguminous and non-leguminous roughages.
Roughages can be classified based on their nutritive value (on DMB) into maintenance type, productive type and non-maintenance type.

Introduction
India possesses the largest livestock population globally. To sustain this extensive livestock sector, it is essential for the country to ensure a corresponding supply of feed and fodder that meets the growing demand. However, a significant barrier for enhancing livestock production in India is the inadequate availability of feeds and fodders, both in terms of quality and quantity. The limited land designated for cultivation approximately 3.3-4.4% of the total cultivable area coupled with the decline in pasture lands and a shift in cropping patterns from coarse cereals to commercial crops, poses substantial risks to fulfilling the nation’s feed and fodder requirements. A considerable portion of the coarse cereal byproducts is utilized as fodder. Projections indicate a shortfall of 28% to 35% in green fodder, 10% to 11% in dry fodder and 33% to 35% in concentrates (Niti Aayog, 2018). The current status of feed and fodder resources is insufficient to meet the rising demand. Proper feeding is vital for the improvement of livestock breeds, as inadequately fed improved breeds tend to deteriorate more quickly. Consequently, there is a persistent imbalance between the number of animals and the available feed resources.
Commonly used feeds and fodders for the feeding of livestock
Cereal Grains
i. Maize (Zea mays). By-products: ‘Maize gluten feed’, ‘Maize gluten meal’, Maize bran and maize germ meal
ii. Bajra (Pennisetum americanum)
iii. Barley (Hordeum sativum)
iv. Jowar (Sorghum bicolar L. moench)
v. Oats (Avena sativa)
vi. Ragi (Eleusine coracana)
vii. Rice (Oryzae sativa). By-products: ‘Rice bran’ and ‘Rice polish’
viii. Rye (Secale cereale)

20.1 Introduction
The technique of reeling several cocoon baves together to create a single thread is known as silk reeling. This is accomplished by winding the resulting thread onto a rapidly spinning reel after collectively unwinding filaments from a collection of cooked cocoons at one end in a heated water bath. There are three different ways to reel in raw silk: (1) directly on a standard-sized reel, (2) indirectly on small reels, and (3) by using a re-reeling machine to transfer the reeled silk from small reels onto standard-sized reels. An efficient reeler willhold onto the predefined number of cocoons per end in order to produce silk with a consistent denier Some techniques are used in reeling. Different reeling mechanisms are used for different purposes.
20.2 Various Silk Reeling Devices
20.2.1 Hand Spinning Wheel
Using a simple spinning method, two hands run the apparatus to remove silk thread from cocoons: one hand turns the wheel while the other feeds the cocoons. In one of the devices, the cocoons are cooked, while in the other, reeling thread is wound onto each wheel. A more tactile and artisanal method of silk reeling is available with hand spinning wheel reeling. A great degree of expertise and experience are needed to provide consistent outcomes and the appropriate silk characteristics (Fig.20.1).

19.1 Introduction
Mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori, is affected by a number of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. These illnesses are recognized to occur in practically every region where silkworms are raised in the world seriously harming the harvest of silkworm cocoons. Several actions have been proposed as a means of preventing and managing the illnesses, but none of them had shown signs of foolproof with the outcome that one must consistently be cautious to eradicate the core infection’s source in addition to avoiding crossinfection. Additionally, care has to be taken in order to ensure that they are not exposed to stressful circumstances such as low temperature and inadequate nourishment, poor ventilation, and humidity which could lead them easily susceptible to various diseases.
19.2 Diseases of Mulberry Silkworm and Their Control
19.2.1 Protozoan Diseases
The protozoa that harm silkworms are the parasitic ones from the genera Nosema, Pleistophora, and Thelohania and class Microsporidia. In addition to this, reports of Leptomonas and Trypanosoma infections in the silkworm
Bombyx mori L. have been made. However, the pebrine disease is the main protozoan illness of the silkworm. It is also known as ‘pepper disease’ because of the development of areas of black pepper after infection.

18.1 Introduction
The cocoons are harvested and sold to the reeling agencies. Harvesting has to be done after the sclerotization of the pupal cuticle and before the emergence of adult moth. It has been recommended to harvest at the fifth day of spinning for tropical races and seventh or eighth day for temperate races. Delay in harvesting leads to pierced cocoon by the emerging moth and early harvesting causes injury to the unsclerotized pupa and thereby soiling the cocoon. The cocoons are normally harvested by hand or by simple devices. Faecal pellets if any on them must be removed and cleaned. Healthy cocoons must be separated from the defective ones and sorted out based on their size.
18.2 Harvesting of Cocoon
After completion of spinning of cocoon, the larval skin is cast off and pupation takes place. This generally occurs on the 3rd/4th day of spinning in the case of multivoltines and 4th/5th day of spinning in bivoltines and univoltines in the temperate regions. The pupa when formed has a thin cuticular skin which is soft to touch and may get ruptured easily, if disturbed. Too much delay in harvest is also not desirable, as it reduces the weight of cocoons. Harvesting of cocoons is normally done by hand. Only in the case of revolving mountages simple devices are used. The harvesting process is the best time for sorting cocoons according to the quality as good cocoons are easily distinguishable from double and defective cocoons.

17.1 Introduction
The most important device that helps or supports the silkworms (larvae) for comfortable spinning their cocoon is called cocoonage or mountage. It determines both the quality and quantity of the cocoons. Different types of
cocoonages are used in different parts of India. In general, these are made of wood, bamboo, cardboard, plastic, grass, dry leaves, twigs, etc.
Mounting is an essential step in the rearing of silkworm. Mounting indicates the transition of silkworm from larval stage to pupal stage where it prepares to spin cocoons. Mounting is a process where fully grown (specifically 5th instar) silkworm larvae are picked and mounted in a suitable place (mountage) where it is about to spin. Mounting is a pivotal phase in silkworm rearing.
The following are the objectives of mounting:
1. To provide an ideal space for silkworm larvae to spin,
2. To ensure good quality cocoons,
3. To minimize mortality among silkworm by avoiding overcrowding,
4. To ensure a maximum silk production.

16.1 Process of Ripening of Worms
Closer to the end of the fifth stage, the silkworm stops ingesting and turns into the so-called mature larva and starts spinning the cocoon. Properly reared worms, when ripe, will attempt to spin true cocoons even below incorrect conditions. However, it needs to be remembered that the worm spinning the cocoon is to defend itself from outside disturbances and enemies all through the maximum crucial period of its metamorphosis. The rearer can get the reward for his labour most effective, if he cooperates by making the situations such that, through spinning a commercially good cocoon it also most correctly protects itself. This cooperation is composed in imparting the ripe silkworm with appropriate mountages to facilitate its spinning of suitable cocoons. The eating duration throughout the fifth instar may close for 5 to 7 days in the case of multivoltine and bivoltine races in the tropical regions and 7 to 9 days in the case of bivoltine and univoltine races in sub-tropical areas. The mature worm is effectively distinguishable by its translucent colour. The frame also shrinks with duration; there is also a constriction seen on the 4th and 5th segments. The worm loses appetite and begins to look approximately as although on the lookout for a appropriate area to which to attach itself. Generally, the ripening worms circulate in the direction of the periphery of the rearing trays in search of anchorage to begin spinning of cocoons. This is the time for selecting the ripe worms and putting them on mountages. This process is known as ‘mounting’. It has to be remembered that all the worms in a tray do not ripen simultaneously. It commonly happens that by the time all the worms in a tray are ripe, a number of the early worms can be over-ripe. They could have misplaced a quantity of silk by the point they are picked up, and they are furthermore in a hurry to spin their cocoons that they continue to do it anyways, without ready to select a right location, and as a consequence produce irregularly formed and flattened or sticky cocoons causing loss to the rearer.

15.1 Silkworm Bed Cleaning
Bed cleaning is an important silkworm rearing process to ensure the hygiene in the immediate vicinity of silkworms in order to protect from disease infection and to ensure them good feeding appetite. Hence, timely bed cleaning is critical to maintain the worm
In a study observation on larval mortality, larval period, single cocoon weight, shell weight, length of silk thread and silk ratio were carefully noted for each treatment and replication. Three replications were used for each treatment of different eri silkworm races. Treatments were once bed cleaning frequency per day, twice bed cleaning frequency per day, and three times bed cleaning frequency per instar of Vietnamese eri-silkworm races, Indian eri silkworm races, Kenyan bivoltine silkworm races, Korean bivoltine silkworm races, and Vietnamese multivoltine silkworm races. Long spinning silk thread, robust silk cocoon and shell weight and higher percentage of silk ratio of silkworm races were registered from one time bed cleaning frequency per day and two times bed cleaning frequency per day. The rearing tray of silkworms accumulates some unconsumed leaves after each feeding, exuviae after moulting, excreta, dead or diseased larvae, etc. All these if not cleaned, combine to form a thick and damp litter which promotes the growth of different micro-organisms, generation of heat and injurious gases and depletion of oxygen. Hence, it is very necessary to remove the litter periodically and the process of its removal is called bed cleaning.

In sericulture it is the larval life that is of direct importance to the rearer since he has to take care of the worms very carefully. The larval life may last from 20-24 days in the case of the multivoltine species in tropical areas or 24-28 days in the case of uni- and bi-voltine races in temperate areas, being shorter under warmer summer and autumn conditions, and somewhat longer under cooler spring conditions. During the larval life the worm moults or casts off its skin four times to be able so as to grow. There are also varieties of worms which moult three and five times but they are not of importance economically. In view of the four intervening moults, the larval life is divided into five distinct stages or instars (Fig.14.2) which are referred to popularly as five different ages. The first three instars are referred to as young ages and the fourth and fifth instars as late ages.
14.2 Moulting
Each larval instar can be broadly divided into two phases i.e., the feeding phase and the moulting phase. After feeding voraciously and having attained full growth for the particular instar the worm loses its appetite and the larvaprepares to moult and cast off its old skin. Prior to each moulting, the larva  stops feeding and rests with its head held up. The lustrous body skin gradually becomes translucent, loose and wrinkled and the worm becomes dull in appearance and wanders about in search of a resting place. It emits a silky substance with which it fixes itself to dry leaves. The moulting periods last for 20 hours being shortest in the second moult, followed by the first, third and fourth. This resting for moulting is often referred to as going to sleep and the coming out of the worm from moult as waking up. During the moulting period the worms should not be disturbed so that the process of moulting is not interfered with and uniform moulting is ensured.

13.1 Incubation
The silkworm eggs are to be incubated properly to avoid irregular hatching. An ideal incubation is to maintain a temperature of 25oC and 75-80% humidity continuously. In most of the places incubators are not available. In such cases, the eggs are kept spread in wooden trays provided with paraffin paper for base and the cover and foam pads kept wet all around inside the trays to maintain 70-80% humidity. In each chawki tray of 90 cm × 120 cm about 4 sheets of eggs can be kept for incubation. The room temperature is maintained at 25°C. On 9th day the egg sheets are rearranged. About 25 dfls (disease free layings) are kept in a chawki tray of 90 cm × 120 cm to enable brushing and proper spacing for young worms later. The egg sheets are covered with a sheet of black paper or paraffin paper. On the due date of hatching and when a few larvae have started hatching, black paper and the paraffin paper are removed and the eggs are exposed to dim light for about an hour. This facilitates the uniform hatching of larvae.
13.1.1 Methods of Incubation
There are two methods, i.e., constant temperature incubation and raised temperature incubation

12.1 Introduction
Mulberry silkworm is a domesticated insect which cannot live without sufficient human care. It is also sensitive to high temperature and relative humidity. Besides good feed, a temperature range of 23°C to 28°C and relative
humidity of 75-80% is ideal for silkworm. Though, there are a number of modern gadgets to regulate the temperature and relative humidity, investment on them is uneconomical. Therefore, mulberry sericulture is practiced only
in those areas where the climate is congenial and the crops schedule is so regulated to avoid seasons with extreme climate. Besides, the silkworm rearing house is constructed to provide sufficient ventilation and keep the ambiance sufficiently cool. Due to poverty, many farmers rear silkworms within their dwelling house which cannot be disinfected due to the pungent nature of the chemicals used. However, it will be ideal to have a separate rearing house or at least a separate room for rearing purpose. The present unit deals with different kinds of rearing houses required for silkworm rearing.

11.1 Grainage
Grainages are establishments where disease free and quality seeds are produced on scientific lines.
11.2 Grainage Activities
• Procurement of seed cocoons
Within the cocoon market, the government can buy the necessary number of multivoltine cocoons from the seed cocoon market. The purpose of a grainage is to produce attractive seeds. This method involves unique procedures, such as the manufacture of silkworm seeds for the market. Half of the bivoltine cocoons should also be obtained from bivoltine cocoon marketplaces to guide hybrid seeds.
• The seed cocoons are packed
Loosely in perforated packing containers or bamboo baskets in small portions and are transported all through cooler hours of the day. Initially the seed cocoons arriving on the grainages are subjected to inflexible selection. In selection only sound and uniform cocoons conforming to the characteristics of the race are selected and defective cocoons and so forth., are rejected. Strengthen detection of pebrine disease, if any before the commencement of operation of each batch enables in keeping off excellent loss to the grainages.

10.1 Disinfection
Disinfection is the destruction of disease carrying germs. Proper disinfection is one of the key factors in determining the success of sericulture and also essential in prevention and control of silkworm disease. The disease caused by virus, bacteria, fungi and protozoa are known to occur in almost all the silkworm rearing areas of the world. The disease, together with the damage caused by the pest, accounts for 20 to 25% of crop loss.
10.2 Qualities of an Ideal Disinfectant
• It should be highly effective against wide variety of microorganism and non-toxic for animals and plants.
• It should be non-injurious and non-staining to materials like fabrics, furniture or metal wares and non-offensive to odours and taste.
• It should be specific for specific microorganisms.
• It should have good surface tension. That is good wetting and penetrating properties.
• It should be stable in storage.
• It should be readily available in market and non-expensive.
• It should be easily applied under household or other practical conditions of use.

9.1 Structure of Silk Gland
The silk of silkworms is secreted by a pair of labial glands, known as silk glands. The silk glands lie ventral to the alimentary canal. In full grown larvae, these occupy most of the body cavity. The silk glands are tubular in shape with different diameters in different regions. Each gland has 3 distinct regions (Fig.9.1).
(1) Posterior Region: Blunt, highly folded tubular posterior regions of both glands remain attached to tracheal bushes of silkworm. This part secretes fibroin as fibrinogen which converted to fibroin upon extrusion.
(2) Middle Region: Most prominent and widest part of silk gland. It remains folded in a W-shaped structure and thus has 3 limbs posterior, middle and anterior limbs. The posterior arm secretes sericin-I. It gets
surrounded by sericin-II secreted from the middle limb. This sericin again gets surrounded by sericin- III secreted from the anterior limb. The middle region of silk gland also acts as the reservoir of fibroin where the
later gets mature during the storage period.
(3) Anterior Region: The thin anterior region of silk gland has no secretory role and only transports the assembled silk to the spinneret.

8.1 Life Cycle
As in the case of a typical Lepidopteran insect, the silkworm passes through four distinct stages, i.e., egg, larva, pupa and adult during its life cycle, the duration of which may last for six to eight weeks depending upon racial characteristics and climatic conditions. Multivoltine races found in tropical areas have the shortest life cycle with the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages lasting for 9-12 days, 20-24 days, 10-12 days and 3-6 days respectively. (Fig.8.1)
In uni/bivoltine races, the egg period of the activated egg may last for 11-14 days, the larval period 24-28 days, the pupal period 12-15 days and the adult stage 6-10 days. In nature the univoltine races produce only one generation during the spring, and the second generation egg goes through a period of rest or hibernation till the next spring. In the case of the bivoltine races, however, the second generation egg does not hibernate and hatches within 11-12 days and produces the second generation normally during summer. But it is the third generation egg which undergoes hibernation and hatches only the next spring, thus producing only two generations in a year (bivoltine). In multivoltine races, the life cycle is the shortest because of the warmer ecological conditions where they are reared, and so they may yield as many as seven to eight generations in a year in tropical sericultural areas such as India, Thailand, etc. Silkworm rearing is, therefore, continuous in tropical areas whereas in sub-tropical and temperate zones it is mostly seasonal lasting from spring to early autumn.

7.1 Introduction
The three factors used to categorise silkworm races are: (1) origin, (2) voltinism and (3) moulting. In addition, they are categorised according to their shape and colour. For more than 2,000 years, people have tamed and raised the silkworm Bombyx mori. It is a monophagous insect that exclusively consumes the leaves of mulberries. As a result, mulberry silk is typically meant when the word “silk” is used.
7.2 Classification Based on the Place of Origin
(a) Indian Races: Native to South East Asia and India; these races are indigenous. They have a longer larval stage and can withstand high humidity and temperatures. The larvae and cocoon are modest in size. The cocoon is often spindle-shaped and coloured in shades of green, yellow, or golden yellow. With a lower shell percentage, the cocoon shell is thin and most of them are multivoltine.
(b) Japanese Races: Japan’s indigenous races comprise this group. The larvae are strong. The cocoon resembles a peanut. The majority of cocoons are white, while some are yellow in hue. There are more double cocoons in the ratio. The silk strand is thick and short and of poor quality and are bivoltine or univoltine.

6.1 Introduction
India’s mulberry plants, which are vital to sericulture, are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases that can harm them and reduce their productivity. The Leaf Roller, Mealy Bug, Whitefly, and Stem Borer are important pests that harm leaves and stems and lower plant yield. Plant degradation and leaf discolouration are caused by common diseases such as Powdery Mildew, Leaf Spot, Root Rot, and Bacterial Blight. To preserve healthy mulberry harvests and continue to produce silk, effective management requires the application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, which include biological, chemical, and cultural approaches.
Mulberry is also prone to a number of illnesses brought on by bacteria, mycoplasma toxins, and fungi. It is simple for a perennial agricultural plant to become vulnerable to different diseases. Similar to this, pest insects have a
plenty of food available to them all year round to aid in reproduction. Therefore, developing high-yielding types through plant breeding programs is just as vital as preserving mulberries from disease and insect attacks. The diseases listed below are accompanied with control methods. Adopting appropriate management techniques will help prevent pests and diseases while producing high-quality and productive mulberry leaf.

5.1 Pruning
One of the most crucial aspects of mulberry farming is pruning. It involves methodically cutting off some branches in order to give the mulberry plants a manageable size and form as well as to encourage the bud to sprout and develop new branches. The primary goal of pruning is to increase leaf output and quality. In addition, it is used to harvest the shoots for silkworm rearing and to do various inter-cultivation tasks including weeding, ploughing, applying manure and fertilizer and proper timing of the rearing of silkworms. To prune without breaking the bark or stem, use a sharp secateur, pruning saw or sickle. The plants in rainfed environments are only ever trimmed once a year, at a height of 10–20 cm above the ground level in June or July when the monsoon season begins. After that the plants are let to grow into bushes with many branches till the next year. Leaf harvesting is limited to the leaf picking method.
a) Pruning Types: Pruning is categorized according to the height of the stem at which it is cut. Bottom pruning is the practice of cutting the main stem at ground level after each harvest so as not to allow a stump to emerge. When low-cut pruning is used, the main stump of the plant is developed by cutting it 10 to 30 centimetres above the ground. At around 60 and 100 centimetres above the ground, medium and high cut pruning is performed respectively.

4.1 Introduction
The yield of the mulberry crop is a significant component in determining productivity and consequently, profitability in sericulture. The two most crucial goals—increasing cocoon output per hectare and lowering production costs—will be achieved through optimizing mulberry leaf yield per unit area. Therefore, ensuring that he receives the highest leaf yield possible from his mulberry crop ought to be the main goal of every sericulturist. Furthermore,
it should be understood that every action made to increase leaf production also serves to enhance leaf quality, so securing insurance against losses to the cocoon crop later on in the silkworm raising process.
4.2 Soil and Climate
Except for extremely steep terrain, mulberry may be grown practically on any type of terrain. However, when it is grown on either level ground or gently sloping or undulating terrain, good growths are obtained. More sloping or steep terrain calls for careful consideration of appropriate soil conservation techniques including bench teracing, contour planting and contour drainage. Although mulberry thrives in a variety of soil types, loamy to clayey loamsoils are ideal for growth. Mulberry plants can withstand somewhat acidic soil conditions. However, if the pH of the soil is too low, lime or dolomite should be applied as a necessary corrective measure. When it comes to
alkaline soil Gypsum application in the soil is the best option for adjusting the soil’s alkalinity. Given that mulberries have deep roots, the soil should be sufficiently deep—up to two feet, at the very least. Mulberries grow well up to an elevation of around 4,000 feet after which their growth will be slowed by the lower temperatures. 

Non-mulberry plants, sometimes referred to as Vanya plants, are important to the sericulture sector because they give silkworms—which are normally fed mulberry leaves—an alternate source of nutrition. Many species, including castor (Ricinus communis), oak (Quercus spp.) and arjun (Terminalia arjuna), are among these non-mulberry plants. These plants are a food source for a distinct species of silkworm known as Eri, Tasar and Muga silk, which are distinct from the common mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. These silks are prized for their unique properties, hues and textures which add to the variety and depth of silk goods on the market.
3.2 Host Plants
3.2.1 Host Plants for Tasar Silkworms
The traditional tasar and the oak tasar are now two separate entities within the Indian tasar culture. Terminalia and Shorea dominate the traditional tasar tract, with Quercus oaks (as the name suggests) dominating the latter.
Although tasar silkworms are actually polyphagous, there is some specificity in terms of their affinity for a given feeding source.
Taxonomy: A. mylitta feeds primarily on Asan (Terminalia tomentosa,
Fig.3.1), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna, Fig.3.2) and Sal (Shorea robusta, Fig.3.3), while A. proylei is mainly reared on Uyung (Quercus serrata, Fig. 3.4), Banj (Quercus incana, Fig. 3.5), Sahi (Quercus dealbata, Fig. 3.6) and Moru
(Quercus himalayana, Fig. 3.7). Being important for tasar industry, these three genera (Terminalia, Shorea and Quercus) the silkworm feeds on Phutuka (Melastoma, Fig. 3.8) and Bogori (Zizyphus jujuba, Fig. 3.9).

2.1 Introduction
Growing as a perennial tree or shrub, the genus Morus (Mulberry) is employed in sericulture and is the only food source for the tamed silkworm Bombyx mori L. It is also a valuable commercial plant. The mulberry attracts silkworms because it contains elements that cause biting and swallowing. People who live in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, the northeastern states and other parts of India rely heavily on sericulture, which grows exclusively mulberries and their variants for the purpose of raising silkworms.
2.2 Mulberry Plant
Mulberry is a plant that belongs to the kingdom Plantae, order Rosales, family Moraceae and genus Morus. It grows quickly when young but eventually slows down and rarely reaches a height of 33 to 50 feet. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple often lobed and typically lobed on juvenile shoots rather than on mature trees. The plant can be monoecious or dioecious depending on the species. It produces multiple fruits that are 2-3 cm long and mature fruits that are white or green to pale yellow with pink edges. In most species, the fruits are red when ripened, turning dark purple to black and possessing a sweet flavour.

1.1 Introduction
Sericulture involves raising silkworms to produce silk. It is an agricultural industry that includes growing food plants for silkworms, raising them to produce cocoons, and then processing the cocoons to create yarn for weaving, resulting in value-added benefits.
1.2 Definition of Sericulture
Sericulture (also known as ‘silk production’) involves breeding and caring for silk worms to produce silk on a large scale. This process includes raising the worms on mulberry plants, harvesting and processing their cocoons to extract raw silk fibres, and ultimately creating commercial silk products. The art of silk production is called sericulture that comprises cultivation of mulberry, silkworm rearing and post-cocoon activities leading to production of silk yarn (FAO). While there are many species of silk worms, only a few are commonly used for commercial purposes.
1.3 Silkworm
The silkworm is the larval stage of the domesticated silk moth Bombyx mori, which is in latin also referred to as the “silkworm of the mulberry tree”. Being the main source of silk, it is a significant insect from an economic standpoint. White mulberry leaves are the primary meal of silkworms (monophagous). The generation of domestic silk moths is largely dependent on humans due to millennia of selective breeding. Because wild silk moths
have not undergone selective breeding like their domestic cousins, they are not economically viable to produce silk.

Dairy animals are the backbone of animal husbandry. India is the largest milk producer and ranks first in the world with a share of 25% of global milk production. Haemoprotozoan diseases pose significant limitations to the health and production of cattle. It leads to significant losses in the livestock industry worldwide. However, most protozoan parasites in the blood are known tocause anaemia by inducing erythro-phagocytosis. In terms of  mortality, reduced milk production and reduced immunity power, hemoprotozoan parasites pose a major threat to the livestock population. Theileria, Babesia, Anaplasma and Trypanosoma are the most important hemoprotozoan diseases of veterinary importance. These diseases affect different livestock species, caused by different species of Trypanosoma, Theileria, Babesia and Anaplasma. Tick-borne hemoprotozoan infections have a significant negative impact on the health and productivity of cattle and result in major losses to the global livestock industry. In tropical and subtropical regions, tick-borne hemoprotozoan infections have a significant impact on animal production. In India, these hemoprotozoan parasites have long posed a serious threat to the survival of exotic and crossbred cattle (Ananda et al., 2009). Haemoprotozoan diseases have deleterious impact on health and production of animals causing death in acute cases, production losses in chronically affected animals which decrease economic share of livestock sector (Bharti et al., 2022)

There are number of internal and external factors that affect the production performance of animals, among which parasites and parasitism are major of concern constraints to animal’s productivity especially in tropical countries. Feed intake and nutrient requirements have been recognized for long time as an important parameter for determining the efficiency of animal production. Most of the parasitic infection in domestic animals is caused by gastrointestinal nematode, which may result in depression in appetite, impairment in GI functions, alteration in protein, energy and mineral metabolism and changes in water balance. Nutrition can affect the ability of the host to cope with the consequences of parasitism and to contain and eventually to overcome parasitism. Since it is proposed that the host gives priority to the reversal of the pathophysiological consequences of parasitism over other body functions, it is to be expected that improved nutrition will always lead to improved resilience. On the other hand, it is proposed that the function of growth, pregnancy and lactation are prioritized over the expression of immunity. Improved nutrition may affect the degree of expression of immunity during these phases and can thus influence the resilience and resistance of host to parasite infection.

Livestock has been essential for Indian agriculture since prehistoric times. Livestock is crucial for tripling farmers’ revenue, for bovines—particularly cattle and buffaloes—play a crucial role in the economy. India has the
largest number of livestock owners, with a wide variety of livestock and poultry breeds that are essential to the socioeconomic advancement of rural communities. The production of consumables and maintaining the country’s food security are inextricably related to the livestock and agricultural sectors. Numerous illnesses have a detrimental effect on the health and productivity of livestock and are highly significant economically. Livestock illnesses have negative effects on producers, costing them money in upkeep, resources, and production.
Protozoal infections are a major contributor to the global burden of infectious diseases and have a profound effect on health, society, and the economy. Nearly one-sixth of the world’s population is at risk of dying from serious diseases like malaria (Plasmodium spp.), African sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei), Chagas’ disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) and various forms of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania spp.). Although the burden of protozoal diseases primarily affects tropical and subtropical regions, environmental changes and ecological modifications brought about by both natural and manmade factors have had and are likely to continue to have a significant impact on the emergence and spread of these infections in high-income nations.

Haemoprotozoan parasites are responsible for causing severe infections in humans as well as animals across the world. The important hemoprotozoan diseases of livestock are trypanosomosis, theileriosis, babesiosis, and
anaplasmosis, which are caused by several species of Trypanosoma, Theileria, Babesia, and Anaplasma, respectively, in several species of livestock. These diseases caused huge impact on health and productivity of livestock as well as human beings and causes great economic losses to the livestock production n terms of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In India, the annual economic loss has been esteemed in the livestock due to theileriosis, babesiosis and trypanosomosis of Rs 8426 crore, Rs 4000 crore and Rs 4474 core, respectively. The major clinical signs of the haemoprotozoan disease varies from fever, anorexia, anaemia, abortion, and even death in the acute form of infections. The symptomatological treatment is a quite common practice in the field condition to treat the animals suspected with haemoprotozon infection leading to the development of resistance in animals to currently available drugs against haemoprotozoans. The accurate and prompt diagnosis of haemoprotozoan infection is a key to control these diseases. Routine diagnosis of haemoprotozoan infection has been rely on clinical findings and microscopical demonstration of the infective parasitic stages in the blood or tissue fluid smear. Conventional diagnostic techniques such as Microscopical examination techniques and Immunological assay provide the definite clues about parasitic infections in general, but these tests have some limitations.

The reclassification of the order Rickettsiales was predicated upon comprehensive genetic analyses of 16S rRNA, groESL, and surface protein genes. Consequently, organisms within this order were systematically assigned to one of two families: Anaplasmataceae and Rickettsiaceae. Within the Anaplasmataceae family, phylogenetic analyses consistently delineated four genetically distinct clades: (1) Anaplasma, (2) Ehrlichia, (3) Wolbachia, and (4) Neorickettsia. Despite the obligate intracellular nature of rickettsial organisms in both families, those classified under Rickettsiaceae proliferate freely within
the host cell cytoplasm, whereas members of the Anaplasmataceae family are confined exclusively to membrane-bound vacuoles within the cytoplasm of host cells.
The first documented cases of anaplasmosis trace back to the late 19th century in South Africa. However, it wasn’t until 1910 that the causative agent of the disease was conclusively identified morphologically as “marginal points” within red blood cells by Max Theiler, later named it Anaplasma marginale. A year later, he identified another species, A. centrale, which caused a milder form of the disease in cattle. During the 1930s, Sanborn, Stiles, and Moc demonstrated the mechanical transmission of A. marginale by horse flies and stable flies. In the late 1980s, the life cycle of A. marginale was fully elucidated in ticks belonging to the genus Dermacentor.

Bovine babesiosis is a significant febrile disease, primarily affecting cattle and buffalo, transmitted by ticks. The disease is marked by the rapid proliferation of parasites within the bloodstream, leading to the extensive destruction of red blood cells. This results in a cascade of clinical symptoms, including anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and splenomegaly, with the potential for severe cases to culminate in death. The acute form of bovine babesiosis is particularly severe, often characterized by these pronounced symptoms, which can lead to rapid deterioration in the affected animals. Babesiosis is not merely an acute illness but can also persist as a chronic infection. Chronic bovine babesiosis is typified by ongoing anemia and varying degrees of weight loss, reflecting the enduring impact of the parasite within the host. Economically, this disease poses a formidable challenge, especially in regions where cattle are most susceptible. Since the first description of Babesia bovis by Victor Babes in Romania in 1888, numerous distinct species have been identified, each contributing to the global burden of this disease (Hunfeld et al., 2008). The impact of bovine babesiosis on livestock improvement efforts in endemic regions is profound. The introduction of susceptible, naive animals into these areas often leads to significant losses, as these animals are highly vulnerable to the disease.

Theileriosis is a tick-borne protozoan disease that affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals, particularly cattle. While multiple species of Theileria exist, Theileria parva and Theileria annulata are the most important pathogens in terms of their impact on domestic cattle. This disease is transmitted by ixodid ticks and has a significant impact on cattle populations in tropical and subtropical regions. Theileriosis poses a substantial threat to livestock productivity, affecting economic stability in many countries, especially those that rely heavily on agriculture and cattle farming.
The disease has two primary forms: East Coast fever (ECF), caused by T. parva, which predominantly affects cattle in eastern, central, and southern Africa; and tropical theileriosis, caused by T. annulata, which affects cattle across northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Both diseases are highly pathogenic and, if left untreated, can lead to high morbidity and mortality rates, significantly impacting livestock production.

Kingdom: Protozoa
Phylum: Euglenozoa
Class: Kinetoplasta
Order: Trypanosomatida
Family: Trypanosomatidae
Genus: Trypanosoma
Members of the genus Trypanosoma are responsible for trypanosomosis in animals and human beings and are found in the blood vascular system and tissues all over the world. All the species of trypanosomes are transmitted biologically or mechanically through an arthropod vector except T. equiperdum, which is transmitted through coitus in equines.

Protozoa are considered as unicellular eukaryotic organisms and evolved after bacteria and thousands years early to multi-cellular organisms as well as animals. This unicellular eukaryotic organism contains all the organelles or structures like multi-cellular organisms but in single cells. Similar to multicellular, the genetic information of protozoa is also stored in chromosomes. The protozoa differ from bacteria in different manners. The differentiating features of bacteria and protozoa are given in Table 1.
1. General Structures of Protozoa
Protozoa, like other eukaryotic cells, contain a nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes. Beyond these common organelles, protozoa feature a range of unique structures with specific functions that enable them to operate independently. Protozoan cells can be categorized into two primary components: the cytoplasm and the nucleus.

Agricultural extension services are critical for the dissemination of knowledge, technologies and innovations among farmers, leading to improved agricultural productivity, sustainability and livelihoods. Different countries have adopted varied approaches to extension policies, reflecting their unique socioeconomic, political and agro-ecological contexts. Here’s an overview of
extension policies in different regions:
1. United States: In the United States, the Cooperative Extension Service, established under the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, is a nationwide, publicly funded network that connects land-grant universities with local communities. It provides educational programs, resources and advisory services to farmers, ranchers and rural residents. The U.S. model emphasizes partnerships between federal, state and local governments, as well as with the private sector, to deliver extension services.
2. India: India has a diverse and decentralized extension system comprising public, private and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) is the central government’s flagship program that focuses on agricultural extension, including farmer capacity building, technology disseminationand knowledge management. Despite this, challenges such as inadequate funding, limited reach and poor coordination across agencies persist, leading to calls for reform and more innovative approaches like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration.