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Production and Promotion of Triticale as a High Quality Fodder and Feed in Small-scale Dairy Farmers of Bangladesh

M. E. Haque
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), House-18, Road-4, Sector-4, Uttara, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh

S. R. Waddington
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), House-18, Road-4, Sector-4, Uttara, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh

Z. I. Sarker
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Nashipur, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh

N. R. Sarker
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka-1341, Bangladesh

M. Akteruzzaman
Department of Agriculture Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In Bangladesh, high quality fodder is scare from December to May for ruminant livestock and feed is expensive throughout the year for poultry. A project was conducted in the cool dry Rabi (December-February) seasons of 2005-06 and 2006-07 to promote triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) as a high quality dual-purpose fodder and feed for small-scale dairy and poultry producers. During 2005 and 2006, 504 farm families from six districts in north western and central Bangladesh received training on triticale cultivation and its utilization as a green fodder for dairy cows and for grain. Printed training manuals and visual training materials (including a DVD docudrama) were developed, used in training, and distributed widely. On-farm demonstrations on triticale production were mounted with each trained farm family in two years using a dual-purpose fodder and grain type triticale variety, WRF-7, that earlier on farm research had identified to perform well in Bangladesh. High quality grass fodder was obtained by cutting the vegetative triticale plants either twice (at 35 and 50 days after seeding (DAS)) or once (at around 40 days), while the later ratooning tillers produced grain. In 168 farmer demonstrations in 2005-06, the green fodder yield ranged from 4.9 to 20.0 t/ha fresh mass (0.7 t/ha to 2.7 t/ha dry mass) from one cut at 35 DAS and 7 to 28 t/ha fresh mass from two cuts at 35 and 50 DAS. Overall, 62% of farmers reported yields above 10 t/ha of fresh green fodder. A mean grain yield of 1.8 t/ha was obtained from WRF-7 after two cuts on-farm. Straw yields ranged from 0.8 to 7.1 t/ha dry mass. 324 farmers hosted similar demonstrations in 2006-07 and reported higher yields of green fodder, ranging from 7.4 to 33.7 t/ha fresh mass from one cut at 40 to 42 DAS. A higher mean grain yield of 2.8 t/ha was obtained from WRF-7 after one cut for fodder in 2006-07. Assessments of WRF-7 dual-purpose triticale by farmers were very positive, with 97% wanting to grow triticale again in more land ranging from 0.04 ha to 0.81 ha. From experience, many farmers decided it was more efficient to cut triticale once for green fodder. Almost all farmers reported benefits to milk production and farm income from feeding triticale fodder to cows. It was concluded that smallholder dairy farmers in North-West Bangladesh can easily produce sufficient amounts of quality fodder for dairy cows and feed for poultry from WRF-7 dual-purpose triticale during periods of severe fodder shortages.

Keywords: Fodder, Feed, Triticale, Dairy cows, Poultry, Whole-family training, On-farm demonstrations

Location: North western and central Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2005

End Date: 00-00-2007

Program Area: Variety and Species

Commodity: Fodder, Feed

Objectives:

To identify the production and promotion of triticale as a high quality of fodder and feed in small-scale dairy farmers of Bangladesh BANGLADESH

Methodology:

An on-farm demonstration of triticale production was prepared for the 2005-06 season, and given to each of 180 families that had participated in whole-family training. Each family received sufficient seed (at 120 kg /ha) of WRF-7 (dual fodder and grain type triticale) and fertilizer (at 100-60-40-20 kg/ha NPKS) to plant 800 m2 of land. A copy of the triticale production and utilization manual and a signboard were also given. Two-thirds of the N and all the PKS was applied as a basal dressing before final land preparation. All except two farmers grew the triticale. Most of the demonstrations were planted within the recommended period of 17 November to 10 December 2005. The first irrigation was given at the crown root initiation (CRI) stage followed by a top dress of the remaining N as urea. All participating families cut triticale leaves from the demonstrations and fed the fodder to their cows from December 2005 to February 2006. The triticale plants were cut 4 cm above ground level at the first cut (35 DAS) and 8 cm at the second cut (50 DAS). After each cutting for green fodder, a light irrigation was given followed by an extra top dress of 50 kg/ha urea. Most farmers irrigated once again during the early grain filling stage. Farmers were trained by extension staff to measure green fodder, grain and straw yields from their fields. Data were obtained from 149 farms after triticale grain harvest in 2005-06. These assessments were verified at some sites through crop cuts made by research and extension staff. From oven dried samples, we calculated first cut fodder dry mass = 12-15 % of fresh mass and second cut fodder dry mass = 17-18 % fresh mass. For the 2006-07 Rabi season, 324 new farmers each hosted an on-farm triticale demonstration that was very similar to those conducted in 2005-06 except the cutting practice. Feedback from many farmers in 2005-06 favoured one cut (not two) for fodder, to also produce high yielding bold grains. Based on experiences and new recommendations in many training sessions, most farmers in 2006-07 harvested green fodder once at 40 to 42 DAS leaving the 5-6 cm bottom portion of triticale plants to regrow grain. After triticale production season, data were collected from 235 triticale growers of 2006-07 and reported in the paper. Additional triticale seed production initiatives were conducted for the program. Five ha of triticale was grown for seed production at the Wheat Research Centre, Nashipur, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) of BARI, Jamalpur and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute during 2005-06. A further 3 ha of triticale seed production fields were planted during 2006-07 at Wheat Research Sub-station Dinajpur, 1 ha at RARS Jamalpur and 7.3 ha in 18 block demonstrations, with one block in each upazila of the six selected districts.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 19(2) : 217-228, 2008 ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/PA/article/view/16964/11915

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In conclusion, results of the study indicate that WRF-7 triticale variety is promising for the production of quality fodder and feed for dairy cows and poultry farms in North West Bangladesh during the period of fodder shortages. Introduction of promising new triticale lines will increase production further, as will use of improved crop management practices. Given the good yields and farmer interest, and continued difficulties with wheat production, prospects for significant triticale grain production for human food are very good in Bangladesh and a larger promotion and awareness initiative on this is recommended.

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