OAR@ICRISATSweet sorghum bagasse – An alternative feed resource for livestockY RReddyauthorN NKumariauthorMBlummelauthorChRavinder ReddyauthorLivestock production in the developing countries has been one of the most important economic and social activities of human culture. Among the livestock, ruminants have served and will continue to serve a valuable role in sustainable agricultural systems. They are particularly useful in converting vast renewable resources from rangeland, pasture and crop residues into food edible for humans. India has a huge ruminant population comprising of 210.2 million of cattle, 111.3 million buffaloes, 74.0 million of sheep, 154 million of goats, producing 117.0 million tons of milk and 3.4 million tons of meat (FAOSTAT 2010). Since 1970, there has been a consistent rise in the production of milk (4.7%) and meat (3.4%). Growth in livestock output, with the exception of milk, has primarily been driven by an increase in animal numbers. Yield growth in meat has been negligible, more so in the case of sheep and goats. Nutrition remains by far the most critical constraint to increased animal productivity and more efficient performance across the developing countries (ILRI 1995) with the perpetual gap between the demand and supply of digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN); about 35 and 37 per cent (Ramachandra et al. 2005).Sorghum2013International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid TropicsBook Section

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