2nd Edition of Agriculture, Forestry, and Horticulture World Conference 2026

Abstract

The livestock sector in India is among the largest in the world and plays a pivotal role in generating gainful employment in rural areas. It serves as a major source of livelihood for small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and women, thereby contributing significantly to the socio-economic up-liftment of the rural and peri-urban poor. India possesses vast livestock resources, with a population of 536.76 million as per the 19th Livestock Census, which underscores its importance in enhancing rural livelihoods and economic stability.
India ranks first globally in milk production, with an annual output of 239 million tonnes, accounting for nearly 25% of the world’s total milk production. Despite this achievement, the milk yield potential of milch animals remains largely underexploited due to fodder scarcity and inadequate scientific feeding practices. The limited availability of green fodder further exacerbates the situation, resulting in reduced productivity and impaired reproductive performance in dairy animals.
Green fodder constitutes the most economical and efficient source of a balanced ration and is indispensable for ensuring sustainable livestock productivity. Among the green fodder resources, perennial grass fodders assumes greater significance ensuring reliable year-round supply of green fodder. 
Pearl millet–Napier hybrid grass is one of the potential perennial grasses exhibiting high heterosis for fodder yield and quality (Osgood et al., 1997). It is considered as one of the highest forage yielders per unit time and space. Owing to their sterility, these hybrids are propagated vegetatively and ensures hassle free distribution. 
It is in this context that, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is pioneering in development of pearl millet–Napier hybrids and has released seven pearl millet–Napier hybrids to date, namely CO 1, CO 2, CO 3, CO (CN) 4, CO (BN) 5, CO 6 and CO 7 through interspecific hybridization. Among these, the hybrid CO (BN) 5 has a potential green fodder yield of 400 t/ ha/ year, coupled with high palatability. This hybrid was propelled further as a national variety by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh for cultivation across diverse agro-climatic zones of the country. It is a merit to mention that it has gained considerable importance in the livestock sector due to its winter hardiness, high crude protein content (14 %), superior biomass yield, rapid sprouting ability, and strong regenerative capacity (Babu et al., 2014). 
The area under CO (BN) 5 cultivation has been expanded through the distribution of stem cuttings across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Keralam, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam, thereby covering all major agro-climatic zones of India. It is worth noting that this hybrid also performs very well under 50% shade in coconut plantations in Keralam (Deepthi and Usha Thomas, 2024).
The regular feeding of green fodder of CO (BN) 5 to dairy animals has increased milk yield by 0.5 to1.0 litre /day as reported by farmers in Tamil Nadu thus ensuring prosperous rural livelihoods. As of March 2026, a total of 124 lakh stem cuttings of CO (BN) 5 have been supplied by TNAU across India, covering more than 19 states and contributing to revolutionizing milk production in India.