ABSTRACT
Fodder crops have high nutritional values and are very important in agriculture for the development of livestock. Fodder crops consist of several plant species used to feed livestock, either raw (green fodder) or after processing (as silage). There are two types of fodder: winter fodders (berseem, alfalfa, mustard, oat, Indian clover, Persian clover, etc.) and summer fodders (maize, sorghum, millet, etc). Fodder production methods are different in various regions; they depend upon climatic conditions and availability of resources, that is, fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides, and insecticides. Agronomic practices are crucial for raising quality fodder crops in the winter season. The production and quality (palatability and digestibility) of winter fodders can be improved by selecting the appropriate variety, sowing time, seed rate, irrigation method and application timing, fertilizer types, cultural practices, and proper harvesting times. These agronomic practices have greater importance to get a continuous supply of quality fodder production for livestock throughout the season. Therefore, in this chapter, we discuss winter fodder types, characteristics, bioecology, agronomic practices, and harvesting times.
