ABSTRACT
Forage maize is relatively easy to grow and being drought tolerant is a consistent provider of high yields with minimum input from the farmer. The harvesting window for maize is wider than for grass silage as maize holds its digestibility as forage for longer. Maize produces palatable silage that livestock like but which also produces much less effluent than grass. Maize and cowpea are adaptable to wide range of environment and can provide nutritious fodder under rainfed conditions when grown in association. Maize straw is used as animal fodder since the ancient times. However, the fodder quality of green maize is far excellent. Amongst the non-legume cultivated fodders, maize is the only fodder which produces better nutritional quality along with good quantity of biomass. The nutritional quality of urea treated maize stover is drastically enhanced compared to normal stover.
