Geographical Distribution of Fodders & Forages

🔹 1. Classification of Fodder & Forage Crops

1. Cereal fodders – sorghum, maize, pearl millet, oat, barley.
2. Legume fodders – berseem, lucerne (alfalfa), cowpea, cluster bean.
3. Perennial fodders – napier grass, guinea grass, para grass, fodder trees.
4. Miscellaneous/others – root crops like turnip, carrot (fodder type), sugar beet.

🔹 2. Important Cereal Fodders

(a) Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) – Fodder Sorghum

• Origin: Africa.
• Global distribution: Africa, USA, India, Australia.
• India: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan.
• Use: Green fodder, silage.

(b) Maize (Zea mays) – Fodder Maize

• Origin: Mexico.
• Global distribution: USA, China, Brazil, India, Argentina.
• India: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, MP, UP.
• Use: Green fodder, silage, grain + stover.

(c) Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) – Bajra Fodder

• Origin: Africa/India.
• Global distribution: India, Nigeria, Niger, Sudan.
• India: Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, Haryana.
• Use: Green fodder in kharif, silage.

(d) Oat (Avena sativa) – Fodder Oat

• Origin: Europe.
• Global distribution: Russia, Canada, Poland, Australia, India.
• India: Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP, Bihar.
• Use: Winter fodder, very palatable, high biomass.

(e) Barley (Hordeum vulgare) – Dual Purpose (grain + fodder)

• Origin: Fertile Crescent.
• Global distribution: Russia, Germany, Canada, Spain.
• India: Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, Punjab.

🔹 3. Important Legume Fodders

(a) Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum)

• Origin: Egypt (hence called Egyptian clover).
• Global distribution: Egypt, India, Sudan, Mediterranean countries.
• India: Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar.
• Use: Winter green fodder, highly nutritious, multi-cut.

(b) Lucerne (Medicago sativa) – Alfalfa

• Origin: South-West Asia (Iran region).
• Global distribution: USA, Argentina, China, India.
• India: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, UP, Maharashtra.
• Use: “Queen of forages” – perennial, protein-rich fodder.

(c) Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) – Fodder Cowpea

• Origin: Africa.
• Global distribution: India, Nigeria, Sudan, Brazil.
• India: Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, MP, Tamil Nadu.
• Use: Kharif legume fodder, soil nitrogen enrichment.

(d) Clusterbean (Guar, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba)

• Origin: India.
• Global distribution: India, Pakistan, USA, Sudan.
• India: Rajasthan (major), Haryana, Gujarat.
• Use: Fodder + industrial gum crop.

🔹 4. Perennial & Grasses

(a) Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum)

• Origin: Africa.
• Global distribution: Africa, Asia, tropical countries.
• India: Widely grown across states as perennial fodder (cut-and-carry).

(b) Guinea grass (Panicum maximum)

• Origin: Africa.
• Global distribution: Africa, Asia, South America.
• India: Grown in southern and eastern states.

(c) Para grass (Brachiaria mutica)

• Origin: South America.
• Global distribution: Asia, Africa, tropical regions.
• India: West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Kerala.
• Use: Good for swampy/wet areas.

(d) Fodder Trees / Perennials

• Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) – Mexico origin, grown in south India.
• Stylo (Stylosanthes hamata) – Brazil origin, grown in degraded lands.
• Sesbania, Acacia, Gliricidia – multipurpose fodder trees.

5. Table