Biofortification Approaches for Improving Nutritional Quality of Feed and Fodder

Fodder crops are an important component of livestock nutrition, serving as the primary source of food for dairy and meat-producing animals. However, the nutritional quality of fodder crops is lower, leading to suboptimal animal health and productivity. Long-term mineral shortages in animal diets cause nutritional disorders. Micronutrient deficiencies are more difficult to detect because they cause minor functional and structural changes in the animal body. Micronutrient requirements are essential, especially during the three to four weeks before and after parturition, as they affect the health of milch animals, breastfeeding, milk supply, and reproductive performance. Dietary supplementation of micronutrients helps to reduce the risk of infertility, foetal development, metabolic illnesses caused by negative energy balance, lowering somatic cell counts in milk, and reducing the risk of bacterial infections associated with mastitis. Micronutrients like iron, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, cobalt and iodine are beneficial to high-yielding dairy cows, buffalo, goats, and sheep. Biofortification approaches address nutritional problems in animals worldwide by regularly introducing nutrient-enriched feed and fodder crops. Biofortification of fodder crops holds great promise as a sustainable solution to enhance the overall efficiency and productivity of livestock. Bolstering the nutritional content of fodder crops can contribute to the well-being of both animals directly and humans indirectly, fostering healthier diets, reducing malnutrition in livestock, and supporting the livelihoods of farmers worldwide.