Making the Most of Paddy Straw and Maize Stalks as Cattle Feed

Paddy straw and maize stalks are widely available crop residues across Kashmir, commonly used as dry fodder. They're useful and economical — but also low in nutritional value on their own, and getting the most from them takes a little know-how.

Why these residues alone aren't enough

Both paddy straw and maize stalk are high in fibre but low in protein, energy and minerals compared to green fodder or proper dry fodder like good-quality hay. Feeding them as the sole diet — without compound feed alongside — leaves animals significantly under-nourished even if their stomachs feel full.

Chaffing improves usability

Cutting straw and stalks into shorter lengths (chaffing) before feeding reduces wastage and makes it easier for animals to eat a fuller quantity, since long, tough stalks are harder to consume completely.

Treatment can improve digestibility

Some farmers improve straw's feeding value through treatment methods like urea treatment, which increases digestibility and protein content. This is a more advanced technique — if you're interested, it's worth researching properly or asking your local agriculture extension office for guidance specific to your setup.

Always pair with compound feed

The most reliable way to use paddy straw or maize stalk effectively is as the fibre/bulk portion of the diet, paired with a properly formulated compound feed like GOKA Star, Green or Smile to fill the protein, energy and mineral gaps that straw alone cannot cover. Think of straw as the "filler" and compound feed as the "nutrition" — both have a role, but neither works alone.

Storage matters

Keep straw and stalks dry and away from moisture — moldy straw is a genuine health risk to feed, not just a nutritional non-issue. Discard anything that smells musty rather than feeding it.

For guidance on balancing crop residues with compound feed for your specific herd, call or WhatsApp Falah Enterprises, Anantnag.