Opportunities for improvement of nutritive value in sorghum and pearl millet residues in South Asia through genetic enhancement

Abstract

Cereal crop residues are important feed resources for ruminants in developing countries. However, they are poor in nutritive value because digestible energy, crude protein and mineral contents are all low. Techniques to improve the feeding value of crop residues by chemical or biological means have not been adopted widely by small farmers in developing countries. Genetic enhancement may provide an alternative and practical strategy for improvement of nutritive value in cereal straws and stovers. This paper reviews the opportunities for the improvement of nutritive value by plant breeding, with particular reference to dual-purpose cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in South Asia.