Fodder, v.t. [imp.& p.p. Foddered (-drd); p. pr. & vb. n. Foddering.]
To feed, as cattle, with dry food or cut grass, etc.;to furnish with hay, straw, oats, etc.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Fodder, n.
A weight by which lead and some other metals were formerly sold, in England, varying from 19 [Obs.]
Fodder, n.
That which is fed out to cattle horses, and sheep, as hay, cornstalks, vegetables, etc.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for fodder; he lists it under food.
Where he writes about it:
Feed, fodder, and provender are used only of the food of the lower animals, feed denoting anything consumed, but more commonly grain, fodder denoting hay, cornstalks, or the like, sometimes called "long feed;" provender is dry feed, whether grain or hay, straw, etc. — from food