Hydroponic Green Fodder

Green fodder is the natural diet for livestock. Its production to meet the current demand has become a greatest challenge among livestock farmers. Due to many reasons, green fodder production has been facing a serious crisis and so the livestock productivity. Due to increasing intensive system of rearing livestock, the need for green fodder is enormous. As the gap between the demand and supply of the green fodder for livestock becoming unconquerable, researchers and farmers are in search for an alternative fodder or fodder production method, that would restore fodder and livestock production.

Hydroponics is the state of the art technology that has revolutionised the green fodder production in the 21st century. Hydroponics is a method of growing green fodder without soil in an environmentally controlled houses or machines. Many of the livestock farmers are switching to hydroponic fodder production from conventional production methods, as the fodder produced by this method are highly nutritious, provide sustainable fodder production round the year and conserve water . 

Though this method has made a greatest impact in the fodder production system, most of the farmers are facing some practical difficulties in profitably running the hydroponic machine for sustainable fodder production. This manual has been compiled with the essential managemental practices that have to be carried out for an economically sustainable fodder production.

Importance of green fodder:

• Natural diet for animals. 
• Improves fat percentage in milk. 
• Rich in beta carotene and helps in synthesis of vitamin A. 
• Vitamin A has greater impact on reproduction.

Water conserving hydroponic technology is a state of the art technology that has revolutionised the fodder production system during the past decades across the globe. There is no doubt that it will play a major role in reducing the green fodder demand and supply gap in our country as well as state.

What is hydroponics? 

The word hydroponics has been derived from the Greek word ‘water working’. Hydro means ‘water’ and ponic means ‘working’ and it is a technology of growing plants without soil, but in water or nutrient rich solution for a short duration in an environmentally controlled houses or machine.

What is a fodder? 

“Fodder” refers particularly to food given to the animals (including plants cut and carried to them), rather than that which they forage for themselves in pasture and grazing land. It includes hay, straw, silage, compressed and pelleted feeds, oils and mixed rations, and also sprouted grains and legumes. 

What is hydroponic fodder?

Fodder grown using hydroponics technology.

Hydroponic green fodder - why?

Saves water Consumes 98% less water than conventional method.

Reduced growth time 

Takes only 8 days duration to develop from seed to fodder while it took 45 days for a conventional fodder to grow. Enhanced nutritive value – as the fodder contains the seed along with the fodder, it has higher crude protein content than conventional green fodder.

Constant supply 

Fodder can be produced round the year irrespective of the failure of monsoon, land availability, natural calamities, labour shortage. Promotes sustainable agriculture and livestock production. 

Requires minimal man power and time 

Only 2 -3 hours of work daily.

Completely natural and organic

Fodder is grown completely natural without the use of any pesticides. 

Optimal production cost 

• Production cost is optimal when compared to conventional fodder production. 
• Cost of production is 4 to 5 INR / kg of hydroponic maize fodder.

Reduce feed cost

As the fodder contains more crude protein that conventional fodder it reduces the feed cost spent on the concentrate feed to half. 

Minimal equipment usage 

Reduce the need for equipment and fuel used to plant, grow, harvest, transport, and store feed. 

Nutritious fodder 

• Hydroponic fodder along with seed and root (sprout mat) are highly edible and are rich in protein (10 – 17%).
• Ideal nutrients enriched fodder for livestock.

Do the livestock really like it? 

The answer is ‘yes’. 

Palatability of hydroponic green fodder was excellent among farm animals as it is succulent and delicious.

Palatability trial showed greater response among farm animals like Cattle, Buffalo, Sheep and Goat.

நன்றி: TNAU Apparel & Accessories