#hydropinics

Hydroponic Fodder – around the world

In India, dairy farmers face rising prices for packaged feed and progressively declining availability of lands for grazing, making it extremely difficult for the farmer to sustain a living. The government is helping install hydroponic fodder units by providing subsidies and many farmers adopting this technology are reaping other added benefits. Their savings have increased by about 25%, their cows are producing almost 20% more milk and the quality of the milk is better too; all the ingredients for a happy farmer (read more about it here).

A similar story is unfolding in Kenya, where farmers are opting to switch to hydroponic fodder production to safeguard against expensive commercial feed and limited land availability.  Farmers use shade nets to maintain the temperature at a certain required range and use aluminum trays for growing fodder. Debo Onafowora, an entrepreneur, a trainer, and a consultant to many top organizations, is at the forefront of this movement.

Perhaps, the greatest shot in the arm comes from the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) recognition of hydroponic fodder as a viable feed source for a very vulnerable group of herders. The FAO has facilitated installation of these units in the West Bank, one of the most land-locked, fragile, and politically vulnerable regions in the world. If you thought rising feed prices and limited grazing land were enough to give farmers sleepless nights, imagine the plight of these herders – in addition to the ‘regular’ obstacles, they also face drought conditions and the sword of political uncertainty hanging over their heads; anytime, they may be forced to move their business from one geographical locale to another. “The West Bank imports most of its animal feed (around 500,000 tonnes per year) which makes the country highly permeable to price fluctuations in international markets…… feed prices in the West Bank are among the highest in the world”, says the FAO report.

Hydroponic fodder units have given these herders a new lease of life and the results of this project are, fortunately, quite successful. Over 1150 beneficiaries have been impacted and the results are impressive, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The farmers and herders are happy that these are units are mobile, meaning production can simply be moved in the event of any impending crises (read the full FAO report here). Mr. Saaed Bisharat, the head of the Cooperative Association from the village ‘Atuf in Tubas Governorate, says of the hydroponic fodder unit: “It is clear that the herders in my cooperative benefit economically from the unit. We noted an increase in the milk production of our dairy cattle by up to 33 percent, compared to the amount the cows produced when fed the traditional feed…. Now, with this hydroponic unit, fresh, green fodder can be available all year, and not just during the grazing season”.

And then there’s the case of ‘hydroponics with a twist’ – producing cactuses in the desert using this technology. Opuntia, or the prickly pear, is a cactus species widespread in semiarid and arid regions of Americas, Africa, Asia, Southern Europe and Australia. It is a multipurpose crop and a valuable forage source of water and forage for livestock in dry areas. Another FAO study speaks to the potential of using hydroponic techniques for Opuntia cultivation.

Bottle-necks to adoption

While many successful stories of such adoption are trickling in from around the world, what’s happening closer home, in the US, is a slightly different story. The adoption rate in the US has not yet been revolutionary by any standards, with highly polarizing views on a variety of factors – the economics of adoption, the nutritional value, the potential benefits to the farmers and more.

Let’s probe these factors a little more:

First, there’s the issue of the feed itself. Fodder is not a standalone food source, it is a feed supplement that works in combination with other types of feed like grains, hay and dry forage. Hence some growers question the investment and effort required for something that’s ‘just a supplement’. The economics for fodder work well when grain prices are prohibitively high and a low-cost, easily accessible supplement like fodder presents itself as a solution. Grain prices are not yet perceived as a huge problem in the US, atleast not in comparison to other parts of the world.

Secondly, the jury is still out on the contentious issue of the ‘nutritive’ value of fodder, (read ‘Experts…leery, farmers… pleased’). While it is widely accepted that sprouted fodder has higher protein and higher moisture content, one inevitable side-effect is a low proportion of dry matter (dry matter is what remains after all of the water is evaporated out of a feed; livestock need  to consume a certain amount of dry matter per day  to maintain health and production). According to various forage analysis reports, the dry matter content of hydroponic fodder is only 12 to 15 percent, compared to almost 90 percent in (unsprouted) grains and hays. This leaves nutrition experts arguing over every possible angle: whether the decrease in dry matter decreases the productivity, whether the increase in protein and enzymes results in increased productivity, whether the trade-off is worth it, is productivity important or economics or animal health, and so on.

Benefits of hydroponic sprouted fodder

Surprisingly though, there’s hardly any debate on the health benefits of hydroponic fodder to the animals that eat it. All factions unanimously agree that fresh green sprouted fodder makes their animals jump in joy and even the most critical of experts agree that some health benefits are attributable to hydroponic fodder. Whether the health benefits to animals translate to dollars for the farmer is the point of debate (actually, one of the many points of debate, if you hadn’t guessed by now)

Since sprouted feed closely mimics natural forage, it is the closest most farm animals will ever get to their natural diet, given modern agricultural practices and constraints. The fresh, green, juicy, grass-like fodder sheet is the animal world’s version of kids-and-candy. And fodder does more than keep them in a good mood. Where grains tend to induce acid formation during the digestive process, which can lead to acidosis, sprouts are more alkaline and not only reduce the odds of acidosis but lead to better rumen energy. Other benefits of feeding sprouts include increased enzyme levels which aids digestion and absorption of nutrients, increased levels of vitamins in the ration, increased mineral bioavailability and increased fatty acids (quality energy) and amino acids (quality protein). They help maintain the pH balance of the animals’ stomachs, eliminate colic, stomach ulcer, laminitis and other problems associated with dry feeds (read here and here on the health benefits of sprouted fodder). Staff ruminant nutritionist for Organic Valley, Silvia Abel-Caines, DVM, Ph.D., says “There is no question that the nutritional content of fresh, clean, sprouted barley will bring additional enzymes and phyto-compounds not available in conserved feeds.” (quote and article courtesy: Kelly Boylen, Think outside the silage bag) What you eventually get with sprouted fodder is a high protein, good energy, digestible, wet feed.

Naturally, these health benefits translate to happier animals and many recorded instances of improved productivity and even, higher profits for farmers. Dairy cows show an increase in butterfat and in numerous cases, increased milk production. Cows fed fresh green plants produce milk with 128 percent more omega-3 fatty acid (a healthy fat for humans which has a crucial role in how cells function). In beef cows, it produces better texture of meat. The beneficial effects of sprouted fodder feeding are not restricted to cows alone; horses are said to have shinier coats and a shortened recovery time after a hard day’s work, sheep repay the kindness with improved fleece quality, better digestion and earlier breeding, poultry produce better quality meat and eggs (darker yolks), pigs and goats produce better quality meat. All species of farm animals reap the benefits of improved gut function, increased fertility and better temperament. While many of these claims are not necessarily fact-backed, the consistent and ever-increasing positive feedback from farmers who have adopted hydroponic fodder makes it hard to dismiss these claims. After all, studies and statistics aside, a farmer understands his animals better than anyone else.

Speaking of studies, there are some that do not deny the benefits of sprouted fodder but call into question its relative expensiveness. For instance, a 2013 study by Iowa State University points out that the high cost of hydroponic fodder production can only be justified by corresponding increase in animal productivity, but that more research is necessary to prove it does indeed improve animal productivity. Similar thoughts are echoed by Dr. Abel-Caines as well, who says, “every farm needs to carefully evaluate if the high economical investment of a commercial fodder system fits the budget and the labor required to keep it functional year-round”.

The context of use matters, however. The same Iowa University study claims ‘hydroponic sprouts may still have good application in organic, intensive, small-scale livestock with high value outputs’. And this may well be true; small family-owned farms, organic farms, farms focusing on ‘grass-fed’ meat make good customers for hydroponic fodder systems. They deal with issues of dwindling grazing land and the challenge of feeding fresh, green grass all year-long; for many, hydroponic fodder is the panacea they have been looking for. It helps that the American Grass-fed Association (AGA) recognizes sprouted fodder as a grass-fed source of feed. It keeps these farms operating profitably, without having to compromise the quality of their products or having to give up their recognition as ‘organic’ or ‘grass-fed’ farms.

Will it or won’t it?

Consider this: on the one hand is the rising movement against grain-fed animal farming and factory farming (think Michael Pollan and Cowspiracy), on the other is the increasing demand for organic, local-grown, ethically-farmed, healthy agricultural products and then there’s the mad scramble for grazing land, water and improved productivity; in this clash of equal and opposing forces, hydroponic fodder may truly be the only truce achievable. It can ensure healthy animals and good productivity without compromising farmer’s profits, all while using minimal resources and ensuring sustainability for the planet. While studies continue to be underway and battles continue to rage on the technicalities and economics, lurking just behind the curtains is the very human need for the ‘perfect’ solution: one that’s right for everyone – the animals, the farmers, the consumers and the planet. It may not take long for this need to finally take centre stage; sometime very soon, this need will propel hydroponic fodder, among other sustainable practices, to the tipping point and then, animal agriculture will change forever. I am hopeful.

For more Fodder Facts – read here

Article – Fodder for Forage : System, cost –benefit analyses, tips

Article – Think outside the silage bag : Dos and don’ts of hydroponic fodder

Blog – Viability of hydroponic fodder : dry matter analyses, costs, benefits and disadvantages

*Fodder Consultants : Growth cycle, advantages and disadvantages, financials

*FarmTek : What to grow, feed for different animals, customer testimonials, systems

*Fodder Works : More on seed, systems and demos

*commercial fodder systems