Hydroponics Farming: a Solution to Quality Livestock Forage Livestock forage may include any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as chickens, horses, pigs, cattle and goats. The term refers to food given to animals, rather than the food they feed for themselves. Types of plants typically grown for livestock forage include alfalfa, barley, oats, clover, grass and wheat.
Hydroponics farming for animals is popular all over the world with farmers, ranchers, horsemen and zoos. It is a compact, simple, and cheap way to produce high quality green forage for farm animals. Any kind of grass or cereal grains can be sprouted in a well maintained hydroponic system– oats, barley wheat, alfalfa, etc. the nutrient solution increases the food value of the final product. It takes about five to eight days to grow from seed to an 8 inch mat of grass, packed with vitamins and minerals.
Growing livestock forage in a hydroponic system might seem like an expensive way to feed dairy or beef cattle or other livestock, but in most situations it could prove very beneficial. A hydroponic system could provide producers with an excellent source of forage and cattle are able to eat the whole thing, sprout mat and all. There are so many companies nowadays that are offering the forage systems, as well as other systems for hydroponic growing. With hydroponics, plants can be grown in a small amount of water on a mat with added nutrients – but without soil. Hydroponic technology allows fresh feed and produce to be grown anywhere. A thousand pounds of barley, wheat or corn grows into 7,000-8,000 pounds of feed in only 10 days.
Hydroponic growing systems produce a greater yield over a shorter period of time in a smaller area than traditionally-grown crops. Hydroponics is a yearround growing system that produces a consistent quantity and quality of plant material, regardless of outside weather. Hydroponics Livestock forage is becoming more important to farmers worldwide due to the lack of land. For example, the forage system has been used by dairy producers with limited arable land. Livestock farmers can grow their forage in a hydroponic system, rather than having to find more land. They can grow the forage even in the adverse climate conditions which might prevent livestock from foraging for nutritious grass.