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 year-

round 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.