Why Hydroponic Green Fodders Are The Best Choice For Livestock Animals

Green fodders produced by growing seeds without soil but in water or nutrients richsolutions are known as hydroponics green fodder and the production method is termedas Alfaculture. Hydroponics green fodder production or Alfaculture is a method ofcultivating livestock feed mostly in green houses under controlled environment, innutrient rich water.

Green fodders are staple feed for dairyanimals. Dairy animals producing up to5-7liters milk per day can be maintainedexclusively by feeding green fodders.Inclusion of green fodders in ration of dairyanimals decreases amount of concentratefeeding and thus increases profit.Therefore, for economical and sustainabledairy farming, fodder production round theyear is highly essential.

Green fodder produced in an Alaculturesystem would have many benefits as it iscapable to fulfill bulk of animal easily andquickly, hydroponic green fodders are amajor source of vegetable protein, it is agood source of carbohydrate (soluble andfibrous) and good source of minerals.Hydroponic green fodders are rich inessential vitamins and a good source ofwater (approx. 15-25% water).

The Alfaculture units are built with a greenhouse (for growth of fodder) and a controlunit, (for regulation of light, temperature, humidity and water) for optimum growth offodder. And generally in an Alfaculture system, fodders are grown in trays in 7 days cycleexcluding the day for seed soaking.

In comparison to conventional green fodders, hydroponics green fodders contain moreprotein, fat (ether extract) and soluble carbohydrates (nitrogen free extract); but lessfiber, total ash and acid insoluble ash.

Feeding of hydroponics green fodder produced in Alfaculture units are more beneficialto all livestock due to their high nutritional values. Green fodders are highly succulentand relished by dairy animals. For instance; 7-8Kgs of Alfaculture maize green foddercan replace one kg concentrate mixture fodder. As it is highly succulent, it isrecommended to offer maximum 20 kg hydroponic green fodder per day per animal.