Although the methods of hydroponic fodder production date back to the 1930s, there is renewed interest in hydroponic fodder as a feedstuff for sheep, goats, and other livestock.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil.
Only moisture and nutrients are provided to the growing plants. There are many advantages to hydroponics, especially for semi-arid environments like many parts of Namibia.
Hydroponic growing systems produce a greater yield over a shorter period of time in a smaller area than conventional crops. There is a reduction or exclusion of pesticides and herbicides because the plants are in a more protected growing environment. Hydroponics is a year-round growing system that produces a consistent quantity and quality of plant material, regardless of outside weather.
Fodder or livestock feed can be grown hydroponically much the same as vegetables, flowers, and other plants. Hydroponic fodder systems are usually used to sprout cereal grains, such as barley, oats, wheat, sorghum, and corn, or legumes, such as alfalfa, clover, or cowpeas. Barley is the most commonly grown fodder, because it usually gives the best yield of nutrients.
While it is possible to grow hydroponic fodder in any building, including a garage or basement, experts say a greenhouse is ideal because temperature, light, and humidity can be precisely controlled.
Hydroponics fodder sprouts are tender and young, the equivalent of fresh green grass. As such, they are highly palatable and nutritious to all types and classes of livestock.
On a dry matter basis, hydroponic fodder compares favourably with other nutritious feedstuffs.
Hydroponic fodder makes very efficient use of water.
There is little wastewater, as animals consume the recirculated water along with the feed. Hydroponic fodder production also requires considerably less land to produce feed for livestock.
Hydroponic fodder production is probably best suited to semi-arid, arid, and drought-prone regions of the world. By growing fodder indoors, crop failures would no longer be a risk.
Good quality forage could be produced year-round. Feed supplies would be insured. Scarce water resources could be allocated more efficiently.
In places where land values are extremely high or land is simply not readily available, hydroponic fodder has obvious advantages, as it can be produced in a small footprint.
Because the fodder is produced continuously, there is no need for long-term feed storage and no nutrient losses that can be associated with feed storage.
Requiring smaller amounts of fodder, small-scale producers may be able to build their own fodder systems for a few hundred dollars. When the investment is low and labour is unpaid, the cost of hydroponic fodder is considerably less.
It goes without saying that hydroponic production could benefit many farmers struggling with limited pastures for livestock countrywide. Its relatively low cost compared to traditional crop production, and the fact that it uses very little water, is a recipe of success.
Namibian farmers, especially those in drought prone areas such as northern Namibia, Erongo, Omaheke and the south amongst others, need to get onto this bandwagon to sustain their livestock. It is worth a try. -tjatindi@gmail.com