Low cost hydroponic fodder production for sustainable dairy farming

Low cost hydroponic fodder production for sustainable dairy farming

Green fodder plays major role in feed of milch animals, thereby providing required nutrients for milk production and health of the dairy animals. The feed cost per liter of milk is 75 % of total milk cost, where in green fodder contributes 30 % of value. Continuous drought in recent years has caused shrinkage of grazing and fodder production. Due to non availability of quality green fodder throughout the year, milk producers are forced to utilize extra concentrates for optimum milk production. The fetching of green fodder in villages has become more laborious and costly due to increased labour wages, which is adding to the cost of milk production.

                To overcome this problem, low cost hydroponic fodder production system was developed and introduced in the adopted villages of Kurnool district during 2013-14. In this system with minimum area and less resources, green fodder can be produced throughout the year. In this method, for every Kg of grains (Maize) 6-8 kg high nutritious green fodder can be produced within 7 days, which comes as a tailor made solution to eternal problem. 

Field studies:

Demonstration was conducted on hydroponic fodder production at different locations since 2013-14 and observed that by feeding 12 kg Hydroponic Maize fodder along with 7 kg dry roughages, an increase of 6.96 % milk yield along with 8.97% increase in milk fat. It was also observed that on feeding of HMF, an amount of Rs.1580/- additional income was realized due to reduction in concentrate feeding.

Results:

Particulars	Farmers practice	Demonstration
Milk Yield (60 days)	244.2	261.2
Increase in milk yield	6.96%
% fat in milk	5.64	6.14
% increase in milk fat	8.97%
Gross income	7081.80	8358.40
Cost of concentrate feeding	1240.00	930.00
Net income	5841.80	7428.40
C:B ratio	5.71	8.98

Nutritive value of Hydroponic Maize Fodder:

Nutrient	Maize Seed (0 day)	Days of sprouting under hydroponics system							Conventional maize fodder
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7
CP	8.6	8.88	9.14	9.65	11.27	11.58	12.89	13.57	10.67
EE	2.56	2.49	2.57	2.8	3.0	3.06	3.21	3.49	2.27
CF	2.50	2.55	3.07	4.72	5.51	7.5	10.67	14.07	25.92
NFE	84.49	94.15	82.87	79.20	77.65	74.04	69.21	66.72	51.78
TA	1.57	1.67	1.84	1.92	2.19	2.44	3.34	3.84	9.36

The model developed by me has got a great demand from farmers.  More than 300 farmers from A.P. and Telangana have visited the unit at KVK to learn the concept. 

Low cost hydroponic fodder unit developed:

Training to dairy farmers on hydroponic fodder

Units established by the farmers with my technical support

For more details please contact:

Dr.A.Krishna Murthy,

Scientist (AH),

Krishi Vigyan Kendra,

Yagantipalle (V), Banaganapalle (M)

Kurnool Dist. A.P.

Mobile no:9848555659, 9493619020