This document discusses a trial conducted by Sumul Dairy in Surat, India to evaluate the effects of feeding hydroponically grown maize to growing heifers. In the trial, 20 heifers were fed a conventional diet while another 20 were supplemented with hydroponic maize. The hydroponic feeding resulted in higher reproductive efficiency, daily weight gain, and lower cost of weight gain. It also reduced water and land usage compared to conventional fodder production. The hydroponic system improved the nutritional quality of the feed and allowed consistent supply with less labor.

1. Hydroponics Technology
for
Quality Nutrition
for Growth and Fertility in Heifers
Presented by
Dr.P.R.Pande
CEO (Sumul Dairy,Surat)

2. Sumul Dairy, Surat, Gujarat
• Sumul Dairy : District co-operative Milk Producers’ union established in 1951.
• Total Turnover- 2000/- Crore Rs.
• Milk Procurement- 1.2 Million Liters Per Day (MLPD),
• Processing capacity – 1.5 MLPD.
• 1076 Dairy Cooperative Societies
• 0.22 Millions milk producers
• Products- liq.milk, Butter, Ghee, Flavourd milk, Paneer, Milk powder etc.
• Input services to members

3. VISION STATEMENT
SUMUL Dairy,
Surat, Gujarat
“We are socially responsible Organization with commitment to Milk Producers by
providing good returns and consumer’s safety and delight through implementation
of better Quality management System. We believe in growth and continual
improvement through team work, trust and excellence, without compromising
Quality, Honesty and Integrity”.
MISSION - 2020
Attributes 2006-07 2019-20
Turnover RS. 607 Crores RS. 2500 Crores
Milk Procurement 6,59,682 kg/day 14,10,000 kg/day
Milk Sale 595,595 LPD 13,00,000 Liters/Per day
Cattle feed 300 Mt / day 750 Mt / day
Woman empowerment 109 societies 200 societies
BCU 91 425
Distribution system through insulated vehicle Only products Liquid milk in pouch

4. • India: The largest Milk producer of the world
• Challenge :To improve per animal productivity
• Would require :-
 High Genetically Potential (HGM) animals-
HF-CB– 70% animals under AI coverage
Buffalo- 40% animals under AI coverage
 Good Quality Feed & Fodder - are deficit
 Shortage of Green feed/fodder is one of the reason for
Breeding problems in livestock.
Traditional /Conventional Feeding system in Sumul milch area
Green Fodders Sugarcane tops, Jowar fodder, Bajra fodder, Grasses
Dry Fodders Paddy straw, wheat straw, jowar straw
Concentrate Sumul dan ,Oil cakes, Brans, Chuni etc.

5. Fodder Scenario in Surat
84 % Tribal Belt :-
• Less available water for irrigation
• No land allotted for fodder production
• Seasonal/Scarcity 0f GF and DF
• Poor quality of fodder available
16 % Non Tribal Belt :-
• More Weightage for Cash crops
• Value of Agri. Land is very high (50 lakhs/acre)

6. Fodder Availability and Requirement
(in Million tons)
Requirement Availability Deficit as %
of demand
Green Dry Green Dry Green Dry
India 1061 589 395.2 451 62.76
(666)
23.46
(138)
Gujarat 14.48 22.32 11.9 10.61 18 %
(2.7)
52%
(11.5)
Surat 3.46 2.16 1.41 1.94 58 %
(2.05)
10 %
(0.22)

7. Nutritive value of various cattle feeds of
SUMUL brand on DM basis
Particulars Sumuldan
Gold
Sumul TMR Feed
Block (Poshak)
Sumul TMR Feed
Block (Gold)
Sumul
Fodder
Block
CP (min.) 20 12.5 9.3 3.5
EE (min.) 2.5 2.5 1.5 0.5
Silica (max) 4.0 5.0 6.0 8.0
Fibre (max.) 12 22.5 30.0 40.0
TDN (min.) 63-65 60-63 53-55 45-48

18. Trial : Feeding Hydroponics Green feed
(Maize) to growing Heifers
 Objectives:
To access the effect of feeding Hydroponics Green feed on acceptability,
palatability , general health , weight gain and fertility in Growing Heifers.
 Location: Sumul-Vanskui CRC, Sumul Dairy, Surat, Gujarat.
Ayurvet ProGreen Hydroponics Machine (APH – 500)
installed at this centre.
 Strength of Farm : 250 Female Calves and Heifers
 Diet : Heifers were allotted to two different Groups for feeding.
Group 1 (CF): 20 Heifers were fed with GF, DF ,CF, and Min.Mix.
Group 2 (HF): 20 Heifers were fed with Hydroponics Maize Green
feed , Dry fodder, CF and Min.Mix.
Green fodders: Sugarcane tops, Jowar fodder (SSG), Maize fodder, Green
grasses
Dry fodders : Fodder blocks , Perineal grass

19. Feeding Experiment in 2 groups of growing heifers
No Details Group 1(CF) Group 2 ( HF)
1 No. Of Animals 20 20
2 Ave. Body wt.(Kg)- Before trial 155 153
3 Feeding
A Green Fodder 5-8 kg. (6.5 kg) 2-4 kg (3 kg)
B Dry Fodder 2-4 (3 kg) 3-6 (4.5 kg)
C Cattle feed conc. (Sumuldan-Gold) 1-2 kg (1.5 kg) 1-1.5 kg (1.25 kg)
D Mineral Mixture 30 gms 30 gms
4 Total Cost of feeding (165 d)
1 St Sep.-12 To 15th Feb.-13
9702 Rs. 9908 Rs.
5 Ave. Body wt. –After trial 231 kg 244.5 kg
6 DM Required (kg) 5.2 5.2
7 DM available (kg) 5.8 5.6

20. Cost of Production of Hydroponics Maize Green Feed
Details Unit Rs. Total cost Rs
Seeds required /day 50 Kg 19.23 961.5
Electricity (30 units/day) 30 6 180
Labour cost Rs 1 150 150
Nutrients & Seed Treatment 1 150 150
Capital costs 1 500 500
other cost 50
total cost 1991.5
Total Maize feed/ sprout production kg 400
Cost per kg Rs. 5.0

21. Observations and Benefits
OBSERVATIONS GROUP-1 GROUP-2
1
DAILY WEIGHT GAIN (GRAMS) 461 555
2
AVE.COST OF FEEDING ( Rs/day) 58.8 60.05
3
COST OF FEEDING/KG WT. GAIN 127.5 108.2
4
BENEFITS
A
*ANIMALS CONCEIVED/ PREGNANT 11 (55 %) 17 (85 %)
B
*HEALTH STATUS Average to good Good to excellent
c
*BODY WEIGHT GAIN/DAY 461 gms 555 gms

22. 20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Increased Reproductive Efficiency
20 20
11
17
Group 1 Group 2
No. of Animals
conceived
85%
55%
Hydroponics Feeding Increased reproductive efficiency by 55%

23. Average Body wt.(kg) Of Heifers before and After
After
Before
250
150
100
50
0
200
Group 1
Trial
231 244
Group 2
155
153
Before
After

24. Feeding of Hydroponics Green feed (Maize) to growing Heifers
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
increased body wt. gain
Body wt. gain (gms./day)
461
555
Group 1 Group 2
Hydroponics feeding improved Body wt. gain by 20 %

25. 130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
Reduced Cost of Feeding per Kg.B.Wt.gain
127.5
108.2
Group 1 Group 2
Hydroponics feeding reduced cost of feeding per kg Body wt. by 18%

26. Analysis of Hydroponics Maize Green Feed
( On DM basis)
HP Maize Green Feed
CP % 18-21 %
EE % 2.50%
Energy 4700 K cal/Kg
Crude Fibre % 16%
Ash % 1.6
Analysis of Hydroponics Green Maize Feed
( On As such basis)
Moisture % 87.50 %
Dry matter % 12.50 %

27. Benefits and Observations
Enhancement of Nutritive value :
Fodder crop CP %
(Conventional
fodder)
CP %
(Hydroponic Green
feed – Maize)
Maize 8.5 18-20 %

28. Observations and Benefits
Saving of Water :
Water
Requirement
(Lit./ Kg of feed)
Conventional Hydroponics Savings / kg of
 Saving of Land:
feed/day
60-70 Lit. 3 Lit. > 50 Lit.
Land Required to produce
400 kg green feed / day for
one year
Conventional Hydroponics Savings of land
2-2.5 acres 320 Sq. Ft. > 2 acres
One Hydroponics Machine Saves around 2 Acres of land per annum.
Value of this land is around 50 lakhs Rs. In our area.

29. Reduction in Growth time:
• Growing time in Hydroponics System is 7 days as
compare to 25-30 days in CF.
• Biomass conversion ratio is 6-7 times.
Reduced Labour requirement:
Requires minimal manpower ratio per day (3-3.5
hrs. Per day)
Constant feed supply:
Consistent supply of green feed is guaranteed
365 days of the year.
(Remove the need for long term storage of feeds)

30. Green Energy Production From
Dung/Biogas at SV-CRC
Slurry is used
for wormy
compost
production
3 phase
power is
converted
to single
phase
Hydroponic green
feed (Maize)
produced for heifers
Single phase
power is used for
hydroponic feed
production
Dung is used for Biogas
production

31. Observations and Benefits
of Green Energy Cycle at SV-CRC
 Green House Gas-Methane(CH4) Produced from Dung is
utilized for power generation, this way we can reduce
hazardous effect of Green House Gas-Methane.
 Power produced from Biogas, Reduces cost of Electricity of
the Dairy farm.
 By using Slurry for production of wormy compost, Reduces
duration for wormy compost production and improves
quality of wormy compost.
 Consistent supply of Hydroponics Green feed and
Electricity for Dairy farm.
 The five fundamental needs of people- Food, Feed, Fodder,
Fuel & Fertilizer (5F) are fulfilled.
 Saving of labour unit.

32. Thanks…..