This document describes hydroponic green fodder production as a sustainable method for milk production. Hydroponics grows plants without soil by supplying nutrients through water. It allows for fodder production year-round with less land, water and labor compared to conventional methods. The process involves soaking and growing maize seeds for 7 days until ready to feed to cattle. Hydroponic fodder has higher nutrients and increases milk production and quality compared to conventional fodder. It is presented as a solution for small land holdings and areas with water scarcity or high production costs.

1. Hydroponic Green Fodder
&Sustainable Milk Production
S.B.Patil
B.Sc.Agri.
Pad.Dr.D.Y.Patil college of Agriculture,
Talsande,Dist- Kolhapur

2. What is Hydroponic Fodder ?
 Hydroponic is a method of growing of plants without soil.
 Method of Hydroponic fodder production date back to the 1930’s.
 Fodder can be grown hydroponically much same as vegetable, flowers,
and other plants.
 Hydroponic fodder systems are usually used to sprout cereal grains.

3. Introduction
 Fodder Production systems are automated fodder production units.
 Green fodder plays major role in feed of milch animals.
 Non availability of irrigated lands for fodder production, higher labour
cost, and small land holdings has left dairy farmer with many challenges
for milk production.

4. Principle
 Hydroponic fodder production involves supplying cereal grain with
necessary moisture and nutrients, to enable germination and plant
growth in the absence of a solid growing medium.
 There are a range of chemical and structural changes that take place
within the cereal grain through the hydroponic growing process.
 The amount of sprouts produced (yield) and quality of the fodder is
influenced by a number of factors including Grain, environment,
Management of the system etc.

5. Hydroponic fodder production system
 HYDROPONIC INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR DAIRY
BUSINESS
 To grow green fodder at wider temperature (15º - 32ºC) and humidity
(70 -80 %) range without fungal growth.
 Environmental friendly.
 Contamination free fodder.
 Saves water and labour
 Fodder grown is highly palatable and nutritious
 Fodder improves animal health and reproductive efficiency.

6. Hydroponic maize fodder-Soaking for 24 hr.
• Maize seed is best choice for fodder
production.
• Procure good quality maize seeds
with at least 85% germination rate.
• Seed should be pesticide free.
• Separate impurities from seeds by
impurities-separator.
• weight 1.5 kg. seeds and allow to
soak in water for 24 hr. in soaking tray.

7. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-1st
Day
• Transfer soaked seed to tray
and spread uniformly through it.
• Load trays on 1st
two rows of
racks

8. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-2nd
Day
• 1st
day tray shift in 3rd
& 4th
rows of trays.

9. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-3rd
Day
• Respective below two rows of
racks till they reach bottom two
rows which coincides on 7th
day

10. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-4th
Day
•The environmental factors that
influence in the forage production.
• The duration of daylight influences
vegetative development.
•The ideal temperature is 21º C, and it
should be as constant as possible.

11. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-5th
Day
Irrigation system:-
•The watering system is electronically
controlled and delivers water at the
optimum rate
•The sprinkler systems are shown
here with the latest in filters and
dispensing nozzles
•It requires just 2- 3 liters of water to
produce one kg of lush green fodder
Water left over in hydroponics is
recycled to grow the fodder.

12. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-6th
Day
Adjusting nutrient flows:-
•Nutrient flows are adjusted across each
stack, along with water.

13. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-7th
Day
Mould :-
•Mould is actively managed within
sheds through pre treatment of the
seed.
•Additives to the water are used for
pre-soaking the grain to minimize the
risk of mould.
•Shed hygiene is also important and
thus considerable attention is paid.

14. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-8th
Day
(Ready to feed)
•One tray containing 1.5 kg maize seeds produces 7-9 kg green
fodder with fodder height of 20-25 cm.

15. Advantages of Hydroponic fodder
 Fulfills bulk of animal easily and quickly.
 Major source of vegetable proteins.
 Good Source of carbohydrates.
 Good Source of minerals .
 Good Source of vitamins.
 Good Source of water.
 Probably suited for Semi-arid and drought-prone region of the
world.
 water scared area, where this technique efficiently used.
 Failure of the crop no longer risk.
 Due to continues production through out year no need for longer
storage and loss of nutrient that can be associated with feed storage.
 Wastage of water and nutrient lower than conventional production
of fodder.

16. Conventional green fodder Vs Hydroponic green
fodder ( for 600 kg. production)
Attributes Conventional
green fodder
Hydroponic
green fodder
Area 10.000 Sq.mts. 50 Sq.mts.
Land fertility Essential No Essential
Fertilizers Required Not required
Water and
electricity
Very high Very low
Labour requirement More Less
Growth period 45-60 days 7 days
Fodder yield Based on Climate Under control
environment
Fencing and
production
Required Not required

17. Yield and Chemical Composition of Conventional
green fodder Vs Hydroponic green fodder
Nutrient Conventional
green fodder
Hydroponic green
fodder
Protein 10.67 13.57
Ether Extract 2.27 3.49
Crude Fiber 25.92 14.07
Nitrogen Free Extract 51.78 66.72
Total Ash 9.36 3.84
Acid Insoluble ash 1.40 0.33
Source: ICAR Research Complex, Goa

18. Feeding of Hydroponic green fodder
 separate fodder matting into small pieces prior feeding to milch
animal
 It is highly succulent and relished by dairy animals
 Based on protein content, it is advised to feed 7-8 kg. hydroponics
maize green fodder to replace 1kg.concentrate mixture.
 As it is highly succulent, it is recommended to offer maximum 20
kg. hydroponic green fodder per day per animal.
 Feeding mixture of hydroponic green fodder with other dry and
green fodders to dairy animal is beneficial.

19. Effect on milk production of cattle after feeding of
hydroponic green fodder
 Enhancement of milk production
 Milk nutritive value increases
 These method helpful for organic milk production
 Economic milk production possible.
 Feeding of Hydroponic maize fodder to lactating cows increased the
digestibility of nutrients and milk production leading to increase in net
profit.

20. Conclusion
 Natural green fodder is the key to decreasing feeding cost during milk
production.
 Due to non availability and higher land costs, minimum Utilization of
fodder producing areas to feed livestock.
 This system also eliminates additional pressure on already over worked
irrigation system.
 It is the demand of the dairy owners in the states, were there is low land
holdings, scarcity of water, saline water, higher lobour and land cost.

21. Video of Hydroponic production:-
• Hydroponic production step by step-link
• Production of Green fodder by hydroponic technique-Link