Hydroponics – An Alternate and Sustainable way of Fodder Production for Dairy Cattle
Dr. Ilakshy Deka
Subject Matter Specialist (Animal Science)
Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kamrup, Assam Agricultural University
Kahikuchi Campus.
————————————————————————————————
INTRODUCTION: According to 2019 Livestock Census, with 192.49 million cattle and 109.85 million buffaloes, producing 187 million tonnes of milk. Milk production in the country has grown at a compound annual growth rate of about 6.2 % touching 209.96 million tonnes during 2020-21. Globally, India ranks first in both production (23% of global milk production) and consumption of milk, although the recorded productivity per animal is quite low.
The 70% of cost of milk production is attributed to feed of which green fodder contribute about 30-35%. Green fodder is the most important input and plays a major role as feed of milch animal, which provides all the nutrients including minerals and vitamins for maintenance, production and reproduction in dairy cattle. It is the most economical supply of nutrients to dairy cattle. Control of feed cost in dairy animal impact the profit and result in successful dairy farming
In India rapid urbanization has led to shrinkage of grazing land as well as the land utilized for green fodder production. Due to high labour cost, non-availability of integrated land as well as lack of irrigation facility made the dairy business to face many challenges to meet the growing milk demand in the country. This situation compels the dairy farmers to look for alternate and sustainable method for quality fodder production. It is quite clear that with increasing cost of production and depleting natural resources sustainable technologies like hydroponic will be the key driver of the dairy industry in future. Using hydroponic technology to produce the quality green fodder would be the revolutionary steps towards green fodder production.
The term hydroponics is derived from Greak words “hydro” meaning water and “ponos” means labour that combinedly means “water working”. Hydroponics fodder production was started way back in 1800s in Europe. They generally used to feed sprouted grain during winter to maintain the production as well as fertility. There is renewal interest in this technology due to scarcity of fodder for the dairy animal in most of the African and Asian countries. Due to ever growing population and human pressure on land for production of food grains, fruits and vegetables, fodder production cannot easily be increased. To meet the demand for green fodder hydroponic is seen as alternate way of cultivation to supplement the meager pasture resource. It can be grown in large, sophisticated, automated commercial system as well as low-cost system maintaining ambient environment. In developing countries, the expensive, hi-tech commercial hydroponic fodder production systems are being replaced by low-cost hydroponics systems made by locally available materials. Any type of shelter, garage, basement, room, low density plastic sheet, greenhouse or poly hut where temperature, humidi ty and light can be controlled are used for hydroponic fodder production. The cost of such system depends upon the type of construction materials used. The temperature and humidity controlled growing room is essential to sprout grains which are highly nutritious. The temperature and humidity inside the hydroponic fodder system are controlled using only a hydro-net and a hydro-cloth, to ensure higher growth and the best nutritional value possible. There is very low electricity usage. After only 7 days, the fodder is removed from the tray and can be fed to the animal. The animal eats everything (i.e. roots, leaves and nuts) so called as “green feed” too. Therefore; the hydroponic fodder system is waste-free, 100% sustainable and cost-effective.
ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPONIC FODDER: There are many advantages to go for hydroponics fodder productions. The fodder production can be remarkably increase by the hydroponic technique by providing the optimal environment. To grow hydroponics, fodder no soil is require and make better use of space and location. Generally, a hydroponic greenhouse require marginal land cover the area of 10meters X 5 meter for 600 to 650 kg of green fodder per day per unit. The plant root systems of hydroponics fodder are quite small which means more no of plants per unit of space. Vertical farming is done with multiple racks system and crop rotation is not necessary
Hydroponic system requires very less water as water is applied only in the roots and is often recycled. Only 2-3 liters of water to grow 1 kg of quality fodder when compare to 55-75 liters of water used in conventional traditional way of fodder cultivation for same 1kg of green fodder cultivation. This technology is highly useful in chronic water shortage area as well as to the areas where irrigation facilities are not available for year-round fodder production.
To get the optimal growth stage of nutritious green fodder, it requires just over 7 to 8 days from seed germination to fully grown plant of 20-30cm height with biomass conversion ration is as high as 6-7 times to traditional fodder grown for 65-80 days. Round the year production is possible using this technology to meet the dairy industry demand even during lean period.
At today’s pretext the high and non-availability of labour is a major constrain which can be overcome using this technology for fodder production.
Hydroponics fodder production are more environment friendly than traditional system of fodder cultivation. Fertilizers are rarely or minimally used so degradation of the environment can be checked. It also produces less greenhouse gases as well as minimized the post-harvest losses.
Hydroponic technology leads to fewer pests and diseases with no weed problem. Beside increasing milk production, it also helps in better conception rate, herd health and longevity is enhanced, in turn reduces the veterinary cost. It can also be count as a stress-relieving hobby.
BENEFITS TO DAIRY CATTLES: As hydroponics fodder are highly succulent, their intake varies fron 15-25 kg/cow. When a dairy cattle fed 15kg per day of fresh hydroponic fodder, the milk yield increase11%, and milk quality upto 23%. The fodder is digested more easily in the rumen, enabling the digestive system to conserve energy during digestion, and using the “saved” energy to both maintain condition and fertility, and improve milk yield and quality.
An extended trials over 29 years by Ohio State University indicate that dairy cows fed with freshly gown grass outperformed cattle fed grass that was allowed to dry with an increased milk yield of 28% hydroponic fodder is the equivalent of freshly gown grass every day of the year.
A worse drought has witnessed in Maharashtra for over 50 years, Mr. Ashok Kandagale, a dairy farmer who owns 57cows in rural Shrirampur has almost lost hope to maintain the dairy farm. At that time hydroponic fodder came to rescue and he overcome the herculean task to feed the cows with fresh and nutritious green fodder with better yield and quality.
HOW HYDROPONIC FODDER IS PRODUCED: Very common fodder that can be produced by using hydroponic technology are yellow maize, sorghum, rye, horse gram, sum hemp, bajra, jowar, ragi, cowpea, kodo millet, foxtail millet, swana millet, little millet, moth bean etc. The seed is soak in water for 20-24 hours, leave to spout for another 24 hours, than traying, racking, shifting the tray to next level daily till fully grown and finally fodder is harvested on 8-10 days.
ACTION PLAN: As we are deficit of 60-65% of green fodder for dairy cattle, hydroponic fodder production can be an attempt. Revolutionary scale motivation of farmers is needed through fairs and exhibitions, awareness programs and setup of a model demonstration unit as well as a model village in participatory mode. To overcome the major constrain for round the year fodder production for dairy cattle for enhancing the quality and quantity of milk, hydroponic fodder production can be a sole answer.
ADVICE FOR POLICY MAKERS: For adopting hydroponic fodder production technology the policy makers need to have a serious consideration on this, some pilot projects should be started to popularized and largescale implementation of such projects.
CONCLUSION: The fodder cultivable land and fresh water are shrinking with time, labour cost and land prices are going up leaving very limited land for fodder production. To meet up the dairy industry demand for green fodder, forces to implement the sustainable method of growing fodder using hydroponic technology. This technology would be the back bone for dairy industry in coming days.
