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500 kg/day fodder producing hydroponic systems cost Rs. 10-12 lakhs.
Hydroponically produced fodder is extremely nutritious for the goats and
production cost is very less but the machines are too expensive. I wanted
every farmer raising livestock to use hydroponically grown fooder. So I
decided to develop the new system myself. To do so I required a real
working place therefore I started Junnar Goat Farm in 2013, he shares.
Mr. Sawant learnt in detail about the procedure to grow fodder
hydroponically but realized there were few challenges to cope with,
Controlling high temperature, maintaining humidity, air ventilation and
water content, he says. Further usually hydroponic systems work in air
conditioner rooms and there is no power supply for 24hrs in villages. To
solve these issues he took some help from the people outside India using
hydroponic system to grow fodder.
In order to grow fodder successfully hydroponically room temperature
should be 23-24 degree Celsius, not more than 25 degree in any case and
humidity should be controlled at 60-65%. If temperature and humidity
are not monitored as stated then fungus starts developing on the fodder
which is harmful for the animals, he says.
In hydroponics air ventilation plays a crucial role for growing fodder. The
roots require oxygen while shoots require carbon-di-oxide for the uniform
growth. Hence to enhance the air ventilation in the fodder growing room
I used exhaust and ceiling fans, he says. Talking about water content Mr.
Sawant shares, TDS (Total Dissolve Solids) in water is very important. It
should not be more than 250, ph should be 6-6.5 while EC (Electrical
conductivity) should be 1-1.5.
For the betterment of dairy business, one hydroponics green fodder production unit has been
established by Goa Dairy at ICAR Research Complex for Goa, Old Goa under the Rashtriya Krishi
Vikas Yojna (RKVY) scheme of Government of India. 10 more units were established at different
dairy cooperative societies of Goa under RKVY. Each unit has production potential of 600 kg green
fodder daily in seven days. The ICAR Research Complex for Goa has standardized the production
and feeding practices of the hydroponics green fodder and imparting technical advices to the dairy
farmers.
It Is Grown Up By Maize
This green fodder is grown up by maize. Soaking time of only 4
hours is sufficient for maize seed. Soaked seed produced from 1.25 kg un-soaked maize seed is
loaded in a 90X32 cm tray. Hydroponics green fodders look like a mat consisting of roots, seeds
and plants. About 3.5 kg and 5.5 kg hydroponics green fodders were produced from each kg of
yellow maize (CT-818) and white maize (GM-4), respectively. Production cost of hydroponics green
fodder from white maize (Rs.4) was lower than yellow maize (Rs.5). In comparison to conventional
green fodders, hydroponics green fodders contained more crude protein (13.6 vs 10.7; %) and
less crude fibre (14.1 vs 25.9; %). Intake of hydroponics green fodder by dairy animals was up to
24 kg/animal/day. As green fodders is an integral part of dairy ration, in situations, where fodders
cannot be grown successfully or progressive modern dairy farmers with elite dairy herd can
produce hydroponics green fodder for feeding their dairy animals.
Mr. Suryakant B. Gawde, from Mandrem village in Pernem Taluka of Goa, has a herd of 12
crossbred cows and four heifers. He supplies 60-70 litres milk daily. His biggest problem was non-
availability of quality green fodder. One unit of the hydroponics green fodder production system
was established at his farm. Since then he is producing green fodder maize under hydroponics
technology. On daily feeding of 10 kg hydroponics fodder maize per cow, he saved 1.0 kg
concentrate mixture per cow and experienced enhancement of 1.0 litre milk per cow per day,
which was equivalent to 12.5% of the milk production.
The young calves fed with 1-2 kg hydroponics fodder gained higher body weight (350g Vs 200g)
with better skin coat. By spending Rs.40 on hydroponics green fodder he saves Rs. 20 on
concentrate mixture and additionally earns Rs. 30 on enhanced milk production per cow per day.
Along with the additional net profit of Rs.10 per cow per day, the animals remain healthy.
http://www.icar.org.in/en/node/6737