Inputs regarding Dairy Cattle Feeding and Hydroponic Fodder Production

1. Dairy animals, depending upon the breed/species, usually consume 10 to 20 kg actual dry
matter (DM) daily (excluding moisture content 10-12% in dry fodder/ concentrates; 75-
80% in green fodder and 85-90% in hydroponic forage), i.e., Zebu cattle consume daily
DM @ 2.5% of its body weight, buffalo @ 3.0%, Crossbred cattle @ 3.5%, Jersey @ 3.5-
4.0% and HF cows @4.0-4.5% of its body weight.
2. Of the total DM requirements, 1/3rd should be given from the concentrate and 2/3rd from
the roughages. Among the roughages again 1/3rd should be legume and 2/3rd non-legume/
cereal fodder, OR 1/3rd green and 2/3rd dry as legume/non-legume mixed fodder.
3. The concentrate should be fed daily @ 1 kg to all classes of animals for maintenance of
basic body functions, @ 40-50% of milk yield as production allowance in lactating
cow/buffalo and @ 2.0-2.5 kg for growth/pregnancy/work as per physiological status of
animal – cow/bull/bullock.
4. Dairy animals ideally should be fed at least 5-8 kg green fodder in their daily diet to meet
their requirements of natural vitamins, minerals and certain unknown growth factors
essential for normal health, growth, production and reproduction. The rest of the ration
consists of dry fodder (roughage) and concentrate (grains/seeds and their byproducts, bran,
chuni, cake etc).
5. Naturally grown fodder crops and crop residues are generally fed as roughage to dairy
animals at a reasonably cheaper rate in most part of the Gujarat and the country where
sound irrigation canal network exists or the fertile sufficient land and quality water is
available, compared to the cost of hydroponic fodder for high its production cost, labour
and infrastructure requirement.
6. Hydroponic fodder production can be viable only in the areas where there is shortage of
land and/or water and its poor quality for forage cultivation. Hydroponic in past has not
been successful in irrigation canal command areas with availability of ample fertile land
and water.
7. During our discussion /presentation on 24th January, we learnt that the cost of small scale
hydroponic fodder production unit comes Rs. 3.0 to 4.0/kg immature forage, whereas the
naturally cultivated mature forage (seasonal) in the irrigation canal command areas is
available @ Rs. 2.0 to 3.0/kg, that too F.O.R. on the farm. So the farmers are reluctant to
adopt hydroponic fodder production.
8. Hydroponic fodder of 7-10 days old is immature with maximum moisture (88-90%) with
minimum DM (10-12%) and crude fibre (1-2%) compared to mature hand-harvested
forage containing 20-25% DM and good amount of crude fibre (7-10%), which is the
natural feed of ruminants for efficient microbial rumen fermentation and thereby high milk
fart and SNF yield.
9. Considering above points, hydroponic fodder production can be a viable venture only in
areas/regions having acute shortage of land and/or water and/or their quality is very poor
 for irrigation/forage cultivation for high salinity etc. for which the natural green fodder
availability is scarce and costly (>4.0 Rs/kg).
10. So my suggestion is that, initially we may select a few village coop. societies or FPOs or
even progressive farmers or the contractual contract persons under their control in 3-4
different critical districts in Gujarat and nearly states, and start hydroponic fodder
production units of at least 100-150 kg yield/day as DEMONSTRATION UNITS. The
forage produced can be sold to the needy farmers at market rate or at no-loss no-profit
basis, and get the feedbacks of farmers regarding performance of their animals, and its
viability.
11. Once the farmers become aware of hydroponic fodder production and its benefit in these
areas, we can start commercial unit at progressive farmers’ doorsteps or with FPOs as per
the feedback. We should not jump on large scale production unit for time being due to high
cost of production in our venture with poor DM and fibre content of forage.

Note: I have purposively elaborated all points for ease of understanding by everyone. If
required you can make them short as bulletin points for ppts or pamphlets etc.