Nutritional Benefit and Economic Value of Hydroponics Fodder Production Technology in Sustainable Livestock Production Against Climate Change - A Mini-Review

Abstract

In many parts of the world, production of sufficient green fodder and grain to feed the livestock population has become a big challenge. This is due to limited land allocation, fertilizer and manure requirements for cultivation, lack of irrigation facilities and natural calamity. To overcome this problem, hydroponics fodder production technology is an emerging as alternative to grow sufficient quality fodder and some parts of concentrate in livestock farms. Hydroponic fodder production is a method of fodder production, in which fodder seeds are germinated into a high quality, highly nutritious, disease free animal food in a hygienic environment. It is also more palatable and digestible and can be grown in low cost devices with locally home grown grains. Moreover, it is advantageous in terms of nutritional benefit and economic value, constant food supply year-round, marginal land use, reduced labour requirement and natural feed for animals. However, there is a big gap and no adequate compiled information that clearly indicates the importance of hydroponics fodder production for sustainable livestock production against climate change. Therefore, it is important to review the aspect thoroughly and bring minor details into focus to have better understanding of hydroponics fodder production for sustainable livestock production against climate change.

A review of India’s fodder production status and opportunities

“…Hydroponics nowadays is emerging as an alternative method of growing fodder for farm animals due various constraints and challenges encountered in the traditional fodder cultivation (Bekuma, 2019;Girma & Gebremariam, 2018;Jan et al, 2020). Hydroponic fodder production involves growing of plants in a greenhouse or polyhouse without soil but in a water-or nutrient-rich solution for a short period of time (approx.…”

Forage crops: a repository of functional trait diversity for current and future climate adaptation

“…Likewise, they have higher crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, nutrients (N, P, K, Z, Fe, Zn) and vitamins than rangeland grasses (Grander et al 2009;Novoselec et al 2018). Cultivated forage crops also have higher palatability, digestibility and nutritional value for proper reproductive growth of animals (Bekuma 2019). Nowadays, researchers are focusing on these crops and trying to improve WUE, nutrient acquisition and RUE (Jha et al 2016).…”

“…2018). Cultivated forage crops also have higher palatability, digestibility and nutritional value for proper reproductive growth of animals (Bekuma 2019). Nowadays, researchers are focusing on these crops and trying to improve WUE, nutrient acquisition and RUE (Jha et al .…”

Barley Cultivars and Seed Rates Effects on Energy and Water Productivity of Green Fodder Production under Hydroponic Condition

“…Therefore, green fodder production in controlled conditions could be an alternative to ensure sustainable green forage production. Advantages of hydroponic production system are high nutritional and economic values, marginal land use, low labour requirement, providing natural feed for animals, high water productivity and availability during all seasons of year (Bekuma, 2019). Around 8.22 kg green fodder is produced from one kg barley seed after 7 days of sprouting in hydroponic condition (Ansari et al, 2019).…”