Question Guidance on fodder cultivation

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U

unicornbaroda

Member
Dear Experts,
We are group of farm enthusiast aiming to start dairy farm and also growing fodder in our land which is approx. 2 acres.
We are planning to grown lucerne and Napier we need expert advice on the following points:
1) We are aiming for 20 units of HF cows initially, since we have only small land availability, we can get another 4 acres after 4 months for fodder cultivation close by about 0.2 kms from our farm.
2) We are planning for following fodder crops: Lucerne in 25600 Sq feets i.e. 1 bigha and Napier Grass (Co3) in another bigha land.
3) We are also going for Azolla cultivation, Anand agri University have a mother nursery where they are giving at a very moderate rate.
4) Will this be enough for 20 cows; we can buy sorghum at a nominal rate from nearby farmers who grow fodder all year round.
5) Since lucerne is rich feed and needs to be given proportionately, can we grow Lucerne and Oats in same field so when we harvest and chaff cut it together it will become a nice mix and the we add Napier and Alfalafa hay and mix all the ingredients and feed to animals, will this be a good practice ? Is this feasible?
6) If we are giving oats+ Lucerne+ Oats/Barseem/Maize and then feed Azolla, do we need to feed additives as well like oilseed cakes etc….
We are young and doing this for the first time, you must be seeing a lots of post form us on this site; we are asking help form experts prior taking decision or jumping onto anything.

Thanks in advance for all the help that we get from this site and help us to start our dream project.
Warm Regards,

Amit
 

K

krishk2009

Active Member
Per acre you can only go with 5 cows

Hi,

Before starting the dairy farm please keep your fodder ready, coz they are animal, each cow requires 40kg of food/ day, in which you should supply 70% of green fodder and should supply atleast 60lts of fresh water so that the cows are healthy, its been considered we can go for only 5 cows per acre, if we go beyond the given numbers, you will not be able to fulfill the required green fodder to the cows. i suggest you to go with open air farming, ( where in cows will be let free for the entire day light & returned to shed in the night ) which keeps your cows healthy. your mixture of green fodder should be ( 70% Carbohydrate & 30% Proteins - 70% napire & 30% lucerne ).

You have to keep changing your green fodder mixture every 3yrs and the ratio every 15days, and should add some additional green fodder like Azola, oats, Maize, .

I suggest you to go with Rhodes grass than Napire, which has good yeilding and growth is fast, napire has small thorns which harms the digestive system of cows in the long run

Apart from green fodder you need to provide the cattel feed once a day which is 100% food for animals, coz the green fodder will not be 100% food for cows, the green fodder is only for Carbohydrate & Proteins which is the most essential for the growth & yeilding milk, we need to supply Vitamins, Minerals, Salt for the other organs of the cow to work properly, and keep the disease away and keep the cow healthy and active. you can prepare this cattel feed in the farm which will help in reduce the food cost.

Regards
Mallikarjun
 

R

rohanraut

New Member
Expert Member
About feed at farm

Thank you Mr. Mallikarjun for your useful information.

As you said we can prepare the feed for cattle at our farm, can you please guide about the proportion of ingredients to be used to prepare the feed, so that the nutritional requirement the cattle can be completed?

It will be very useful for us.

Regards,
Rohan
 

S

sri2012

Member
Dear Mallikarjun,

That was fentastic information.

Can you tell us about Silage.

We can prepare Silage when we have surplus green fodder for dry days.
What is the maximum quantityof silage/cow/day we can feed. I understand milk stinks if we feed more Silage
 

K

krishk2009

Active Member
About Silage

Hi

when we talk about Silage, it is suggested to feed 10kg/day/animal, when we are runnung short of green fodder, yes your true the milk stinks if we feed more than the required quantity, best i would suggest not to go with Silage, you can prepare HAY and keep it for summer, best fodder for both green and dry will be RHODES,.........


Regards,
Mallikarjun

Firm - DMK Agri & Property Consultancy
 

H

hydronut

Member
Hydroponic fodder for farm animals

unicornbaroda said:
Dear Experts,
We are group of farm enthusiast aiming to start dairy farm and also growing fodder in our land which is approx. 2 acres.
We are planning to grown lucerne and Napier we need expert advice on the following points:
1) We are aiming for 20 units of HF cows initially, since we have only small land availability, we can get another 4 acres after 4 months for fodder cultivation close by about 0.2 kms from our farm.
2) We are planning for following fodder crops: Lucerne in 25600 Sq feets i.e. 1 bigha and Napier Grass (Co3) in another bigha land.
3) We are also going for Azolla cultivation, Anand agri University have a mother nursery where they are giving at a very moderate rate.
4) Will this be enough for 20 cows; we can buy sorghum at a nominal rate from nearby farmers who grow fodder all year round.
5) Since lucerne is rich feed and needs to be given proportionately, can we grow Lucerne and Oats in same field so when we harvest and chaff cut it together it will become a nice mix and the we add Napier and Alfalafa hay and mix all the ingredients and feed to animals, will this be a good practice ? Is this feasible?
6) If we are giving oats+ Lucerne+ Oats/Barseem/Maize and then feed Azolla, do we need to feed additives as well like oilseed cakes etc….
We are young and doing this for the first time, you must be seeing a lots of post form us on this site; we are asking help form experts prior taking decision or jumping onto anything.

Thanks in advance for all the help that we get from this site and help us to start our dream project.
Warm Regards,

Amit
Click to expand...
Indian agriculture scientists have been familiar with Hydroponics Fodder growing for more than 30 years. Govt. of India had in late 1980s imported half a dozen ‘Fometa’ Hydroponics Fodder devices for Indian research establishments of ICAR. These devices failed to be useful to India due to various reasons like irregular electricity supplies etc. and hence, fodder could not be produced on a regular basis. Capital cost of these machines was so large, and electricity operating expenses made the operational cost of these devices uneconomical to produce fodder. The attempt to use hydroponics for growing fodder in India was discarded as a bad dream; unsuitable and unaffordable in India.

Hydroponics fodder growing is the state-of-the-art technological intervention to supplement the available normal green fodder resources required by the dairy cattle. But, after the unfortunate Fometa experience, Indian scientists and planners have not given any attention to this subject. With increased pressure on farm lands to produce increasing needs of food grains, providing green fodder by hydroponics fodder growing is a necessity for the Indian dairy industry.
In India, the demand for green fodder is increasing on the account of diversified use of agricultural residues. Adequate attention is not being given to production of fodder crops due to increasing pressure on land for production of food grains, oil seeds and pulses.
In order to meet this increasing demand for green fodder, the next best alternative is ‘Hydroponic Fodder’ to supplement the meager pasture resources.

At Plant Genome Sciences, we believe producing green fodders under controlled conditions is economical and suitable for adoption by this country. We, along with our farming community, is ready to produce a fodder production system viable and adaptable throughout the year in a cost effective and energy sustainable manner. Plant Genome Sciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced Nutrients, Canada, aims to be a leading Asian manufacturer and marketer of plant nutrients, hydroponics equipment, and soil conditioning agents, green wall and greenhouse structures. Apart from these, we also give training in Hydroponic Techniques and Integrated Nutrient Management to the interested farmers and agriculture communities.

If you're interested in cultivating hydroponic fodder for your farm animals, please give us a chance.

Regards,
Priyadarshini M.
Plant Genome Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
310, 3rd floor, Ascot Centre,
Next to Hotel Hilton, Sahar Road,
Andheri (E)
Mumbai-99
For more information, please visit www.plantgenomesciences.com
For inquiries, please write to priyadarshini@plantgenomesciences.com
 

P

prborude

New Member
hydronut said:
Hydroponic fodder for farm animals



Indian agriculture scientists have been familiar with Hydroponics Fodder growing for more than 30 years. Govt. of India had in late 1980s imported half a dozen ‘Fometa’ Hydroponics Fodder devices for Indian research establishments of ICAR. These devices failed to be useful to India due to various reasons like irregular electricity supplies etc. and hence, fodder could not be produced on a regular basis. Capital cost of these machines was so large, and electricity operating expenses made the operational cost of these devices uneconomical to produce fodder. The attempt to use hydroponics for growing fodder in India was discarded as a bad dream; unsuitable and unaffordable in India.

Hydroponics fodder growing is the state-of-the-art technological intervention to supplement the available normal green fodder resources required by the dairy cattle. But, after the unfortunate Fometa experience, Indian scientists and planners have not given any attention to this subject. With increased pressure on farm lands to produce increasing needs of food grains, providing green fodder by hydroponics fodder growing is a necessity for the Indian dairy industry.
In India, the demand for green fodder is increasing on the account of diversified use of agricultural residues. Adequate attention is not being given to production of fodder crops due to increasing pressure on land for production of food grains, oil seeds and pulses.
In order to meet this increasing demand for green fodder, the next best alternative is ‘Hydroponic Fodder’ to supplement the meager pasture resources.

At Plant Genome Sciences, we believe producing green fodders under controlled conditions is economical and suitable for adoption by this country. We, along with our farming community, is ready to produce a fodder production system viable and adaptable throughout the year in a cost effective and energy sustainable manner. Plant Genome Sciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced Nutrients, Canada, aims to be a leading Asian manufacturer and marketer of plant nutrients, hydroponics equipment, and soil conditioning agents, green wall and greenhouse structures. Apart from these, we also give training in Hydroponic Techniques and Integrated Nutrient Management to the interested farmers and agriculture communities.

If you're interested in cultivating hydroponic fodder for your farm animals, please give us a chance.

Regards,
Priyadarshini M.
Plant Genome Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
310, 3rd floor, Ascot Centre,
Next to Hotel Hilton, Sahar Road,
Andheri (E)
Mumbai-99
For more information, please visit www.plantgenomesciences.com
For inquiries, please write to priyadarshini@plantgenomesciences.com
Click to expand...
Respected Madam
I am interested to purchase hydroponics equipment.
Please share your contact details.

Thanks - Pravin R Borude
 

garao56

garao56

Well-Known Member
Initally go for Hybrid napier grass and depending up on the availability of land please take up berseem, lucerne, alfa-alfa etc .


Please conact us for guidance.

G.Anandarao B.Sc (Ag)
 
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