Hydroponic Barley Fodder and Its Effect on Cows and Calves
By Saleh Kamal Al-Saleh, dairy farm and cheese factory owner, founder of Lebnara · Last updated:
Hydroponic barley is a fresh green feed that cattle like, but it adds no nutrition to the barley grain it was grown from, and in fact loses part of it. Its real value is providing green feed all year where there is no pasture, not "multiplying" feed as the ads for sprouting units claim.
What is hydroponic barley?
Barley grains are soaked then sown in trays without soil and watered for 7 to 8 days, producing a green mat of roots and leaves that is fed whole to the animal.
The truth of "1 kg gives 6 kg"
A kilo of barley does produce 5 to 7 kg of fresh fodder. But most of the increase is water:
The higher protein percentage is mostly due to the loss of dry matter, not to new protein being made. The result is that the cost of a kilo of dry matter in hydroponic barley is higher than in the grain itself, after adding water, electricity and labour.
| Indicator | Barley grain | Hydroponic barley (day 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Dry matter | About 90% | 10 – 15% |
| Dry matter produced from 1 kg of seed | 0.9 kg | 0.7 – 0.85 kg |
| Crude protein (of dry matter) | 10 – 12% | 13 – 16% |
| Starch (energy) | High | Falls because the seed uses it to grow |
| Fibre | Low | Rises |
The effect on dairy cows
- Milk yield: most trials comparing on a dry matter basis found no clear increase. Replacing part of the concentrate with sprouts mostly maintained yield but did not raise it.
- Milk quality: some trials recorded a slight rise in fat percentage and in vitamin E and carotene, because it is fresh green feed. Results are inconsistent between trials.
- Appetite and health: very palatable, helpful in summer and dry seasons, and may improve appetite after calving.
The effect on beef calves
It can replace part of the concentrate without a large drop in growth. But its bulk and high water content limit the amount of dry matter a calf can eat, and relying on it as the main feed slows fattening.
When is it worthwhile?
- When green feed is unavailable or expensive in your area.
- When water is available and labour is cheap, and you have a clean system that prevents mould.
- As a supplement, not a replacement: 5 to 10 kg fresh per cow per day, which is about 1 kg of dry matter.
The risks: mould first
The humidity and heat in sprouting rooms are an ideal environment for fungi and mycotoxins (aflatoxins), which pass into milk. Disinfect trays after every cycle, use clean seed not treated with pesticides, and throw away any tray with a smell or mould spots.
If you try hydroponic barley, record milk yield and feed cost before and after the trial in Lebnara. The actual numbers on your farm are more honest than any advert.
Frequently asked questions
- Does hydroponic barley raise milk?
- Not noticeably compared with the same amount of grain. Its benefit is as a palatable green feed.
- How many kilos of hydroponic barley do I give a cow?
- 5 to 10 kg fresh per day as a supplement to the base ration.
- How many days does hydroponic barley need?
- 7 to 8 days. After that its value falls and fibre rises.
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