Alternative Feed Systems | Barley grass seeds placed in hydroponic growing room are ready to be used six days later
LINDELL BEACH, B.C. — For every livestock producer, lowering feed costs and consistent feed quality is a challenge.
In Chilliwack, B.C., Alice Jongerden has taken steps toward her goal to replace costly grain feed for herd of about 50 dairy cows (25 of which are producing milk) with sprouted seed grown in a hydroponic chamber.
The new option is also expected to provide nutritious feed year round that she can depend on regardless of weather, crop failures, or market changes.
In early May, Jongerden, who provides feed for Our Cows herd share, took delivery of a self-contained growing chamber manufactured by Montana-based Sun Roads Farmory.
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Their Alternative Feed Systems are hydroponic growing rooms developed to sprout grain and legume seeds for cost livestock feed.
The entire process, from placing seeds in growing trays to mats of fodder ready to be fed to the dairy cows, takes only six days.
The closed chamber provides a climate-controlled environment with the right mix of temperature, humidity, and water that is delivered in a light mist. The fodder mats are 100 percent organic green feed.
“We recommend to customers that the sprouted mats represent 50 percent to 80 percent of their primary (grain) ration,” said Ron Doore, president of Sun Roads Farmory.
He said Jongerden’s system replaces 40 acres of irrigated hay pasture (in a dry climate). He said the nutrient value of the feed yields a three to four percent increase in butterfat.
“The cows already really enjoy the sprouted mats,” said Jongerden. “There are three mats on each tray and my unit has 72 trays.”
Each day, about one kilogram of seed is spread to a one-centimetre depth on the trays at one end of the chamber.
As trays are added each day, those that are seeded are shunted through the chamber to the other end, regularly misted along the way.
At the end of six days, the trays emerge with thick mats of sprouted barley grass, which can be fed immediately to cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, goats or pigs.
“The lush green grass will change the chemistry of the animal’s metabolism,” said Gordon Watson who originated the Home on the Range raw milk cow share.
“Ruminants will thrive. Cows and sheep with access to vital barley grass year round will do much better than animals on hay and commercial feeds. One of the ‘sweet spots’ for this kind of operation will be local finishing of lambs.”
The concept of controlled growth of sprouted fodder has been used successfully in Australia for years, where widespread drought has caused critical problems for feed production.
The sprout mats are highly digestible and can be consumed with little to no waste.
“We suggest the daily dose should be one to three percent of the animal’s bodyweight in sprouts,” said Doore.
“The animals will have roughage quality and free choice. You can grow all grains, all legumes across the board. For my older broodmares, I sprinkle black oil sunflower seed and barley on the trays.”
The feed system offers about a 30 percent reduction in input costs and a reduction in manure output. Doore said the only primary variable going forward is seed costs.
“It also reduces labour time,” said Jongerden. “But what I really like is being able to provide dependable live feed especially in the fall and winter with the cows producing the same butterfat quality.”
Sun Roads Farmory offers different sizes of grow chambers and prices range from $10,500 plus shipping and taxes for the smallest unit, which is designed to provide feed for six to eight 1,100 pound animals daily. It will produce 16 tons of food per year.
The largest unit will provide daily feed for more than 60 animals and custom units can be built for larger herd sizes.
The mid-size system with delivery cost is about $18,000, which will feed 35 1,100 lb. animals per day, yielding around 99 tons of feed per year.
