The Department of Livestock Breeding, Pastures and Feed at Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry is recommending that local farmers switch to growing animal feed hydroponically.
The department says climate change, drought and water shortages are hitting traditional fodder production hard. Hydroponics holds up better because outside conditions barely affect it.
Hydroponic fodder can be grown indoors in a short time. Wheat, barley and oat seeds give a high-yield crop in 7-10 days, and corn takes 14 days.
The method cuts farmers’ costs and improves the quality and nutritional value of the feed, which is rich in protein and vitamins A, E and C. Adding it to the diet raises milk yields by 13%.
Growing a kilogram of green fodder from barley and alfalfa the traditional way takes 73-85 liters of water. A kilogram of hydroponic fodder needs only 1.5-2 liters.
