Doing the switch

As we have said before the excitement of our new fodder system has us thrilled.  The more we research the nutritional value of fodder and see how simple it is you wonder why we did not do this sooner.  We have started feeding the animals our fresh stock every morning along with their normal grain.  Each day we are cutting back on the store bought grain.  The pigs took to the fodder right away.  Chickens and rabbits the same way.  The goats love their grain so it is something they have to be weaned into.  The goats will eat all the store bought grain first and then throughout the day they will go back for the fodder.  They do eat it, just after the grain.  So again we will be starting to cut down on the store bought grain and increasing the fodder for the goats until they have a diet of all fodder and no store bought grain.  We will still give the animals hay.

Here are some nutritional value comparisons:
Barley                                                                             Barley Grass (Fodder)
Vitamins B,C & E                                                           Vitamins A,B,C,E & K
Calcium, Iron, Magnesium,Pantothenic Acid                     Calcium, Chlorophyll, Iron,Lecithin, Magnesium,
Phosphorus                                                                    Pantothenic Acid
Amino Acids                                                                   Amino Acids, Trace Elements, Phosphorus,
                                                                                      Potassium
Protein: 15%                                                                  Protein: up to 30%

to have an increase of up to 30% protein never mind the added vitamins and minerals.  Wow. For the cost of feeding the animals we have calculated it to be an average of .29 cents an animal a day to feed the fodder.  You feed one pound of fodder per every one hundred pounds of animal.

  I am not sure what we have been spending on the store bought grain but I know it is a lot more than that.  We are sure we could get the cost down on the cost of barley we just have not found the right source yet.  Also we are putting thought into growing our own barley.  Savings could be endless.  I would like to say this system takes some work.  You have to put some time in the morning to put your grain together for the next day and your daily feed.  But not to much more than you do normally.  You do have to water the fodder once or twice a day.  That may depend on your humidity levels in your home.  I have found covering the containers with plastic helps with humidity.  As we get the hang of the system we will continue to blog and share so we may help others that want to try it.  So far we would highly recommend this for any farmer big or small to try.  For a small investment you can see if it will work for you.  Really you have nothing to loose.  Everything to gain.

Growing Excitment

Our Fodder System is working beyond our expectations.  This is day three and we are so amazed on the progress.  

It is just so exciting to be able to grow your own organic food for your animals.  To increase the nutritional value and to save money while doing it is amazing.  I have now found a local source of Barley seeds that will be a great savings.  Our local  http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-stores.aspx they have a great supply of Barley seed on hand and I pick up my first 50 lb bag of it tomorrow.  So far the rye and sunflower seeds have been doing great.  The wheat seeds have not sprouted yet.  So I will do more research on them.  They might just take longer to sprout.
We are confident that on day six or seven we will be giving our livestock their first hearty helping of fresh fodder.  We just cant wait for the benefits.  We have modified the shelving because the one we started out with was going to be too small with the amount we need to grow.  But we had another larger shelf in a loft area that I borrowed for this trial period.  If all works well we will purchase the Fodder System its own shelf.  For this trial I do not want to spend any extra money until I know it is proven to work.  We are confident at this time it will and the process is so easy everyone who raises animals should be doing it.