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.

Fodder Food

We are always trying to find  more nutritious ways to feed our animals.  Feeding animals better food for them and trying to make it cost effective would be an added benefit.  We have had the thoughts of a fodder system in our heads for quite some time.  The whole process of hydroponics is amazing.  When you look into it the cost can be expensive.  I am sure in the long run it does pay for itself.  But of course it makes the wheels in our heads turn.  Just like everything else in life there has to be more than one way.  An expensive way and a way of doing it yourself.  So with some research and now some experimenting we are off and running.
Yesterday, I will say we started our Fodder System.  No we didn't spend money buying all the expensive equipment from the farm stores or online.  We used what we have around the house.  Just like most other farming projects I am sure you have everything you need right here at home.  The only thing we did have to buy was some seed. 

After doing research I have found that barley seed is the best fodder to feed.  To get barley seed you have to order it online.  I have not been able to find a source for it around my home, so far.  I will not give up.  So while I wait for the barley to come in.  I will get the whole process going with what I was able to find at the local farm store.  Rye seed is something that is readily available.  Also wheat is something you should be able to find if you look hard enough.  I have also incorporated some Black Oil Sunflower seeds.  I think this should make a great, healthy mix of fodder.  I will be feeding this to my pigs, goats, chickens and bunnies.  From my research the fodder can be 90% of their diet.  The goats will still need some hay, they say they will not need as much.  The pigs I will still feed hay as well and maybe some dairy.  The chickens will get some added calcium and grit.  I have to do some more research on the bunnies on what other supplements they will need.  I will find out before they are switched to a fodder diet.
So yesterday I took a pan and soaked an equal amount of rye and wheat seeds.  I think I put in about 2 cups each.  Then I added 1 cup of the black oil sunflower seeds.  I added 2 tsp of bleach to the water. They say the bleach will kill off any bacteria in the seeds.  I have also read you could use peroxide if you did not want to use the bleach.  This will keep mold down also.  I let this sit overnight.  Eight hours of soaking is long enough.  This should be my starter mix of my fodder in 7 days I should be able to start feeding fodder to the animals.

I placed the seeds today in pans or Tupperware containers I had around the house.  

Before I put the seeds in the containers I drilled holes in one end so the water would drain.  I have the fodder system on a wire shelf I had in my kitchen.  Yes I did have some pots and pans on it but I found other places for them.  So I have each pan set up at a slant with the holes I drilled at the bottom part so it will drain well and water will not sit in the containers when I water a few times a day.  If you do it this way you only have to water from the top of the shelf and the water will drip all the way down to the bottom trays.  The bottom tray is an empty tray to collect the leftover water.  This will need to be emptied often.
After I filled my first trays now I have to get a new batch of seeds ready to soak for tomorrows fodder tray.  Everyday you will need to fill a new tray with seeds to keep your fodder system working for your farm.  You will have to figure out how much fodder you will need for your animals.  They say 1 pound of fodder for every 100 pound of animals.  Seems pretty easy to calculate.  My pigs are about 100lbs a piece and I have 3 of them so I will feed them 3 lbs of fodder.  My goats are 60 lbs each and again we have 3 of them.  Because we are trying to breed them I might just feed them the full pound each but they could have less.  At first I will ease them into the fodder.  I will start with small amounts and gradually get them up to the full fodder feeding amount.
The fodder takes 6-7 days to get to the point from seed to feeding stage.  From what I have read day 6 has the most nutritional value for the animals.  After day 7 the nutritional value goes down.  I find this all so interesting and if it works out I just cant see why everyone doesn't do it.  I will keep a day by day journal of how it is going and post.
We look forward to the benefits of a fodder system for our livestock.  We look forward to the savings it will bring our family.  Just one more FYI by switching to a fodder feed you increase your protein value from 15% to at least 30% for your animals.  Just think what that will do for there growing.  To feed your animals an organic food that gives them 30% protein WOW.  I want to eat it.  I would stop being anemic I bet.