Bill and Rebecca Alward of Little Mountain Ranch and Garden LLC in southeastern Nebraska have developed a small-scale fodder system to supplement their livestock’s winter diet. With support from a $14,307 NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant, their project focuses on reducing winter feed costs while improving the nutritional quality of feed for their hogs and cattle.
For farmers facing high hay prices or limited storage space, the Alwards’ hydroponic fodder system offers a space-efficient, nutrient-rich alternative that can be grown year-round indoors, in a barn or shed.
Project Overview
Operating a diversified farm on 16.5 acres, the Alwards raise forest-raised pork, grass-fed beef, lamb, pastured poultry, eggs, mushrooms, and vegetables. Since starting winter farrowing for hogs and wintering cattle in 2020, they have faced challenges due to rising grain and hay prices, prompting them to seek a more sustainable and cost-effective winter feed solution.
Fodder System Implementation
They installed a heated indoor system to sprout grains such as wheat, rye, and triticale. Their experience showed that a 50-pound bag of seed can produce roughly 180 pounds of nutrient-dense fodder, making this an affordable and efficient supplement to their livestock’s winter diet.
Key Findings
- Cost Comparison: Prior to the fodder system, cattle were fed alfalfa hay at $8 per 50-pound bale. With the fodder system, weekly supplementation costs increased to $102, including $28 for alfalfa and $73.50 for fodder. However, the daily inclusion of fodder improved feed efficiency and reduced hay consumption.
- Grain Selection: Wheat and rye were found to be the most effective grains for fodder production, offering high germination rates, yield, and palatability for both hogs and cattle.
- Labor and Space Efficiency: The system requires approximately one hour of labor per day and occupies less storage space than traditional hay bales, making it suitable for small-scale operations.
Recommendations for Farmers
Based on their experience, the Alwards offer the following recommendations:
- Feeding Strategy: Limit fodder supplementation to every other day to reduce costs and labor.
- Infrastructure: Ensure access to an insulated, heated building to maintain optimal conditions for fodder growth in cold climates.
- Water Supply: Connect the system directly to a water line for efficiency, and consider utilizing waste water as a nutrient-rich supplement for livestock.
- Grain Management: Experiment with different seed types and pre-soak durations to determine the best combination for your livestock.
"One collaboration that has opened up during this project is a fellow small grain farmer in our area mills their own grains, typically wheat, sometimes rye," explained Alward. "We have been able to utilize their 'heavy' wheat grains separated during cleaning that are not suitable for milling as a source of fodder grain. This is a cost reduction for us versus buying all our grain from a major supplier and paying freight shipping costs. The downside is it's not always readily available, but hope to continue to utilize this seed sourcing in the future to bring down costs."
Dig Deeper
In this video, Alward discusses the fodder system and explains how he set it up, offering practical insights into the process.
