Study on hydroponic barley fodder in livestock production

Hydroponic barley fodder serve as a means to expand the source of green fodder, boasting advantages such as good palatability, easy digestibility, rich vitamin content, short growth cycle, and sustainable production. Currently, hydroponic wheat sprouts have been utilized as feed for livestock and poultry in regions or seasons lacking green fodder, both domestically and internationally. These sprouts are cultivated from wheat grains under constant temperature and humidity conditions for a short period, producing green fodder. Research indicates that under conditions of 20°C temperature, 55% relative humidity, pH 6.5, light intensity of 4,500 lx, and a tray inclination of 6.5°, hydroponic wheat sprouts produced after 7 days of cultivation demonstrate the highest cost-effectiveness.

Compared to hydroponic barley sprouts, hydroponic wheat sprouts possess the advantage of lower production costs (with barley averaging 6.72 yuan/kg and wheat 4.66 yuan/kg). There is limited research on the application of hydroponic wheat sprouts in livestock production. In monogastric animal studies, Khatsaeva found that adding hydroponic wheat sprout-based feed additives to quail feed promoted the development of their gizzards; Ali et al. demonstrated that adding 15% hydroponic wheat sprouts on a dry matter basis to feed increased the daily weight gain and feed conversion rate of turkeys while reducing feed costs; Harerimana et al. discovered that adding hydroponic wheat sprouts to piglet feed should be limited, as it would reduce the daily weight gain, dry matter intake, and feed conversion efficiency of piglets; Francis et al. found that replacing alfalfa hay with hydroponic wheat sprouts had no significant effect on the weight and temperature of racehorses, indicating potential as a source of horse feed. In ruminant animal studies, Castillo et al. observed that feeding sheep with hydroponic wheat sprouts resulted in higher daily weight gain compared to grazing sheep and those fed with concentrate feed; Guerrero-Cervantes et al. found that replacing part of the basic feed for pregnant ewes with hydroponic wheat sprouts had no significant effect on their reproductive parameters; Bari et al. demonstrated that adding 25% hydroponic wheat sprouts (on a dry matter basis) to dairy cow feed increased milk production and milk fat content.

The dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, calcium, and phosphorus content of hydroponic wheat sprouts are 15.63%, 15.67%, 4.57%, 5.80%, 0.16%, and 0.77%, respectively. The crude protein, crude fat, and phosphorus content are higher than conventional roughage, while the crude fiber and calcium content are lower than conventional roughage. Based on the comparison of the roughage grading index (GI), the GI value of hydroponic wheat sprouts is higher than that of wheat hay, alfalfa hay, wheat straw, wheat silage, corn silage, and hydroponic barley sprouts. In conclusion, hydroponic wheat sprouts have the potential to serve as a high-quality source of feed for livestock and poultry.

Applications of Hydroponic Fodder Sprouts in Monogastric Animal Production:

Hydroponic fodder sprouts not only act as feed additives to promote the growth and development of the digestive system in some poultry production but can also be added to poultry feed to increase intake, enhance nutrient absorption, and improve growth. However, for piglets, the addition of hydroponic fodder sprouts to feed should be limited. Research has shown that adding feed additives prepared from hydroponic wheat sprouts + Astragalus membranaceus aqueous solution to Pharaoh quail feed promoted the development and metabolic processes of their gizzards and proventriculus. Adding different levels of hydroponic fodder sprouts to turkey feed on a dry matter basis increased the daily weight gain (optimal at 15% addition) and feed conversion rate (optimal at 5% addition), and reduced feed costs (optimal at 5% addition), but a significant decrease in daily weight gain was observed when the addition reached 20%. Studies also indicate that adding 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% hydroponic fodder sprouts to traditional feed for broiler chickens had no significant effect on feed intake and slaughter performance, with only 5% addition increasing daily weight gain and reducing triglycerides and total cholesterol in the blood. Adding 15% and 30% hydroponic fodder sprouts on a dry matter basis to feed for weaned piglets resulted in significantly higher daily weight gain, dry matter intake, and feed conversion efficiency compared to groups without hydroponic fodder sprouts, indicating that adding hydroponic fodder sprouts to feed would reduce the growth performance of weaned piglets. Replacing 50% of hay with hydroponic fodder sprouts on a dry matter basis for short-distance racehorses tended to reduce dry matter intake but had no adverse effects on horse weight and hoof temperature. In summary, appropriate addition of hydroponic fodder sprouts to poultry and horse feed can reduce feed costs, increase daily weight gain, and improve feed conversion efficiency. However, further research is needed to determine the feasibility and appropriate addition levels of hydroponic fodder sprouts in piglet feed.

Applications of Hydroponic Fodder Sprouts in Ruminant Animal Production:

Hydroponic fodder sprouts are rich in protein, amino acids, and other components, with good palatability and easy digestibility. They can improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients in ruminants, enhance production performance, and improve the quality of livestock products. Studies have shown that compared to three feeding modes for sheep (conventional feed + mineral supplement, hydroponic fodder sprouts with the same dry matter basis as conventional feed + mineral supplement, grazing supplemented with conventional feed + mineral supplement), sheep fed with hydroponic fodder sprouts had the highest daily weight gain. Replacing dry rolled corn kernels (20%) and cottonseed meal (10%) in the feed for pregnant ewes with hydroponic fodder sprouts on the same dry matter basis had no significant effect on dry matter intake, daily weight gain, and reproductive parameters. Substituting 25% of the basic feed with hydroponic fodder sprouts in the feed for Holstein cows increased dry matter intake, daily weight gain, and body condition score of cows and also increased milk production, milk fat content, and total solids in milk. In conclusion, adding hydroponic fodder sprouts to ruminant feed not only increases daily weight gain and feed utilization but also increases milk production in lactating animals.