4 ms·

This is currently being done, and is called sprouted fodder. The livestock (cows, chickens, pigs, goats, etc.) eat the roots, greens and the remainder of the s

This is currently being done, and is called sprouted fodder. The livestock (cows, chickens, pigs, goats, etc.) eat the roots, greens and the remainder of the seed. Each type of livestock requires a different amount of fiber, so the length at which the seed is sprouted differs; chickens only get sprouted a few days, just long enough that the enzymes in the seeds break down the starches and make them more bio-available. While cows will have something that looks closer to grass.

aaron695 6y ago
Sprouted fodder is a scam. But I'd like to know which study you are talking about? We are in a scam industry thread (vertical farms) jumping the shark to talk about fodder for animals. Which I assume is all about the overton window. So not sure if this is the right place to talk about said study.
- nanomonkey 6y ago
  My only experience is with small urban farming, feeding my own livestock of chickens and rabbits. I'm not utilizing any lights, just off the shelf containers with decent success.
  - aaron695 6y ago
    If it makes you happy and your animals happy then that's good. > I'm not utilizing and lights This is how it's implemented in large scale systems. My beef is how they rip off struggling farmers.
    - danielheath 6y ago
      > struggling farmers Huh. In my country, "struggling farmers" are people who own several million dollars worth of land and typically several million more in plant.
- sigmaprimus 6y ago
  Sprouted fodder is a scam? I'm not sure I know what exactly the concept behind sprouted fodder is, and who would stand to profit from such a scam. Maybe You could explain the details? I do throw whole wheat grains into my chicken run's deep litter every time I put a new layer of chips or hay down. I personally do this more to encourage the hens to scratch for sprouts and fermented seeds. IMHO this scratching has value as it keeps the birds active in cold months and keeps the bedding compaction down which makes spring cleanout easier but I also believe it provides some benificial nutrients. Silage tarps over hay, especially hay that didn't get cut before heading out due to wet weather, results in sprouted fodder of sorts and that definitely increases the nutritional value of seedy hay.

aaron695 6y ago

Sprouted fodder is a scam. But I'd like to know which study you are talking about? We are in a scam industry thread (vertical farms) jumping the shark to talk about fodder for animals. Which I assume is all about the overton window. So not sure if this is the right place to talk about said study.

nanomonkey 6y ago
My only experience is with small urban farming, feeding my own livestock of chickens and rabbits. I'm not utilizing any lights, just off the shelf containers with decent success.
- aaron695 6y ago
  If it makes you happy and your animals happy then that's good. > I'm not utilizing and lights This is how it's implemented in large scale systems. My beef is how they rip off struggling farmers.
  - danielheath 6y ago
    > struggling farmers Huh. In my country, "struggling farmers" are people who own several million dollars worth of land and typically several million more in plant.
sigmaprimus 6y ago
Sprouted fodder is a scam? I'm not sure I know what exactly the concept behind sprouted fodder is, and who would stand to profit from such a scam. Maybe You could explain the details? I do throw whole wheat grains into my chicken run's deep litter every time I put a new layer of chips or hay down. I personally do this more to encourage the hens to scratch for sprouts and fermented seeds. IMHO this scratching has value as it keeps the birds active in cold months and keeps the bedding compaction down which makes spring cleanout easier but I also believe it provides some benificial nutrients. Silage tarps over hay, especially hay that didn't get cut before heading out due to wet weather, results in sprouted fodder of sorts and that definitely increases the nutritional value of seedy hay.