Barley Fooder Sheep Production
Aeroponics – Seed Sprout Fodder System 0
https://www.tridge.com/intelligences/barley/ZA 4
Here’s a short video giving background on Namibian Barley farming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLmH5dIvqv0
Here’s a very simple setup and video – easy to understand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUE-rs6X3wc
Seed Sprout Fodder System
One of the most exciting aspects of intensive agriculture is a new production method for sheep. Barley seeds are spread out on an open floor and irrigated with sprayers for eight days. The barley sprouts are then fed to sheep. Farmers are keeping 500 to 1200 sheep in small spaces in this way.
Moreover, with the sheep being kept close, lambing and slaughtering yields are much higher than with sheep kept in camps. This production method could well be one of the bigger cash cows for the village, apart from yielding excellent meat for the braai.
Detailed explanation of SA top setup 1200 ewes lambing 150 per month. https://www.agriorbit.com/hydroponic-feed-intensive-sheep-production/
Immo proposes that we use the Manure to make Biogas for cooking as well as running a generator.
https://www.meatco.com.na/news/559/Hydroponics-Fodder-Production-a-glimmer-of-hope-for-farming/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IedGUVaYCik&list=WL&index=5
Simple tray build:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vxhkr3YgwA
Simple instructions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnVmZIRMem8&list=WL&index=41
500 sheep can be held in 20 kraals of 25 sheep each. Each Kraal is 15x15m plus a 5×5 shade. Arrange these in two rows on a ridge, with the middle row open as access roads where the feed is delivered and sheep herded to the shed for dipping etc.
You don’t need fancy trays, simple roof sheets will do. Much cheaper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJVkhns1rhs
Dealing with Mould – and ways to prevent it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3pUeAwht0k. Here’s one more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEvqngpDJqo&list=WL&index=5
Barley Should not go below 15 degrees cold.
Here’s another video showing a wooden shelf build with simple plastic trays and detailed info: https://youtu.be/D2eQaKcYYfU
Here is a very simple instructional video – it can be as easy as this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1OYag_LUvA
Mamre Intensive Sheep Lambing system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Hcm56-ep8&list=TLPQMTEwNTIwMjHpHf3LDwMFnA&index=1
1300 liters a day to produce 1.5 tons of fodder. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Ubu0fklu4)
Typically they eat around 4% of liveweight per day which is around 1 kg of grass dry matter, increasing by 0.1 kg /week due to weight gain. A rough rule of thumb is to divide the age of the lamb in weeks by 10 (over the range birth to weaning) to get lamb grass intake in kg DM/day. Lamp to slaughther a 8 months is about 2kg per day. Thus 2l per sheep per day with this system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BhKGBdTfH0&list=WL&index=6
South Africa Barley suppliers, wholesale prices, and market information – Tridge
https://www.tridge.com/intelligences/barley/ZA
https://www.food1.com/grain-suppliers/namibia
https://importer.tradekey.com/namibia/barley-seed.htm
https://www.food1.com/grain-suppliers/namibia
Barley Sprouting Seeds – Organics Matter SA (Pty) Ltd
https://www.organicsmatter.co.za/shop/barley-sprouting-seeds/
This shed 26m long and 6.5m wide produces 3 tons of fodder per day. Feeding 300 cows with 1000 calves on 1200 ha. 10kg per cow per day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iceiD28e1Eg&list=WL&index=6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKV9z_oQFro
Check this video – you
https://symbibiological.com/2014/06/19/barley-fodder-system/
Systems of 240kg per day to 10 ton per day are feasible. For our farm we plan a system of 500 sheep. We keep them for 60 days, fattening them for the market. This costs us 5000l per day to produce the sprouts. Our sheep won’t need much water to drink since they eat so much juicy green.
https://www.sheepconnectsa.com.au/water-security/livestock-water-requirements
https://www.aggnamibia.com/climate-smart-sheep-feedlots-intensifying-production-for-profit
Various other seeds can also be used, such as Maize. https://www.aggnamibia.com/sprouted-maize-fodder-how-available-is-seed-in-namibia-for-aeroponic-fodder-production
Can You Use Corn/Maize or Sorghum or Millet Seeds to Grow Hydroponic Fodder? Check this video to learn about mixing different grains for optimum crude protein content of 23%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRXsW-hh5n4
Water requirements are minimal compared to normal fodder production: 25 000 liter water to grow 10 tons per day
This fodder can be fed to all our animals.
The only drawback of this is that we have to buy the barley seed, or perhaps we can grow our own using the sheep pee for watering a pebble bed and clay pipes irrigation
Maize is about 2500 per ton.
http://www.eleusis.es/index3_eng.htm
- Sprouts on Conveyor belt
Detailed explanation on protein ratios of different grains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRXsW-hh5n4
16 Super Reasons to Choose an Agri GreenGrow Aeroponic Fodder Grow Unit System:
- It is a sustainable climate change solution for highly nutritious, year-round, livestock feed.
- Farmers have more control over low market trends.
- Rangeland grazing has chance to recover after droughts.
- Food security and self-sufficiency is addressed by localizing high quality fodder.
- Income generating opportunities by selling nutritious green fodder and good condition livestock.
- Will help your operation to flourish in increasingly challenging environments.
- Will result in significant feed cost savings.
- A self-contained, 100% insulated aeroponic fodder production system with solar option.
- Low input, high output (seed to feed ratio is 1:8 – therefore 2.5 kg barley seed will produce 20 kg of feed).
- Requires no soil, pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers.
- Simplistic design that is water and power efficient.
- Consumes 96% less water than conventional farming.
- No waste, as the ‘sprout mat’ is entirely edible and super nutritious.
- Leaves a small carbon footprint on your farm due to reduced transport costs.
- All our units can be designed according to specific requirements.
- All our units are supplied with formulated education and operator training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoC3UTKuWio
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/management-reproduction/growing-weaner-sheep
Check out this list of possible pitfalls of a sprout production system
http://foddertech.com/the-hidden-costs-of-a-fodder-system/
From a permaculture perspective we want to create a loop and not waste – what to do with the Manure? We’ll use it in the biogas digester or to enhance the poor soil as suggested here: https://www.mdr.de/mdr-garten/pflegen/duengen/duengen-mit-mist-pferdemist-rindermist-huehnermist-kaninchenmist-100.html
These trays can be bought from AgriGrow
Precision Flock management. 2300 ewes. 5000 lambs per year
Water for your sheep – getting the max out of it.
Here’s a guide on how to make the most of the water for goats – might work for sheep and game and cattle as well. Add Molasses, Vinegar, both, plus keep super fresh water.
https://simplelivingcountrygal.com/encourage-goats-drink-more-water/