Fodder - All About All

Fodder

In agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any foodstuff that is used specifically to feed livestock, such as cattle, sheep, chickens and pigs.

Most animal feed is from plants but some fodder is of animal origin. Although most animal foodstuffs are considered safe, mad cow disease spreads due to prion contamination of meat and bone meal, a common feed ingredient.

Common plants specifically grown for fodder

• grass (as grazing pasture and for cropping and storage as hay and silage)
  • ryegrass
  • bermuda grass
  • timothy-grass
  • danthonia
• wheat
• millet
• soybean
• oats
• alfalfa (lucerne)
• sorghum
• clover
  • red clover
  • white clover
  • subterranium clover
• maize
• brassicas
  • chau moellier
  • kale
  • rapeseed (Canola)
  • rutabaga (swede)
  • turnip
• birdsfoot trefoil

Types of fodder

• hay
• silage

Growing Fodder Hydroponically

Fodder may be effectively grown in a hydroponic environment. Growing fodder, instead of feeding the "raw" grain to stock, can greatly increase the value of the grain. For instance, 1 ton of barley can be converted to 7 tons of fodder in less than two weeks.

See also

• forage