PROGRAMME FOR COWS +
DAILY FEEDING PROGRAMME FOR COWS
DAIRY COW
45kg fodder +3 kg dry matter ( hay, maize, stoker, dried grass, dry Napier e.t.c)+150g calcium salt.
ADVANTAGES
1) Increase in milk output from 10 percent.
2) Increase in fertility-one calf per year is assured.
3) Milk natural taste, color and smell are enhanced.
4) General immunity of the animal is boosted.
5) A saving of between 100 Ksh and 200 Ksh daily per cow is guaranteed.
To grow fodder for two dairy cows per month will require 3.5 litres of hydroponic nutrient solution.
Giving hydroponic fodder as;
(a) Supplement- 2 kg barley/Gadam Sorghum seed per day per cow
(b) Main fodder- 6 kg barley/Gadam Sorghum seed per day per cow.
So, to feed two dairy cows on hydroponic fodder as;
a) Supplement daily will require 4 Kg of barley/Gadam Sorghum seed.
b) Main fodder daily will require 12 Kg of barley/Gadam Sorghum seed.
To grow enough fodder for 2 cows as the main meal you require 360 Kgs of barley/sorghum seed.
1 bag of barley seed is 80 Kg.
To grow enough fodder for 2 cows you need 42 aluminum trays. To control temperature, the shade net is used which is recommended for hydroponics. The table below summarizes the requirements to grow monthly enough fodder for 2 Dairy Cattle in 3m by 4m room:
REQUIREMENTS
Hydroponics as main feed
Barley/Sorghum seed
Hydroponics nutrient solution- 3.5 litresre
Aluminum Trays 42trays
Hydroponics shade net 12square meters
PIGS
Pigs can feed entirely on barley sprouts.
ADVANTAGES
i. Fat coat is reduced by 50 percent (FROM 14MM TO 7 MM.)
ii. They mature earlier by 2 weeks.
iii. Offensive smell associated with pigs is almost eliminated.
iv. General immunity is improved.
v. Saving of between 70000 to 85000 Ugx. per pig is evident.
FATTENING OF BULL AND DROUGHT STRICKEN COWS
15KG fodder +1.5kg maize meal +dry pasture
Young bulls (6 MONTHS OLD) are known to increase the weight by 108kg for three months under this feeding programme. This is because between six and nine months is bone spat period in cows. Emaciated cows recover in just one month.
POULTRY
LOCAL BREED
Aim to give 150g of fodder to any mature hen, Ducks, goose, pigeon, and quail eat according to their body weight.
EXOTIC
They take fodder 50 percent and 50 percent coconut cake or convectional feed.
ADVANTAGES
i) Early maturity; broilers are ready by 28th day and layers start laying at 14th week.
ii) The egg yolk is bright yellow in color,
iii) Cannibalism is eliminated.
iv) Save between 40 to 60 percent on feed.