Independent Fodder System Advice

Find Out If Hydroponic Fodder Makes Sense For Your Property

Fodder Group helps farmers, horse owners, and livestock businesses assess whether an on-site fodder system suits their animals, feed costs, property, climate, and daily routine — before they invest in equipment.

Practical advice. No miracle claims. No pressure to buy a system that does not suit you.

Start Your Suitability Report

Tell us about your property and animals. We'll assess whether hydroponic fodder is likely to be a practical fit.

Continue to Full Report

Takes about 3 minutes. No obligation.

The reality

Feed Costs Are Rising. Guesswork Is Expensive.

Hydroponic fodder can be a smart part of a feeding strategy, but only when the numbers, setup, and management requirements stack up. The wrong system size, poor shed conditions, unsuitable water, or unrealistic feed replacement assumptions can turn a good idea into an expensive mistake.

Rising feed and freight costs

Hay, grain, and transport prices continue to climb. Budgeting is harder when feed costs are volatile.

Inconsistent feed supply

Quality and availability of bought-in feed varies by season, supplier, and region.

Drought and seasonal pressure

Dry conditions squeeze feed availability and push prices higher when you can least afford it.

Confusion around real costs

System sizing, dry matter, labour, grain costs, and realistic output are hard to assess without independent help.

Free assessment

Get Your Free Fodder System Suitability Report

Answer a few practical questions and we'll help you understand whether hydroponic fodder is likely to suit your animals, property, and feed goals.

What the report considers

  • Animal type and numbers
  • Current feed spend and feed types
  • Location and climate
  • Available shed or covered space
  • Water access and quality
  • Daily labour capacity
  • Grain access and production target
  • Whether the goal is cost reduction, freshness, security, or resilience
Chris Levick, founder of Fodder Group

"If it doesn't suit your property, I'll tell you before you spend money."

Chris Levick, Founder

Request Your Free Suitability Report

Answer a few practical questions and we'll help you understand whether hydroponic fodder is likely to suit your animals, property, and feed goals.

Optional details

No obligation. If hydroponic fodder doesn't suit your setup, we'll tell you.

The process

How Fodder Group Helps

1

Assess

We review your animals, feed costs, property setup, water access, climate, and goals.

2

Design

We estimate the type of system, output range, grain requirement, labour demand, and practical setup pathway.

3

Implement

If the numbers work, we help you move towards the right system, setup plan, training, and support.

Not Every Property Is A Good Fit. That Is The Point.

We don't recommend a system to everyone. If hydroponic fodder is not right for your setup, we would rather tell you that now.

Good Fit

Your animals, feed costs, space, water, labour, and goals suggest hydroponic fodder may be worth serious consideration.

Possible Fit

The idea may work, but only if certain setup, cost, or management issues are solved first.

Poor Fit

If hydroponic fodder is unlikely to suit your property, we'll tell you before you spend money on the wrong system.

Who it's for

Who The Suitability Report Is For

Horse owners and trainers

Assess whether fresh sprouted barley can form part of a consistent daily feeding routine.

Stud farms and spelling properties

Evaluate if on-site fodder production suits your operation and animal management program.

Cattle producers

Work out whether supplementing with fresh fodder makes commercial sense for your herd size and feed costs.

Sheep and goat producers

Understand the practicalities of fodder production for smaller ruminants, including ration balance and dry matter.

Dairy operators

Assess fresh fodder as part of a managed dairy feeding system, including production volumes and labour fit.

Remote and freight-heavy properties

Reduce reliance on trucked-in feed by producing fresh fodder on site, if the setup and water access allow it.

Small acreage owners

Find out if a smaller system suits your property, animal numbers, and daily time commitment.

Drought-prone properties

Assess whether on-site fodder production can help manage seasonal feed gaps, given your water and infrastructure.

Experience

Built On Practical Fodder Experience

Fodder Group is built around practical experience with hydroponic sprouted barley systems and livestock feeding. We focus on real-world suitability, daily operation, system design, and honest commercial assessment.

40+
Countries advised
10 yrs
In the industry
300+
Systems built
Interior rows of sprouted barley growing in a hydroponic fodder system
Harvested fodder mat ready for livestock feeding Close-up of sprouted barley root mat
Straight talk

What You Need To Get Right

Hydroponic fodder is not a magic replacement for every feed input. It works best when it is treated as part of a managed feeding system. That means understanding fresh weight, dry matter, ration balance, and the daily work required to produce clean feed.

Correct system sizing

Too small wastes opportunity. Too large wastes money and labour.

Clean grain supply

Grain quality directly affects germination, growth, and the risk of mould or contamination.

Water quality

Poor water can introduce bacteria, reduce growth, and cause hygiene problems.

Temperature and airflow

Systems need controlled conditions. Extreme heat, cold, or still air cause issues.

Hygiene and mould prevention

Daily cleaning and monitoring are essential. Mould is a real risk if hygiene slips.

Daily labour discipline

Loading, harvesting, cleaning, and inspecting trays takes time every day.

Realistic ration planning

Fresh fodder has high moisture. Dry matter comparisons with hay and grain matter.

Dry matter understanding

A kilogram of fresh fodder is not the same as a kilogram of hay. Plan feeding accordingly.

Animal-specific advice

Different animals need different rations. Fodder is a feed component, not a complete diet.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hydroponic fodder replace hay?
Usually no. For most properties, it should be assessed as part of a broader feeding strategy, not as a full hay replacement.
How much feed can I grow each day?
That depends on system size, grain input, growing cycle, climate control, and management. The suitability report helps estimate the right range.
Is fresh fodder mostly water?
Fresh fodder contains significant moisture, so dry matter needs to be considered when comparing it to hay, grain, or hard feed.
What animals can it suit?
It may suit horses, cattle, sheep, goats, dairy animals, and other livestock, but the feeding model needs to match the animal type and ration.
How much labour is required?
Most systems need daily loading, harvesting, cleaning, and monitoring. Labour must be part of the assessment.
Can mould be a problem?
Yes. Mould risk increases when hygiene, airflow, grain quality, water quality, or temperature control are poor.
Do I need a shed?
Most systems need a protected, clean, well-managed space with suitable temperature, airflow, power, and water access.
What grain is used?
Barley is commonly used, but suitability depends on availability, quality, cost, and the intended feeding program.
Can Fodder Group tell me what system size I need?
Yes. That is one of the main reasons to complete the suitability report.
What happens after I complete the report request?
Fodder Group reviews your details and recommends the next step, which may be a suitability call, a system estimate, or advice that the setup is not suitable.

Get A Clear Answer Before You Spend Money On A Fodder System

Start with a practical suitability report. We'll help you assess the numbers, setup, and likely fit for your property.