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.
"Hydroponic fodder does not suit every property. I help you find out if it suits yours."
Chris Levick, Founder
How much fodder do your animals need?
Answer 3 quick questions and get your daily production target in kg and lbs. No sign-up required.
Takes 30 seconds. Instant result.
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.
How Much Fresh Fodder Do Your Animals Need?
Answer three questions and get your daily fodder production target. Then grab the free feeding calculator spreadsheet to model your full costs.
What you'll get
- Your daily fodder requirement in kg and lbs
- A production cost spreadsheet you can plug your own numbers into
- A practical starting point for whether fodder makes financial sense
"Work out the numbers before you spend money on a system."
Chris Levick, Founder
What animals are you feeding?
Select the primary animal type. This determines the daily fodder allocation per head.
How Fodder Group Helps
Calculate
Use the free calculator to work out how much fresh fodder your animals need per day.
Model the costs
Get the feeding calculator spreadsheet and plug in your own grain, water, power, and labour costs.
Decide with data
If the numbers make sense, we help you move forward with the right system, setup plan, 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 Uses The Fodder Calculator
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hydroponic fodder replace hay?
How much feed can I grow each day?
Is fresh fodder mostly water?
What animals can it suit?
How much labour is required?
Can mould be a problem?
Do I need a shed?
What grain is used?
Can Fodder Group tell me what system size I need?
What happens after I use the calculator?
Work Out the Numbers Before You Spend Money on a Fodder System
Start with the free calculator to get your daily production target. Then model the full costs with the spreadsheet.