Fodder refers to any type of livestock feed. This includes everything from straw to pelleted feeds. Back in the day all livestock feed was referred to as fodder, but today the work more specifically refers to sprouted grains and seeds.
There are many seeds and grains that can be grown as sprouted fodder and here they are:
Alfalfa
Barley
Bermuda Grass
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Brome
Clover
Corn
False Oat Grass
Fescue
Heath Grass
Meadow Grasses
Millet
Oats
Orchard Grass
Rapeseed
Red Clover
Rutabaga
Ryegrass
Sorghum
Soybeans
Subterranean Clover
Timothy
Triticale
Turnip
Wheat
White Clover
These grains and seeds are take about 6-10 days to fully sprout. Once fully sprouted they will weigh as much as 15 times their original weight. This is one thing that makes fodder so appealing to farmers. Fodder is a big money saver.
Nothing goes to waste. The roots, seeds and grass are all eaten by the animals. Not only do the animals benefit from the nutrients that fodder is packed with, they also benefit from its high water content. This is especially beneficial to animals raised in warmer climates.
Anyone can grow sprouted fodder. It’s an inexpensive investment that requires very little space and only a few tools. Sprouting trays, shelving, buckets and your choice of seeds/grains are all you need. Little to no sunlight is needed and absolutely no soil is needed. Within as little as one week you can start feeding your livestock a more nutritious diet that is safely grown in your own basement, garage or storage shed. There’s quite simply no other way to feed your animals food of this quality at a fraction of the price of processed feed.
While all of the seeds and grains listed above can be sprouted, every farm animal’s digestive tract and nutritional needs are different. Some may have negative reactions to any of the above listed grains or seeds, so before feeding check with your vet.