Invest in hydroponics for the production of forage might seem like an expensive way to feed dairy or beef cattle or other livestock, and in certain situations it could prove very beneficial. For instance, in drought conditions it could provide producers with an excellent source of forage. After all, cattle are able to eat the whole thing, sprout mat and all. Hydroponic forage production, also called as Alfculture can meet the issue of livestock feed shortage.

With hydroponics, plants can be grown in a small amount of water on a mat with added nutrients - but without soil. With hydroponics, you can grow forage in a greenhouse and grow it faster - harvesting in as little as seven to 10 days. Alfaculture requires a hydroponic growing system that has been specifically developed to sprout grain and legume seeds for highly nutritious yet cost-effective livestock feed.

Hydroponic technology allows fresh feed and produce to be grown anywhere. A thousand pounds of barley, wheat or corn grows into 7,000-8,000 pounds of feed in only 10 days. Typically, farmers are widely depends alfaculture for the production of barley grass, which is rich in nutrition to feed their cattle.

Almost all kind of seeds responds to the system of Alfaculture very soon; means the farmers can have the yields within eight or ten days from the seeding. The addition of a low dose of organic fertilizer helps the successful plant growth with desired results. In an Alfaculture system, when the forage is grown, producers only need to just roll it up, grass and roots together, and feed it to their cattle.

Hydroponics is becoming more important to farmers worldwide due to the lack of land. For instance, the Alfaculture system has been used by dairy producers with limited pasture land. They can grow their forage in a hydroponic system, rather than having to find more land. And they can grow it in any climatic conditions, even it might prevent cattle from foraging for nutritious grass.

Livestock farmers around the world have to focus on more intensive farming with harsher conditions and a lack of land. It is not easy to grow good quality hay in drought conditions, and often pasture or crop land is not available or is very expensive.

Research on good quality forage which can be produced hydroponically or in Alfaculture has shown that milk yields can be increased in dairy cows, the energy and performance of ruminants is improved; and there is a higher protein content than hay so it is more easily digested.