Date of Award
5-2025
Degree Type
Creative Project
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Applied Economics
Committee Chair(s)
Ryan Feuz (Committee Chair)
Committee
Ryan Feuz
Committee
Ryan Larsen
Committee
Chad Page
Committee
Kara Thorton-Kurth
Abstract
As the livestock industry combats challenges including rising feed costs and ensuring sustainable production practices, some attention is being given to hydroponic fodder as a feed source. Hydroponic fodder offers a potential alternative to traditional feed sources. Research has demonstrated hydroponic fodder production has increased water efficiency while providing a sustainable green feed source throughout the year. This study seeks to understand how using hydroponically produced barley fodder in a total mixed ration for growing wethers compares economically to feeding traditional feed sources. A stochastic simulation model is used to determine the expected total feed costs, costs of gain, and net returns over feed costs for growing wethers fed varying levels of hydroponic barley fodder in mixed rations as compared to growing wethers fed a traditional mix ration. The wethers were randomly assigned to one of four groups: a control group and three treatment groups. The treatment groups received rations containing hydroponic barley fodder at 10%, 20%, and 30% of the total mixed ration on a dry matter basis. The simulation results suggest that feeding hydroponic barley fodder as 10% of the total mixed ration, is expected to result in decreased feed costs and cost of gain as well as increased net return as compared to feeding a traditional mixed ration. Growing wethers fed a mixed ration including 10% hydroponic barley fodder are expected to have reduced feed costs and cost of gain of $0.18/day and $0.31/lb. respectively while improving net returns over feed costs by $12.64/head compared to the control group fed a traditional mixed ration.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Fallon, "Evaluating the Economic Viability of Feeding Hydroponic Barley Fodder to Growing Wethers" (2025). All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present. 77.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports2023/77
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