Resumen

LOPEZ-AGUILAR, Raúl; MURILLO-AMADOR, Bernardo  y  RODRIGUEZ-QUEZADA, Guadalupe. Hydroponic green fodder (HGF): An alternative for cattle food production in arid zones. INCI [online]. 2009, vol.34, n.2, pp.121-126. ISSN 0378-1844.

Hydroponic green fodder (HGF) is a cattle-food production methodology that allows avoiding the natural limitations that are found in arid zones in the conventional cultivation of fodder. Three seed densities (SD) were evaluated: 1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 kg of seeds·m^-² of tray, in corn HGF yield, water use, and HGF effect on goat weight-gain. Using 2.5 kg·m^-², the highest yields were obtained in HGF and in dry matter (DM), but the highest conversion of used seed was recorded for a SD of 2.0 kg·m^-². HGF and DM in the three SD were similar to those of the main fodder species, but on a surface 100 times smaller, with no use of agrochemicals and using 30-50 times less water. HGF quality in the three SD was similar to that of foods considered as nutritional for cattle. With the exception of crude protein and acid detergent fiber, no significant differences were recorded among SD in the variables related to fodder quality. Diets that included HGF significantly increased goat weight-gain, with 134.7 and 144.3 g·day^-1 for 70 and 25% HGF in the diet, respectively. HGF could contribute to the conversion of conventional cattle production systems to an organic system or to elevate the nutritional condition of cattle in arid and semi-arid zones where subnutrition is common.

Palabras clave : Cabras; Forraje Verde Hidropónico; Ganadería Sostenible; Metodología Alternativa; Zonas Áridas.