Maura Keller reports for American Cattlemen showing how having access to high-quality feed ingredients is vital to the success of any cattle business.
According to HydroGreen President John de Jonge, “Sprouted grain from HydroGreen equipment should really be thought of as a digestible energy ingredient, not a forage.” The early value proposition for HydroGreen was all about consistent access to quality feed on the ranch or farm, and now the value is centered on the significant improvement in feed efficiency, rumen function and animal productivity created by adding HydroGreen’s sprouted-grain feed to the ration. “Our research indicates that when a producer incorporates sprouted grains into the ration, digestion of efficiency improves,” says de Jonge. “Bringing energy to a rumen in a forage form is much less stressful than using corn, and when incorporated at key stages, such as calf development, HydroGreen sprouted grains positively impact rumen function which in turn lowers digestive stress, can result in a thriftier calf and increase productivity of the animal for the long term.”
Abundant Benefits
Because of the company’s patented equipment and proprietary research, HydroGreen has set itself apart within the sprouted-grain production industry. While HydroGreen sprouted grain is what’s sometimes called fodder, not all fodder is created equal. That’s because fodder production models that prioritize growing forage are solving for the early value proposition that motivated Dihl Grohs to build the first versions of HydroGreen’s equipment. Whereas with the HydroGreen solution today, the priority is the production of a consistent nutrient package that can lead to enhanced profitability.
So how does sprouted grain from HydroGreen equipment accomplish such strong animal productivity outcomes? Quite simply, the HydroGreen crop replaces a portion of the ration with a high-glucose, readily fermentable energy source, which promotes efficient fermentation, rumen balance, consistent eating patterns and other notable performance outcomes. “it’s about the optimization of living processes, from sprouted-grain feed production to rumination, “de Jonge explains.
