The science of fodder and micro-grasses is fascinating because fodder grows (literally) as fast as weeds. A micro fodder system will produce 35 lbs/ fodder per day, with a 7-day germination time; you always rotate the nutrient feed trays in a way to have daily harvests. Considering the small cost of seeds, it is amazingly economical. An animal should have 2-3% of its body weight in food every day, with ½ coming from dry feed, to slow digestion, and increase nutrient absorption.
With the smallest of systems, that is enough to feed 350-500 chickens, daily, or 19 full-grown dairy goats, or 2 full grown 1100-pound horses. A micro system like I describe above, sells for approximately $1600 from a hydroponics manufacturer but all you really need is closed-end trays, burlap, and a water delivery system that collects as run-off. The “waste” water can be used as water for livestock and poultry or to water in ground crops. Animals love the flavorful and nutritious water recovered after watering the seeds. The same system can grow an alternate crop, i.e. lemon grass, which sells for up to $8.00/ quart as juice, mustard greens, bean sprouts, etc., all of which are marketable crops.
Be creative, design you own, and you can produce feed for your animals for pennies a day.