Hydroponically grown fodder, when provided to animals in appropriate quantities as part of their diet, has been observed to potentially increase milk yield. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors:

1. Nutrient Density: Hydroponically grown fodder can be nutritionally dense, providing animals with a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. This improved nutrient profile can contribute to better overall health and productivity in animals, potentially leading to increased milk production.
2. Digestibility: Hydroponically grown fodder is often more digestible compared to conventionally grown fodder due to its tender, young growth stage and high moisture content. Improved digestibility means animals can efficiently extract nutrients from the fodder, maximizing their nutrient utilization for milk production.
3. Consistency and Quality: Hydroponic systems allow for precise control over growing conditions, resulting in consistent quality and year-round availability of fodder. This consistency ensures that animals receive a steady supply of high-quality feed, which can positively impact their overall health and productivity.
4. Reduced Contaminants: Hydroponic systems are less susceptible to soil-borne contaminants and pollutants, which can sometimes affect the quality of conventionally grown fodder. By eliminating soil from the growing process, hydroponically grown fodder may contain fewer contaminants, promoting better animal health and potentially leading to increased milk yield.
5. Water Content: Hydroponically grown fodder typically has a higher water content compared to conventionally grown fodder. This increased moisture content can help animals stay hydrated and maintain optimal milk production levels.
6. Balanced Nutrient Ratios: Hydroponic systems allow for precise control over nutrient solutions, ensuring that fodder contains balanced ratios of essential nutrients required for optimal animal health and milk production.

“Milk yield and productivity Studies on the improvement of milk production through hydroponic fodder feeding show improvement than animals fed cereal grains, hay, or silage. Hydroponic fodder increase milk yield by 10.07% in dairy cows (Salo, S., 2019). Canadian dairy farmers also indicate the increase in feed intake of their cows after feeding hydroponic fodder and improve their milk yield by 3.6kg per day over the lactation period. Moreover, farmers from South Africa reported a drop of 3.6 liters of milk after a leave off of 6.8 kg fed per day (Shit, 2019; Mooney, 2005).”

 Refer to the paper here