One of the first questions that come up when we talk to customers shopping for a fodder system is “what do I need in terms of a building, and how much space does your fodder system require?” FodderTech fodder systems don’t have any special requirements in terms of facilities other than a sufficiently large space where temperature and humidity levels can be carefully controlled.
Many of our customers utilize an existing barn or building. Here is a steel building which a rancher has recently repurposed as a fodder shed with a 2.5 ton per day FodderTech system:
This steel building has been repurposed as a fodder shed.
The only modification needed was to install double walls and insulation. The size was almost perfect for the system. There’s no electricity at this location, so the building as been outfitted with a propane generator and will shortly be equipped with solar panels. The energy requirements aren’t that great; the system itself needs to run its pumps about six times per day, and of course HVAC and a dehumidifier. The bay doors on this building are nice, because they can back a trailer or pickup right up to the unit and slide the fodder mats right out onto it.
A propane generator powers this fodder shed.
This building is a little tall, which is nice for air circulation, but an eight foot ceiling is adequate.
Our fodder trays are mounted on wheeled racks which one person can easily move around provided you have a nice smooth concrete floor. A floor drain is convenient, but the system doesn’t require a special drainage system.
The system circulates water from a holding tank and doesn’t need to be connected to a continuous water source. So you only need to drag in a hose every few days to refill the tank.
Steel buildings like this one are great, but any well-insulated frame building, warehouse, garage or basement space will do. People sometimes ask about greenhouses. Greenhouses can be tricky. Too much light can actually cause your fodder to develop more root than shoot. We’ve designed the system to produce fodder with tall shoots, where the fodder packs a stronger nutritional punch. In addition, it can be difficult to keep greenhouses sufficiently cool. To much warmth can produce mold
Here is a table with a few of our systems with space requirements:
| Model* # | Optimal (ft) |
| 125W | 8 ft. x 12 ft. = 96 sq. ft. |
| 250W | 8 ft. x 20 ft. = 160 sq. ft. |
| 500W | 12 ft. x 20 ft. = 240 sq. ft. |
| 750W | 16 ft. x 20 ft. = 320 sq. ft. |
| 1000W | 14 ft. x 34 ft. = 476 sq. ft. |
| 1250W | 28 ft. x 20 ft. = 560 sq. ft. |
| 1500W | 18 ft. x 34 ft. = 612 sq. ft. |
| 1750W | 36 ft. x 20 ft. = 720 sq. ft. |
| 2000W | 22 ft. x 34 ft. = 748 sq. ft. |
*The model number references the capacity in terms of pounds per day of fodder the system can produce.
