Towerview takes their feeding to new heights
Towerview is located in Cypress County between Redcliff and Suffield, just south of the #1 Highway. The ranch has been continuously producing quality cattle since its inception in 1992. In 2002 Gary began his purebred Gelbvieh program and in 2015 Towerview became incorporated. The ranch is run by Gary and Kerry Pahl and their daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Marc Van Ewijk. They market 100 commercial calves each fall, as well as purebred bulls each spring and purebred heifers. They hold their online bull sale for their purebred 2 year old bulls each year around the middle of March. This year it will be held on March 17th-18th on DLMS FarmGate Timed Auctions. Gary and Kerry consign to and attend the Wish List sale every year and are proud sponsors for the Junior Incentive breeders purse. They also enjoy attending the National Junior show every year. This year they sponsored the Gelbvieh Champion bull at Farm Fair. Kerry was elected onto the Gelbvieh Association of Alberta/BC board at their 2023 AGM in Stettler, AB. She looks forward to participating and contributing to the promotion of the Gelbvieh breed as a board member. Towerview was also honoured to accept the Gelbvieh Association of AB/BC Purebred Breeder of the Year award for 2023.
In the summer of 2023 Gary and Kerry decided to produce hydroponically grown fodder for their cattle because they could control the environment, thus reducing their need to purchase feed on years of low moisture or less than desirable growing conditions. In years of adequate moisture, they plan to stockpile their own feed crops in addition to producing their fodder. This will enable them to have a constant feed supply every year. Producing their own fodder will reduce feed costs, mineral and supplement costs, fuel costs, wear and tear on farm equipment. Gary said “The cattle will be healthier and more attractive to potential buyers. It will enable us to be selfsufficient and increase our productivity.”
Once Gary and Kerry purchased the hydroponic system from Sky Greens Canada to grow the fodder, they began the extensive preparation process which included renovating their existing quonset. Adding insulation, purchasing and hauling in gravel for the floor, adding two furnaces and power and replacing the sliding doors with a solid front and overhead door were improvements that had to be made. These changes along with a ventilation fan ensured they would have an adequate environment between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the ability to maintain the appropriate humidity. They also purchased a 2500-gallon water tank and built a small wooden bin for seed storage. Kerry said “Growing fodder from Barley seed gives us the ability to grow feed for our cattle in an environmentally controlled building thus reducing our inability to control the weather/moisture conditions and reducing the need to buy feed in years of drought when our own feed crops fail.”
Fodder, by definition, is a type of food for cattle or other livestock. It can be grown from barley, red wheat or oats. It is essentially sprouted grain seed. The Pahl’s chose this type of feed to produce because it is undeniably beneficial for all livestock, not just cattle. It reduces operating costs while maximizing production capability and increases overall revenues.
By using this vertical hydroponic farming system, they can produce fodder yearround for their cattle, if need be. It is a solution to erratic climate conditions including drought like we are currently experiencing. The Towerview land base is strictly dryland with no access to irrigation water. Using this vertical hydroponic system allows them to essentially irrigate a crop which they could not otherwise do. Gary said “We believe this will be essential to the future success and sustainability of our Ranch as these severely dry conditions are becoming more frequent.”
This highly efficient system uses towers that hold trays for the seed to grow on without the need for soil and an automated irrigation system that provides the seeds with water and rotates up to 6 times daily. Fodder is harvested daily on a 7-day cycle. They will be using 14 of these 3 meter towers. Two towers are harvested daily to produce 2280 lbs of feed. Each tower has 12 trays that are divided into 3 sections. Each section is harvested like rolls of lawn sod. These sections include the root mass and eight inches of barley growth. The Pahl’s then load the sections of fodder into the back of the side x side. They are able to haul one tower worth of fodder, 1140lbs, at a time.
The cattle love their new feed source, it is like candy. Kerry said “The cows come running when they hear the side x side and they are eating it out of the back before we can get it parked.” Their 30 purebred cows receive 1 whole tower of fodder per day (1140lbs). They have 8 2 Year-Old Purebred Bulls receiving 316 lbs per day, 5 mature ranch bulls receiving 316lbs per day, 14 purebred heifer calves getting 158lbs per day and 14 purebred bull calves getting 316lbs per day. The commercial cows are not being fed any fodder at this point. The fodder is fed alongside straw for roughage and depending on the weather they may also feed some dry hay as well.
Once the fodder is harvested any leftover seed that didn’t germinate is vacuumed up out of the trays and fed to the chickens. They purchase their barley seed from Pat Fabian of Fabian Seed Farms Inc. located near Tilley, AB. The barley seed is soaked with water overnight in small garden wagons. The water drained off from this process is fed to the pigs and they love it. Nothing is wasted. Each tray is filled with 15-20lbs of seed and the 7 day automated process begins. No fertilizer is required. The fodder is harvested at 7 days because that is when the plant reaches the max production and nutrition value based on the energy of the seed itself.
There are many positives for the livestock from fodder produced by this method. Fodder provides valuable nutrition when fresh pasture is not available or when feed crops fail. It provides fresh feed during winter months making it a valuable feed all year long. For example, fodder produced from barley seed has an increased amount of protein, is easier for the cattle to digest, they eat less and therefore produce about 20% less manure, it increases fertility by reducing the dietary starches. It also boosts the animals’ immune system which leads to increased longevity and lifespan while improving their behaviour and temperament. Fodder can be fed to sheep, horses, pigs and chickens as well.
A vertical farming system requires daily attention. Everything must be checked and the environment maintained to be suitable for optimal production.
Kerry said “If we ever decided to not use the system to produce fodder we can explore other applications like bedding out plants or vegetables. We could also sell fodder off the farm for other animals.”
Once the fodder system was in place they calculated it costs approximately $60$70 per ton when all expenses are totalled up which is a significant savings from the $300/ton hay they had to purchase. Gary said “This is why we feel the hydroponic system will pay for itself in 2-3 years.”
The Pahl’s innovation, on finding a reliable feed source, has meant they are able to continue living on the ranch doing what they love to do. They have developed a secure and sustainable feed crop for their livestock.
Kerry said “We are passionate about the breed and try to attend other breeders’ sales to support as many as we can.”