Viabilidad económica del uso de forraje verde hidropónico como suplemento alimenticio en bovinos de ceba: estudio de caso en la Finca La Daniela (Villavicencio, Meta).

Abstract

Beef cattle production in tropical regions faces significant challenges associated with climate variability, declining pasture availability and quality, and increasing feeding costs, all of which negatively affect productive performance and farm profitability. In this context, hydroponic green fodder (HGF) has emerged as a technological alternative to supplement cattle diets during periods of forage scarcity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic feasibility of using hydroponic green fodder as a dietary supplement in a beef cattle production system at La Daniela Farm, located in Pompeya district, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia. The research followed a quantitative approach with a descriptive-comparative scope and an experimental design. Twenty beef cattle were randomly assigned to two groups of ten animals each: a control group fed under the conventional grazing system and an experimental group supplemented daily with 15 kg of hydroponic green fodder for 90 days. Productive indicators, including average daily weight gain and final body weight, were evaluated together with economic indicators such as implementation costs, operating costs, gross margin, net profit, profitability, and break-even point. The results showed that the supplemented group achieved an average daily weight gain of 1.26 kg, compared with 0.86 kg in the control group, representing a 46.5% increase. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between treatments (p < 0.05). From an economic perspective, the implementation of the hydroponic green fodder system required a total investment of COP $2,970,000, generating a gross margin of COP $1,260,000, a net profit of COP $810,000, and a profitability of 27.3%, exceeding the break-even point established for the project. It is concluded that hydroponic green fodder represents a technically feasible and economically viable alternative for supplementing beef cattle diets under conditions similar to those evaluated in this study. Its implementation improves productive performance, increases profitability, and contributes to the sustainability and resilience of tropical livestock production systems facing climate variability.