Objective

:To evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of goat supplementation with hydroponic Zea mays L., cv. Trueno in the Santa Elena province, in Ecuador.

Materials and Methods

:The annual yield of a shed with 104 m2 productive (four floors on 105 m2 built) with different nutritional solutions and planting seasons. With these results the annual harvest cycles to sustain the flock were estimated. The economic returns of four scenarios estimated for the Santa Elena region were compared: A) real current conditions of goat holders (extensive grazing), B) self-funding of the total investment, C) without subsidy and a shed donated by some organization and D) only one non-reimbursable subsidy of 70 % of the initial investment.

Results

:The variables fresh weight, dry weight and dry matter percentage of the hydroponic corn forage showed significant effect of the cultivation season. It would not be necessary to add fertilizer to the irrigation solution. The crude protein contents were high (15,7 and 18,5 %). The financial projection to five years, with an estimated annual production of 14 643,2 kg of hydroponic green forage had a cost of 1 521,50 USD and determined a cost per kilo of produced fresh forage of 0,11 USD. The scenarios B to D, which included supplementation with hydroponic forage, reached twice the weight at sale in 37 % of the time.

Conclusions

:The utilization of the non-reimbursable state subsidy, and even more if the contribution of the infrastructure of the greenhouse is received, would boost the goat production of the region and could achieve the change of a culture of goat holders by obtaining a benefit/cost ratio between 1,04 and 1,68 (scenarios C and D).

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