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Author Topic: Feeding potato plants  (Read 13402 times)

oink

  • Joined Feb 2009
Feeding potato plants
« on: July 06, 2010, 04:27:20 pm »
I've just harvested my early potatoes and was wondering if I can give the plants (stems, leaves etc) to the pig.  I know that green potatoes can be poisonous and I have a vague  recollection of hearing that the stems can also be poisonous so I thought I'd see if anybody else knows.

Cheers guys

Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2010, 08:59:37 pm »
No Dont.

Thanks
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langdon

  • Joined Sep 2009
  • Pembrokeshire
  • The Happy Smallholder!
Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2010, 09:52:31 pm »
very short answer ???
Langdon ;)

Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2010, 11:08:16 pm »
Sorry, Yes it was a short answer - I will rephrase:

No Don't do it  ;D
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Hilarysmum

  • Joined Oct 2007
Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2010, 08:34:53 am »
Personally I wouldnt even feed raw potatoes.  One of my customers lost a really lovely sow because she choked on one.

oink

  • Joined Feb 2009
Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2010, 09:57:56 am »
Bloody hell, as no one really gave a reason I did some research and apparently they can kill you!

Admittedly its only from WikiAnswers but it does seem right;

   "Yes, they are poisonous. Potato leaves, flowers, sprouts and green or "sun-scalded" potatoes contain a glycoalkaloid that is a natural defense mechanism to protect the plant from predators. I believe the name of the glycoalkaloid is solanine, and is also found in the leaves of tomatoes. I do not advise this, but you can leave a potato in the sunlight for some days until it turns green. Then cook and eat it. You probably won't die, but the headache you'll get might make you wish you had. Solanine toxic effects tarket the gastrointestinal, liver, heart. Eating potato leaves can, in fact, kill you. "

Fowgill Farm

  • Joined Feb 2009
Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2010, 11:10:45 am »
Hi
We don't feed potato tops, sugar beet tops or parsnip tops to any of our pigs as although not life threateningly poisonous they will as i understand make them exceedingly poorly.
We only feed raw potatos shredded up to our older stock never fatteners ( their digestive system can't cope) and we never give parsnips to pregnant pigs, think i read this in Andy Case's book as too much can cause miscarriage. In fact he has a good list of 'wild' food do's and don't in his book.
HTH

Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2010, 01:27:24 pm »
Hence:

Quote
No Don't do it
;D
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langdon

  • Joined Sep 2009
  • Pembrokeshire
  • The Happy Smallholder!
Re: Feeding potato plants
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2010, 06:20:23 pm »
thats better ;D
Langdon ;)

 

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