The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Berkshire Boy on January 12, 2012, 10:20:01 pm
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Just seen an advert in my local paper for whey from a local cheesemaker and was wondering how much I can give them.
Should it be used as a supplement or can it replace some feed. How much whey would replace how much feed?
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i thought if u fed whey, it had to be from ur own cows and from ur own farm? i would reduce the hard feed. we are hoping to try it when our heifers calves this summer.
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i was sure you had to get approval before feeding whey there used to be a lot of piggery's close to cheese plants but not now the cheese manufacturer should know the protein content of there whey :farmer:
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The 'Newcastle document' says of whey that:
- it should be fed either consistently fresh or consistently sour (so the pigs' digestions are used to the microbes therein)
- plenty of water should be available as the whey will be salty
- the dry matter is 6%, crude protein is 0.9%, lysine 0.06%
- replace hard feed at the rate of 15 litres whey per kg compound feed replaced
- sows can drink up to 60L per day but weaned pigs should be introduced gradually to 2-3kg/head/day, up to a max of 10L per head per day for finishing pigs, which will replace about 0.8kg compound feed
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Quote from Defra new pig keeping guide
Current legislation also imposes strict controls banning the feeding of other
materials of animal origin or products containing them to farmed animals.
There are however a small number of exceptions to this, and the following
materials may be fed to pigs:
• Liquid milk or colostrum may be fed to pigs kept on the same holding
as that on which the milk or colostrum originated;
•............ and
• Milk, milk products and white water when suitably treated.[doesn;t say what suitable treatment means!]
Please note that anyone obtaining waste milk, milk products or white water to feed to their pigs would need to register with Defra for this purpose, although, in the case of milk products, this would only be necessary it they contained more than 80% milk. Details on how to register are available from either the Defra helpline (08459 33 55 77) or the internet (http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfa (http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfa) rm/byproducts/guidance/register.htm).
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do u still need to register if its from your own cows?
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Thanks everyone for the info. I phoned the guy the next day but someone had beaten me to it. To be honest with the collecting of it etc I was wondering if it was worth it.
I think I will go down Harry's route and try the local brewers see if the have anything. :thumbsup: