The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: danconfessed on February 03, 2014, 02:34:26 pm

Title: Hops
Post by: danconfessed on February 03, 2014, 02:34:26 pm

Hi all,

I have managaed to find a supplier of spent grain from a local brewery.  He is asking me if the pigs can eat the hops or should he remove them from the grain??  Has anyone done this before?

Also what sort of quantities can I feed them.  All are breeding sows/ gilts / boars

Many thanks!!

Dan

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: oaklandspigs on February 03, 2014, 03:12:59 pm

Pigs don't like hops, so if he'll remove them before you get the grain, that would be good !

Nutrition-wise - Not for lactating sows or piglets, but look at the Newcastle guide for sows/boars and growers/finishers.

http://www.britishpigs.org.uk/Newcastle_handbook_of_raw_materials.pdf (http://www.britishpigs.org.uk/Newcastle_handbook_of_raw_materials.pdf)

Ours have some from a micro brewery

 

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: Olly398 on February 03, 2014, 06:49:10 pm

In normal brewing practice, the malt is mashed first with hot water, then the liquid that is strained off (called wort) is boiled with the hops. Hence the spent malt and hops needn't come into contact with each other, so it should be a case of the brewer not simply combining rather than removing them. They are extremely bitter and astringent so no wonder pigs don't like them  :o

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: danconfessed on February 04, 2014, 09:10:53 am

Thanks Olly, and Oaklands

I spoke to the chap and he said the same.  Just that the first bag ready was already mixed with the hops.

I will let you know what they think