The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Gregoz on August 30, 2016, 07:32:58 am

Title: Rowan Berries
Post by: Gregoz on August 30, 2016, 07:32:58 am

This year, in the Scottish Highlands, sees a huge crop of Rowan Berries.
I was thinking about picking them and feeding them to the pigs
Anyone know of any reasons why I should/ should not?

GB

Title: Re: Rowan Berries
Post by: harmony on August 30, 2016, 09:40:01 am

Yes, the trees here also have a huge crop. Don'y know the answer to your question though but I believe they are poisonous to dogs. Obviously birds love them.

Title: Re: Rowan Berries
Post by: Gregoz on August 30, 2016, 10:51:14 am

Yeah, be great if we could as there are so many, even if they had to be cooked beforehand.
Hopefully someone else can advise

Title: Re: Rowan Berries
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on August 30, 2016, 11:28:22 am

Are these them?
http://en.heilkraeuter.net/herbs/rowan-berry.htm (http://en.heilkraeuter.net/herbs/rowan-berry.htm)
http://www.naturetalksandwalks.co.uk/are-rowan-berries-poisonous/ (http://www.naturetalksandwalks.co.uk/are-rowan-berries-poisonous/)
http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=70594 (http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=70594)
Make sure they are rowanberries though and maybe speak to a specialist beforehand to see.

Title: Re: Rowan Berries
Post by: Bionic on August 30, 2016, 12:03:39 pm

I am struggling to find info about rowan berries and pigs although did see that they are poisonous to dogs. So unless someone give some more definite answer then I wouldn't risk it.

I have made Rowan jelly before now. The colour was lovely but I wasn't keen on the taste. So my berries will be left to the birds again this year.

Title: Re: Rowan Berries
Post by: Tiva Diva on September 12, 2016, 09:09:41 pm

We have pigs which live in woodland that includes rowan. They eat the berries (and the wild cherries, hazlenuts and acorns!) with no ill effects - but that's in fairly small quantities.