The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: david c on September 04, 2016, 01:18:50 am
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The NFU conference in the spring gave the game away re animal feed and gm soya. It horrified me that gm is in virtually all non organic animal feeds.
I'm pleased to see a Dutch company is looking at ways to provide alternative non gm protein. However, its got me looking at alternative feeds. Organic is too expensive. I've been looking at options such as sprouting and fermenting grains to increase feed utilisation and digestibility. Anyone doing or tried this? Is there a price advantage selling pork from pigs that have not been fed gm.
Cheers
David
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If it is in almost all non organic animal feed hasn't the train left the station?
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Sometimes you just have to sigh and do your best to avoid such things but accept it may not be possible.
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Well there are obviously other ways to feed, not just proprietary feeds. Fermented and spouted grains look like an option. No one tried this?
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Things which continue to ferment in the gut can sometimes cause problems and grains are more likely to lead to excess fat if fed in large amounts. Add to that the need for mixing licence etc and I think it's far easier for most folk to buy bagged feed (we always did).
Google Newcastle document for lots of advice on alternative protein sources and advice on trace elements. Or get kunekune ;) they're much less reliant on bagged feed as they'll graze.
HTH
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At time of writing, Newcastle document here linky (http://www.britishpigs.org/Newcastle_handbook_of_raw_materials.pdf)