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Alternative feed sources for pigs
With feed prices at an all time high it is tempting to
look for alternatives. Some leftover products from the food industry might be an
option for animal feed.
However, not all products are allowed to be used in commercial animal feed.
According to DEFRA in the UK a farmer is not allowed to use kitchen waste or
catering waste.
It is important not to risk feeding any meat products back to your pigs
but there are some waste products that you can feed.
But what about
milk, milk based products, bakery products, pasta, chocolate, sweet and similar
products being fed to livestock? Milk and milk based products and biscuits,
bakery waste, pasta, chocolate, sweet and similar products contain ingredients,
such as rennet or melted fat, milk or eggs, which have been incorporated in
those products but which are not the main ingredient can be fed to livestock.
However, adequate measures must be in place to ensure against cross
contamination by meat and other products of animal origin. One bakery in the UK
has already been in touch with the British Pig Association.
Alternative raw materials
There are also lots of
other raw materials that you can feed to pigs. Professor Sandra Edwards of
Newcastle University has produced a handbook for feeding organic pigs which has
recommendations on the use of Silage, Sugar Beet, Potatoes, Brewers Grains etc.
here is also a BPEX leaflet Alternative
Feeds for Pigs - Knowing the risks .
Related
websites:
• British Pig
Association
• DEFRA
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