Novel feeds for organic pigs and poultry

Supply of affordable high quality protein supplements is critical for organic pig and poultry production. The main dietary challenge for organic pig and poultry production is ensuring that the diet fulfils the nutrient requirements, particularly in terms of balanced amino acid supply. In this project, two novel on-farm produced protein supplements with good amino acid profile and digestibility will be developed, that allow Finnish organic farmers to exploit the resources of their own feed production based on forage and grain legumes.

The first novel feed solution is grass protein concentrate / grass paste. In this approach, clover containing grass is harvested, and by using a mechanical screw press, divided into liquid and solid fractions. The liquid is let to sediment either by natural lactic acid fermentation or by inclusion of formic acid to produce grass paste with elevated protein content and reduced water and mineral contents, which greatly improves the usability of it in animal diets.

The second innovative approach develops the use of crimped ensiled pulse seeds. Crimping and ensiling moist grains is a well-established method in feed preservation for cattle. It brings flexibility in harvesting and saves costs and energy when seeds do not need to be dried. Crimping and ensiling of seeds may have additional benefits for monogastric nutrition as fermentation during preservation has decreased anti-nutritional factors in faba beans and markedly improved the digestibility of amino acids in broiler chicken. The novelty in the current proposal is to use the grass whey (also called brown juice), e.g., the liquid on top of the sedimented grass paste, as the additive for the crimped pulse seeds.

The objectives are to demonstrate the production of two novel protein supplements suitable for feeding in organic poultry and pig production to better fulfil the requirements of essential amino acids. Both methods rely on on-farm produced raw materials with processing methods that are feasible at farm level. In this way feeding of legume-based forages and pulses can be brought to a new level to promote organic pig and poultry production.

Access to organically approved cost-effective on-farm produced protein feeds would remove a substantial barrier for the expansion of Finnish organic pig and poultry production. The self-sufficiency at farm level as well as nationally would decrease the dependency of imported soya bean protein. Decentralised protein feed production would increase the resilience of the food system faced with global crises and make the farmers less vulnerable to volatile feed prices.