According to the EU regulations, organic farming will be obliged to provide feed derived from 100% organic origin by 2021. To assure the sustainability of the feed supply, the regional feeds and raw materials shall be preferred. It is necessary to look for mutually beneficial collaborations with the organic sector stakeholders, such as the food industry.
Whey is an alternative source of high-quality protein for fattening pigs (figure 1). It can supply one-third of their protein needs. At the same time whey is an important by-product of the cheese producers, as it represents approximately 70 to 80 % of the milk volume. Collaboration of organic cheese companies with the nearby organic farms can be mutually beneficial.
Geographical coverage
Farms close to an organic cheese factory.
Application time
Year-round (more availability during spring and summer).
Required time
None; but no more than two days of storage.
Period of impact
3 to 6 months, depending on the slaughtering age and weight.
Equipment
Special equipment is needed, such as an automatic system for liquid feeding and two storage tanks, so that they can be cleaned between batches. Other cheaper option is tanks (these can be portable) connected to drinking troughs (figure 2). High salt conte
Best in
Growers and fattening pigs.
Publishers:Asociación Valor Ecológico – Ecovalia,
ES41013Sevilla,
Phone ,
info@ecovalia.org,
www.ecovalia.orgUniversidad de Córdoba, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, Departa-mento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria,
ES14071Córdoba,
Phone ,
,
www.uco.esResearch Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL),
CH5070Frick,
Phone +41 62 865 72 72,
info.suisse@fibl.org,
www.fibl.orgIFOAM Organics Europe,
BE1000Brussels,
Phone +32 2 280 12 23,
www.organicseurope.bio,
www.organicseurope.bio
Review: Lindsay Whistance, Organic Research Centre, UK, Lauren Dietemann, FiBL Switzerland, Helga Willer, FiBL Switzerland
Contact: vrestevez@uco.es
https://orgprints.org/view/projects/OKNetEcoFeed.html
This practice abstract was elaborated in the Organic Knowledge Network on Monogastric Animal Feed project. The project is running from January 2018 to December 2020. The overall aim of OKNet EcoFeed is to help farmers, breeders and the organic feed processing industry in achieving the goal of 100% use of organic and regional feed for monogastrics.
Project website: https://ok-net-ecofeed.eu/
IFOAM Organics Europe (project coordinator), BE; Aarhus University (ICROFS), DK; Organic Research Centre (ORC), UK; Institut Technique de l'Agriculture Biologique (ITAB), FR; Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), CH; Bioland, DE; Associazione Italiana perl'Agricoltura Biologica (AIAB), IT; Donau Soja DS, AT; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE; ECOVALIA, ES; Soil Association, UK.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 773911. This communication only reflects the author’s view. The Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided. The authors and editors do not assume responsibility or liability for any possible factual inaccuracies or damage resulting from the application of the recommendations in this practice abstract