Fermented Brewer's Grain Trials for Hog Feed

We're continuing our research collaborations between Stone Barns and Blue Hill staff, along with experts from our community. The Fermented Brewer's Grain Trials work to enhance the nutrition and shelf stability for our pigs' food-waste feed.
Did you know that our pigs are raised entirely on food waste? For the past six years, we have nourished our pigs with food scraps from the kitchen, field and greenhouse; leftover dairy from a local grocery store and fermented brewer's grain from local breweries.
There are environmental, nutritional and financial benefits for raising pigs on food waste. Growing feed for animals strains resources like land and water that could be applied towards growing crops for human consumption or towards conservation efforts. Additionally, a diverse diet of food scraps and brewer's grain is healthier for our pigs than a typical corn-based grain ration diet. And finally, by using food waste and spent brewer's grain, we are diverting these materials from landfills and lowering costs for purchasing animal feed or shipping these waste products off-site.
We learned that mixing enzymes into our fermented brewer's grain produced a feed source with a lower fiber content and sufficient nutritional value to be the cornerstone of the hogs' diet. The fermented grain is so nutritious and delicious that Pastry Chef Bill Yosses used them in cookies that had us rooting for more!
We also learned that a pig's ability to digest fiber varies by breed, with Asian pig breeds such as Meishan on the higher end of the spectrum. We connected with a Meishan breeder, Jonathan Kemmemer @oddbird.farm, and were delighted to introduce some Meishan piglets to Stone Barns at April's Lab Showcase.