PigManure Pontifications

PigManure has a highish ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen and potassium. It is valued as fertilizer, but not the exact right ratio necessary for direct field application. What to do, what to do…. combine it with other manures? compost with other materials? nay, i say, nay to that. and oink. It is said that scientists have already genetically modified new and improved transgenic pigs with manure that has 60% less phosphorus. porque? a savings of $1.14 per pig!

read all about it here at Enviropig (TM)

from a uk site:

Manure source	Nitrogen	Phosphorus	Potassium
Chicken	3.6	1.3	1.3
Dairy cattle	3.3	0.35	2
Goat	4	0.61	2.8
Bat guano	5.7	8.6	2
Horse	2.5	0.25	0.8
Human !	2	1	0.2
Pig	2.8	1	1.2
Rabbit	4.8	2.8	1.2
Sheep	3.5	0.55	1
Worm	1.5	2.5	1.5
Urea	45.0	0	0

i cannot help but notice that humans have a similar amount of phosphorus. perhaps those scientists should have spent some time first perfecting their own fecal balance. then they could have TradeMark’d themselves! EnviroMen! i mean, i wrote it first, but they can use it! then they can go on the same island with those govnmint contractors taking a hard advantage of iraq. at least they would all have compost.

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Later: found an article from Network of Aquaculture Centres
in Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, 1987:

http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/003/AC204E/AC204E00.htm

ABSTRACT

With chemical fertilizer (N,P) as control, comparative studies were made on the effects of fresh and fermented pig manure on fish production. The results indicated that fish production in ponds supplied with fresh pig manure was the highest, compared to those with fermented pig manure, or control ponds. It appeared that fish in fresh pig-manured ponds not only could utilize bacteria, detritus and plankton, but could also directly feed on pig manure; thus pig manure was utilized better and resulted in higher fish production.”

there is another with similar findings from vietnam. can’t find it now.

point is, here in the us, dietary supplements for pigs are standard, for faster growth and bigger pigs. its not about pigs, its about production. this transgenic pig is to counteract the increased phosphorus that was fed to the pig!

this is from a 4-h site about pigs, http://www.ics.uci.edu/~pazzani/4H/Pigs.html#feed :

“

Other good sources of feed are barley, oats, and wheat. But like corn. all these sources should be supplemented with protein supplements. Some people add antibacterial compounds to their feed to slow the growth of harmful bacteria that occurs naturally in most feeds. In low levels, these compounds increase the growth of pigs and lower feeding costs. They benefit younger pigs (under 100 to 125 pounds) more than finishing hogs. If you decide to use an antibacterial compound, make sure that you pay attention to the withdrawal period listed on the label (the withdrawal period is the amount of time that medicated feeds must be removed from a hog’s diet before slaughter).

Pigs weighing 40 to 125 pounds are referred to as growing pigs. From 125 pounds to market weight (about 230 pounds) pigs are called finishing pigs. As a pig grows, the total amount of dietary protein it needs each day also increases; pigs should be switched from the grower (nutrient dense/more protein) to the finisher (less dense) diet when they weigh about 125 pounds.”

…. now, looking up grower pig diet (http://www.rs.uky.edu/sections/feed/feedlabels/piggrow.pdf), and yup, phosphorus content 0.60%, ingredients list MonocalciumPhosphate and DicalciumPhosphate. i don’t know what those are. this would be easier with a tiddlyspot page…

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