Homestead All Natural Poultry Feeds from Hubbard Feeds

[greyfields]

Quote:
There is an egg producer here on the island who does soy free feeding for his meat chickens and egg layers. There is some evidence that feeding hens soy can lead to certain 'residues' in eggs which are problematic for people with soy allergies. Is there truth to it? I have no idea. Does it allow him to sell more chickens and eggs? Yes. Sometimes in farming you find your niche and you run with it.

He mixes all his own feeds. The only thing soy is used for in the feed is the protein component; in the form of soybean meal. This is the residue after the soybeans are pressed for oil. The remaining dry matter is 40-50% protein, so you mix it with your bulk grain sources for the desired protein %. Any seed meal will work. Locally, we often have linseed meal as an alternative. I think in different parts of the country, cottonseed meal can also be used.

Soy does get a somewhat bad rap I think. It's seen by many as a cheap product with possible side effects to human health. However, it is a leguminous crop which fixes nitrogen in the soil. This is good for soil fertility and farmers can use it as a 'break' from heavy feeding & fertilizing crops (which can be harmful to the overall ecology of a farm if over-grown). So, if not using a legume for a 'break' they would be growing a heavy feeding crop in its place. So, I stand up for soybeans! As long as they're not grown year after year on the same ground, I find nothing offensive about them.

 

[KrisRose]

Thanks for the info Greyfields. Since there is so much grain in chicken feed could this also be possible for others? In particular wheat?

 

[Cetawin]

Most often "protein source" and "Meat protein" and "Meat by products" is all the garbage leftover. It can range from pork, chicken, beef, deer, horse, goat or whatever they have handy.

Disgusting! I will check this feed out in my area. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[greyfields]

I'm pretty sure we've been over this with Jim and he assured us the feed lines he sells comes from porcine meal. Yes, it's power blasted off the carcass into a big drain, pressed, then turned into meal... but, at least he's certain there is no chicken in the chicken food.

Now, this isn't true of all feed lines!

Finally, I feed vegetarian chicken feed to mine, just to be certain they are not getting chicken. It's creepy and wrong. And I find it advantageous to tell my customers that my chickens have never been fed chicken.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Meat and Bone Meal is a good source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus for livestock feeds. With the FDA regulations regarding Specific Risk Materials (i.e. ruminant (cattle and sheep) products) are banned from ruminant feeds. To limit the chance of cross-contamination most full-line feed mills either do not use any meat and bone meal or use meat and bone meal from a known source such as Porcine or Poultry only.

With the BSE cases recently, the use of unknown Meat and Bone Meal is virtually non-existent in the US Feed Industry. This includes dogs and cats and road kill, these products make their way into the fertilizer industry.

Jim

 

[greyfields]

Can you say the same about cat & dog food though? I just saw a Western Family can the other day and for a chuckle I read the can. The seocnd ingredient after corn was "rendered animal product" or something completely vague.

Now, don't get defensive! I think your customers are rightfully alarmed about what goes into their pet and livestock feed. Do your best to get the information for us and you'll make yourself some new customers.

I do feed bonemeal to some of my birds as well as I use it in my organic fertilizer. I would say no harm comes from it... and broilers would probably benefit from the extra calcium/phosphours as it's one ingredient usually skimped on in broiler feed.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Meat and bone meal is a rendered animal product. I don't have my copy of the AAFCO regulations with me or I would provide you with the definition of "rendered animal products".

Many times we worry too much about what our animals eat. For example, I feed my hunting dogs Pro Plan Performance ration to keep weight on them and to provide a wholesome diet for them. Then they go out and eat horse manure and half rotten deer carcasses!!

JIm

 

[kstaven]

People have every right to be skeptics and ask questions. If you consider the garbage that has been and still is thrown into some animal and human food without declaring it.

"rendered animal product" is one of those labels that really needs further disclosure in my honest opinion. If it was listed as derived from ???? there would be a lot less questioning and far more consumer trust. Much like having a list of what grains are used in the product.

I know it is common in the industry to use generic terms. But in the long run a little more detail in labeling could go a long way toward establishing trust and a better consumer relationship. I am surprised in this day and age, and considering the fanaticism and media sensationalization, that marketing people haven't twigged to the simple concept of providing better breakdowns of ingredients.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
I can not answer the use of the generic term of "Rendered Animal Product" since I don't use it.

To bring this thread back to the original purpose, the All-natural Homestead line of feeds from Hubbard Feeds do not contain render animal products nor antibiotics.

Jim

 

[dlhunicorn]

Hi Jim... I live in Holland and here rendered /animal protein is forbidden in poultry feeds ... (we have had many discussions on the pros and cons of animal protein in poultry feeds over at the other BYC location (Rob has the link on the website page here) On the one hand, after looking into but a few of the articles about "rendered animal protein" (mainly the problem isnt with the theory but in the practice >>>the inevitable "mistakes" which occur during the processing, transport and storage of said products) I like having the opportunity to choose and provide the protein myself (which in my case is insect based and not from a mammal source >>> I must admit I was not happy with the results of our feeds without this addition)...
Your feed(Hubbard/Homestead) seems one of the few guaranteeing there is no rendered protein used is this correct? My other question is :
Does the hubbard/Homestead poultry feeds product also use non-GM grains? (If not then Hubbard should really look into this... I know it is a huge point here and ppl will pay premium price to ensure a non GM product is used )