Swine manure may help the environment

Pig farming produces large quantities of waste, some of
which has nutrient value which can be used on crops as a fertiliser, but not all
manure contents are ideal for crop use.

Soil scientist Brian Wienhold
said most of the phosphorus in traditional corn fed to pigs is in the substance
phytate. Pigs lack a chemical in their bodies to break down phytate. Most of the
phosphorus in traditional corn feed passes through the animal without
processing, and is expelled in the manure, which in turn damages the
environment.

Researchers, therefore monitored different swine diets and
the resulting effects of the slurry used on crops, and concluded that swine fed
low-phytate corn diets resulted in slower build-up of phosphorus in the soil. At
the same time, it did not reduce the availability of the phosphorus to the
crops.

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