Guag Meister wrote: > Hi Keith ; > > Quick update for you about our pigdozer project. Our previous system for > preparing a field for planting was the normal Cambodia way : > > 1) Plow in dry season to upturn roots and kill them. > 2) Wait for some rain, this will germinate the remaining weed seeds. > 3) Plow again. > 4) Plow one more time before wet season to level for planting. > > This always infuriated me, because the naked earth was baking under the hot > sun during the dry season. This KILLS the soil. But the concept was lost on > them. They could see no other way to kill the weeds. > > We set up an electric fence. There was a bit of a learning experinence for > the pigs, but they are not stupid. Now they will not touch the fence. My > staff report that they could be running away from something and they stop at > the fence like a car puts on brakes. > > We flood the field with water every two days. The pigs kill the grass and > dig out all the strong roots of bamboo and other plants. Their weight is > increasing, but slower than if fed by commercial feed. We also let them eat > oil palm fruits, which they accept readily. They also love breadfruit, and > we planted local water spinach and just let them get it by themselves. > > We hit a bell when we give them table rice scraps in the evening. They follow > the guy with the bell like puppy dogs. If they ever do get out of the fence, > we hit the bell and the pigs come running. > > Everyone is amazed, even the guy that took care of pigs for many years. He > never thought it possible for the pigs to follow him around like puppy dogs. > The report back is that the rice is growing VERY well in the area dug by the > pigs. This is making big news with the locals. > > Now I get a wet, dug, and fertilized field without doing any work, without > killing the soil, and without spending any money on diesel or pig food, and I > get pig meat (and biogas later when we get to it). > > Fantastic! > > Best Regards, > > Peter G. > Thailand > www.gac-seeds.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): > http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > Hi Peter, congrat for the achievement! My uncle had some 80 pigs or so and they have been kept in a half open stall.The sleeping area was with a ligtly heatet tilefloor and the r was a sort of gullyarea where the pigs did their manurething.this was kind of selfcleanig. I have never seen a pigplace as clean and almost no smell at all! The pasture was with real black earth and a little pond was there so they could get nice dirty! Pigs are smart! Fritz
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