Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4
Volume 1
Number 3 March, 1960 Article 14
1-1-1960
Feeding pickled wheat to pigs Feeding pickled wheat to pigs
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
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Department of Agriculture, Western Australia (1960) "Feeding pickled wheat to pigs," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 1: No. 3, Article 14.
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PICKLED WHEAT
to PIGS
(CONTRIBUTED BY THE VETERINARY BRANCH)
"INQUIRIES are frequently received from farmers asking whether it is safe to feed -•• pickled wheat to pigs, a n d if so, t h e quantities which would be suggested. Until very recently there was n o experimental information on t h e safety or possible dangers of these w h e a t pickling agents, b u t feeding trials completed last year a t t h e Animal Health a n d Nutrition Laboratory, Nedlands, have provided some of t h e answers to t h e s e questions.
The trials were conducted in p a r t by the Senior Veterinary Pathologist (M. R.
Gardiner, D.V.M.), a n d in p a r t by J.
Armstrong, B.V.Sc, who is now located a t Albany as District Veterinary Officer.
The four pickling a g e n t s in common use at t h e present time a r e as follows:—
Copper carbonate.
Ceresan (Organic Mercury Compound).
Fernesan (Tetramethyl thiuram disulphide
—TMTD).
Hexabunt (Hexachlorbenzene C«C16).
Pickling was carried out at t h e s t a n d a r d rates of 2 oz, t o t h e bushel a n d four groups of young pigs (slips a n d light porkers) were fed t h e following rations,
which incidentally provided 18 per c e n t . protein.
lb.
Pickled wheat 100 Meatmeal 15 Limestone 1 Salt i Vitamin "A" supplement.
The animals were kept under close daily observation and t h e information obtained at t h e termination of t h e feeding t r i a l s may be summarised t h u s :
Copper Carbonate Pickled Wheat.
Two pigs were fed for 70 days a n d 120 days respectively on a diet which c o m - prised approximately 87 per cent, pickled wheat, one eating 255 lb. (in 70 days) a n d
237
t h e other 355 lb. (within 120 d a y s ) . During this period t h e pigs thrived a n d showed no visible ill-effects. No abnormalities were detected a t post m o r t e m , b u t analysis of t h e i r livers showed dangerously high levels of stored copper, so m u c h so t h a t it was surprising t h a t t h e pigs did n o t develop copper poisoning.
Ceresan Pickled W h e a t .
Two pigs e a c h consumed 255 lb. w h e a t in 90 days. They thrived well a n d n e i t h e r showed a n y clinical ill-effects; n o carcass abnormalities were seen w h e n t h e a n i m a l s - were slaughtered. However, analysis of their livers a n d kidneys revealed m e r c u r i a l levels well above those p e r m i t t e d in food intended for h u m a n consumption.
Fernesan Pickled W h e a t .
Two pigs each a t e 269 lb. w h e a t in 61 days. T h e y grew satisfactorily a n d i n fact h a d weight gains of 53 lb. a n d 65 lb.
respectively over t h i s period. When t h e animals were post m o r t e m e d , a r e m a r k - able bright green discoloration of all t h e subcutaneous a n d visceral fat was seen, indicating fat storage of t h e F e r n e s a n . Hexabunt Pickled Wheat.
Two pigs e a c h consumed 329 lb. w h e a t in 71 days. T h e a n i m a l s thrived a n d showed weight gains of 50 lb. a n d 95 lb.
respectively over t h i s period. No visible abnormalities or discoloration of t h e c a r - casses were seen a t post m o r t e m , b u t analysis of liver, fat a n d muscle tissues revealed totals of organic chlorine well in excess of t h a t p e r m i t t e d in food i n t e n d e d for h u m a n use.
DISCUSSION
No signs of clinical i l l - h e a l t h , or adverse effects on weight gain, feed consumption or feed conversion were seen in groups of
young pigs fed on w h e a t containing four different pickling agents, a t t h e i n t a k e of t h e pickled wheat a t t a i n e d in each of t h e s e trials.
No visible post m o r t e m abnormalities were evident with t h e exception of t h e F e r n e s a n group which showed a r e m a r k -
able green carcass discoloration. S u c h green carcasses would of course be c o n - demned by m e a t inspectors as unfit for h u m a n consumption.
However, chemical analysis of t h e a n i m a l tissues revealed copper levels a s h i g h a s 4,400 p a r t s per million, m e r c u r y levels as h i g h as 300 p.p.m. a n d organic chlorine, calculated to B.H.C. levels, a s h i g h a s 1,000 p.p.m.
New Food and Drug Regulations a r e about to be gazetted u n d e r t h e provisions of the Health Act. These regulations will be in conformity w i t h those in o t h e r States, a n d will allow copper c o n c e n t r a - tions up to 30 p.p.m., a n d m e r c u r y con- centrations u p to 5.5 p.p.m., in m e a t a n d other foods. Livers a n d kidneys, a n d in all likelihood muscle a n d fat, from t h e pigs in question would therefore be unfit for h u m a n consumption.
F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e upper limit of toler- ance generally accepted for B.H.C. Is 5 p.p.m. a n d a n i m a l tissues w i t h h i g h e r B.H.C. levels would also be unfit for h u m a n use.
CONCLUSION
I t is quite clear t h a t t h e feeding of pickled w h e a t a t t h e levels described, whilst causing no obvious ill-effects i n young pigs, does lead to t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n of pickling residues in a n i m a l tissues a t levels considered a toxic h a z a r d for h u m a n s a n d far in excess of those p e r - mitted by t h e Public H e a l t h Regulations.
Their indiscriminate use for feeding pigs cannot therefore be recommended.
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238
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