Grassa and Livar collaborate on sustainable pig feed

Livar, known for its Limburg monastery pigs, is partnering with Grassa, the innovative and sustainable grass processing concept. The partnership is aimed at supplying high-quality protein derived from Limburg grass to piglets. Adding the grass protein to the piglets' feed is an important step towards a sustainable and circular food chain.

Livar pigs are raised on cereals sourced from their own region. Adding high-quality proteins extracted by Grassa from locally produced grass to pig feed puts even more emphasis on local raw materials. Protein extracted from Limburg grass is a source of nutrients with a high-quality amino acid profile and lower CO2 emissions than many regular protein sources.

Effects of new feed

Besides locally produced food, Livar attaches great importance to producing tasty meat. Adding high-quality proteins to their pigs' rations contributes to this. In the past year, trials were conducted at Livar with adding Grassa protein to piglet feed and positive results followed. The growth of Livar pigs remains the same with this change in diet.

Looking to the future

Work will continue in the coming period to test and develop the use of grass protein in sow feed. In time, we will also look at another end product of Grassa, decorticated grass, for application in roughage. In this way, both parties aim to further develop the sustainable and circular food chain.

 Grassa is proud that Livar is embracing their grass protein. "The collaboration between Grassa and Livar fits with the agreements we have in the field of locally produced food," said Bob Lambrechts, Commercial Director of Grassa. "It's great that Livar wants to walk the road to a sustainable and circular future with us."

They are also enthusiastic at Livar. "In the barn, we saw that the piglets liked the feed with Grassa protein and ate well. In terms of growth and health, we saw no differences. Only the greener colour of the manure shows that the piglets are fed feed with grass protein," says Rik Verheijen, farm manager pig farmer at Livar. In terms of sustainability and CO2 reduction, this cooperation is a major step forward.

www.grassa.nl
www.livar.nl