As a practice in improving the environmental impact of production, organic livestock farmers often explore non-traditional feed crops that can support soil health while practically feeding and bedding their animals. A recent study found that replacing half the corn in typical pig diets with organic hybrid rye did not significantly change several important pork qualities including carcass weight, backfat thickness, color, marbling, tenderness, or consumer preference. The study is the first of its kind to investigate alternatives to corn dominated feeds in organic systems and was spurred from recent interest in hybrid rye as a viable feed ingredient. Organic hybrid rye has a reputation for high yields and strong overwintering ability in addition to being a dual-purpose crop, feeding livestock and using straw by-product as bedding. 

To test the crop’s effects on organic pork, researchers raised 500 pigs according to National Organic Program standards at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center. The two experimental groups included one that received a control diet based primarily on corn and soybean meal, and a second that received a diet where organic hybrid rye replaced 50% of the corn. When pigs reached market weight, researchers measured various carcass characteristics, backfat thickness and other traits, in addition to assessing pork quality through color, marbling, and shear force, a physical measure of meat tenderness.

They found no significant differences in carcass traits or pork quality between pigs fed the control diet and pigs fed the rye diet. Additionally, consumer sensory evaluation that measured overall liking, flavor, texture, juiciness, toughness, and off-flavor, also showed no meaningful differences between pork from control-fed and rye-fed pigs.

These findings suggest that organic farmers may be able to include hybrid rye in pig diets without compromising pork quality or consumer acceptance. Because hybrid rye can provide agronomic benefits, livestock feed, and bedding material, it may be a useful crop for diversified organic farms, and opens the door to the development of livestock feeds that include a larger diversity of crop species. Though future research is needed to determine the maximum amount of hybrid rye that can be included in organic swine diets while maintaining quality yield, this study demonstrates the production innovation that can come from organic farmers and scientists.  

Photos by Kenneth Schipper and Christopher Carson on Unsplash