Our Health
“Protein, vitamins and minerals are necessary for our health”.
Programs like Canadian Quality Assurance ( CQA*) provide guidelines to be followed for farmers to comply with to ensure our Food is Safe. This is just a starting point for the De Weterings as there is more to feeding their animals than just quality feed.
By building their own on farm feed mill the De Weterings were able take control over what they fed their pigs and focus on the use of natural products. With knowledge that antibiotics do not fight viruses a friend suggested focusing on the immune system of the pigs.
The growing public concern in North America and particularly in Europe with regards to the over-use of medication as a prevention of disease also a concerned the De Weterings. Improved immune systems equally prevent disease and have a host of other advantages. “Probiotics” are known to boost the immune system of people, so why not pigs? In 2007 they began feeding a supplement of probiotics to their animals.
They conducted their own feed trial on their farm Sep 2010 to validate their theories. Completing the trial convinced the De Weterings that what they were doing made sense; especially since it improved the health of their animals and the quality of their pork.
The De Weterings feed a strict diet of dry non-fermented corn, soybean meal, minerals and their unique blend of probiotics and supplements to their pigs. The unique blend is also fed to their beef in slightly different ratios as beef cows are rumens and have four stomachs.
A little info about the unique blend of probiotics and supplements:
Probiotics - good bacteria i.e. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei, is needed in the system to fight bad bacteria. There are millions of bacteria in pig’s intestines of which there are thousands of different kinds. Good bacteria are necessary to maintain optimum health. The probiotics used are a patented unique blend that the De Weterings believe make a difference to the final product quality. *
Kelp – scientifically named Ascophyllum nodosum referred to as brown algae or seaweed, is a sea vegetable that is a concentrated source of minerals including organic iodine, potassium, magnesium calcium and iron. Some of the first scientific reports involving the use of kelp as an animal feed were from the British Isles where at one time they allowed pigs to roam the seaside eating kelp. The iodine helps improve an animals’ thyroid and temperament which is important to a pigs health and allows for better utilization of the probitics given to the pig. Kelp also improves conception in beef. As an added benefit, brown alga has emerged in recent years as a popular source of omega-3 fatty acids. EPA can be found in the oil of the plant.
Bentonite – is clay, “special dirt”. It is known for its binding properties that bind toxins in the system so that they can be flushed out. This includes any antibiotic residue. Liquid bentonite can be found in health food stores for human consumption as a cleanser.
Organic Selenium – is used for supplementing animal feeds with better than the alternative inorganic “sodium selenite”. Selenium is an essential trace mineral that works with Vitamin E as an antioxidant to help protect cells. It is also necessary for the thyroid gland to function. Organic selenium may play a role in reversing the trend towards lower selenium intakes, and the related health problems, in humans. Consumption of Organic selenium-enriched pork can improve the selenium status of humans. Each ingredient compliments the other, resulting in the De Weterings “Superior Beef and Pork” meat products.
Canada’s Food guide is still the number one guide and recommends including a portion of meat and a dairy (or their alternatives) in your dinner. The general rule of thumb is to eat a portion of meat per meal no larger than the size of your palm. Some high-protein diets make use of more meat to aid in weight loss.
Beef and Pork are an excellent source of necessary protein, vitamins and minerals.
- Grass-fed Beef is highest in B Vitamins of all meats; leaner like game meat but with a natural marbling.
- Grass-fed beef is a fair source of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA.
- Natural Pork is the highest source of selenium in meat products next to Salmon which is actually high in fat.
- Organic Selenium fed Pork is good source of selenium antioxidants.
- Beef and Pork both have extra lean choices.
- The leaner the cut the lower the vitamin and mineral values.
- Good Fat is needed for flavour, health and longer shelf life.