If you ’re among the thousands of people who place - process animals for substance , you may find yourself quickly overwhelmed by the stiff — innards , feathering , hides , et cetera — and find yourself asking , “ What do I do with all this clobber ? ”
Many byproduct of butchering do n’t have to go to waste . Even parts that are n’t included in vulgar substance cuts can often be consumed or composted , and when they ca n’t , there are proper mean of disposal that are safe for you and the environment . When preparing to process your animals , try not to think of these byproducts as thriftlessness or an inconvenience , but as food , compost and fertility .
1. Eat Offal
Depending on who you lecture to , many people will enjoin you that no part of an brute is inedible . The most commonly consumed — and often healthiest — animal parts are the liver , heart , glossa , gastric mill , genius , kidney ( for beef , lamb and pork barrel ) , tripe and sweetbread . Research recipes for the innards , aka offal , of the animals you ’re butchering . Even if you do n’t think you have a taste for organ meat , you might be surprised .
2. Feed Your Animals
Farm dog will be more than happy to assist you put away of some of your slaughter remains — just check that you do n’t reserve extra entrails to lie in around the yard . see freezing some and prey them to the dogs regularly . Pigs and chickens also appreciate being fed the byproducts . Avoid eat the stiff of the same animal , however — no pig guts to pigs , in other words .
3. Make Bone Broth
If you have any remaining bones not box up with meat cuts , use them to make osseous tissue broth that can be frozen or canned . ivory stock is high in gelatin , collagen and easy absorbable minerals , such as atomic number 20 and magnesium — plus , it adds expectant flavor to soups and recipes that call for gunstock . Simply add the bones to a crapper or slow cooker filled with water , add an loony toons like acetum and allow to seethe . you’re able to continue making the broth until the total off-white has disintegrated . Flavor the broth with herb and spice as desired , or go away it as - is for greater versatility .
4. Market Feathers and Hides
you may often find a market for inedible portions of the creature , like feathers and hide , especially if they ’re kept in good condition during lift and processing . hoi polloi apply the feathers of poultry like guineas or cock for jewelry , crafts , decorating and fishing fly ball . If you do n’t already have a go at it someone search for feathers , try selling on land site like eBay or Craigslist .
The hides of oxen , buffalo and other animate being can be tanned and marketed to businesses make leather ware . The natural flogging process involves cleaning , wash , stretching , drying , softening and then smoke the pelt . Tanning takes some work and you might need to register up on the process before getting started , but there are a number of on-line tutorials usable and it can make a fun projection .
5. Farm Maggots
The thought process of maggot farming probably does n’t cabal the most appetizing images , but maggot are an incredible seed of protein for crybaby , turkeys , ducks and other fowl .
To farm maggots , drill big hole into the bottom and incline of a large pail . Hang the pail on a sturdy tripod organisation , tree diagram branch or the rafter of an old barn or outbuilding so it ’s several feet off the ground and out of reach of curious predators . wad the remains into the bucketful in layers covered with a little hay to help with smell and decomposition . Flies will discover it , and maggots will set about to fall from the holes onto the ground where your chickens can eat them .
While the maggot are a great reference of protein , the decomposing harmonium may sense and attract undesirable predatory animal , so keep that in mind when choose a position for your pail .
6. Compost
With a little minute of care and a hot compost pile , itispossible to compost animal continue . Burying the stiff in woodwind chips function better , but you may also sink low amounts in your normal compost pile , especially if it ’s very hot .
The key word here is “ bury ” : You do n’t want to simply set the remains on top of the hatful for vulture to pick through . The stiff require to be at least 1 to 3 feet below the Earth’s surface of the pile . Consider separating each level of stay with something carbonaceous , such as hay or sawdust .
Feathers also make groovy compost , though they ’re in high spirits in atomic number 7 and offend down slowly . Consider burying them with the rest of the clay either in wood chips or directly into the compost .
7. Bury
One viable choice for safely getting rid of unwanted organ meat is lay to rest them in a deep hole in the ground . begin by dig a hole 1 to 3 feet abstruse a day or two before slaughter . pick up all of your unwanted remains into a bucket , and cautiously dump it into the mess , debar spilling any blood around the sides , which will attract scavengers . rain cats and dogs a little lime on top to help camouflage the smell . spread over the kettle of fish with filth , and place a large object , such as a grate , over the mound to keep animals from labor .
If you get your water from a well , bury the extra as far from the well as potential , specially if you have sandy soil . Also , reckon bury the cadaver in a place you may want to imbed a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree : Once they break down , that demesne will be very fertile .
8. Burn
fire the remains can be another practicable disposal method acting . Get a very hot fire going outside well before slaughter , and set the stiff on the embers , with more wood on top to keep it burning . Feathers can sense as they burn , so consider another disposal method for them . Animals will still probably dig through the ashes , so wall them out of the burn deal or you may anticipate a quite a little .
9. Sell What You Can’t Use
One person ’s trash is another mortal ’s treasure , good ? Talk with other farmer friends , or place an advertizing on Craigslist or a community board a few days before processing day to advertise the scraps . for sure someone will be able to encounter a use for them .
Get more aid with on - farm processing from HobbyFarms.com :
