That’s Patches in the background (2024). She is now a mom and I look forward to seeing if they will eat some sunchokes as Sunchokes and Livestock go hand in mouth.
To learn more about sunchokes visit the earlier blog Sunchokes and Sunshine https://cherylmillett.com/sunchokes-and-sunshine/.
Jerusalem Artichokes or Sunchokes or Earth Apples – same thing!
Sunchokes and Livestock
Sunchokes can be fed to a variety of livestock, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and rabbits. The tubers, stalks, leaves, and even the blossoms can be used as forage to provide a valuable source of nutrients. Do your research before adding them to the diet of your livestock. I can tell you that gophers like them!
Pigs:
Here piggy piggy. Pigs can eat the sunchoke tubers directly from the ground, either dried or fresh, as well as the green plant biomass (stalks and leaves).
Cattle:
Cattle can be fed washed sunchoke tubers or silage made from the harvested stalks and leaves.
Sheep and Goats:
Sheep and goats can consume the sunchoke leaves, stems, and flowers.
Rabbits:
Rabbits enjoy the sunchokes or Jerusalem artichoke tubers and their feeding mixtures can be supplemented with them.
Horses:
Sunchoke leaves are a good source of feed for horses. They can be dried and offered to the horses, according to www.kessler-aqua.de.
Poultry:
Sunchokes can stimulate growth and protect broilers against potential cecal pathogens, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov) Livestock Information
Health Benefits on Sunchokes and Livestock
Nutritional Benefits:
Jerusalem artichokes are a good source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that can promote a healthy gut microbiome in chickens.
Growth and Health:
Studies have shown that adding sunchoke flour to chicken feed can increase feed consumption and body weight gain.
Potential Pathogen Reduction:
Sunchokes have been found to reduce the presence of potential pathogens in the cecal of broilers.
Immune Support:
The increase in the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius (a key part of the immune system) in topinambur-treated broilers suggests that Jerusalem artichokes or sunchokes can also improve immune responses.
The Native population on North America have been consuming sunchokes for centuries (and perhaps longer). I wonder what they observed with the wild animals and sunchokes. While on Manitoulin Island, the opportunity may arise.
In the meantime, sunchokes open up another potential nutritious feed for farmers and homesteaders alike. Something that is hardy, resilient and grows on its own.
Sunchokes and livestock seems to be something made in heaven and true.
Best of health!
P.S. A special thank you to Trevor on Manitoulin Island for sharing some photos of his animals on his off grid homestead (chickens, ducks and a pig).
Sunchokes and Sunshine Blog https://cherylmillett.com/sunchokes-and-sunshine/
