Zug, 23.10.2020
Free-range pigs reduce problem weeds
Pigs as weed killers: In a field in the canton of Zug, free-range pigs have scoured and reduced the problematic yellow nutsedge grass as part of an experiment. The weeds are a treat for the pigs.
Wool and Turopolje pigs are known for their strong digging and searching activities, as the canton of Zug announced on Thursday. The canton wanted to make use of this characteristic and, working together with the Agroscope research institute, launched an experiment aimed at decimating the Erdmandelgras (yellow nutsedge grass) on an area that was contaminated with the invasive neophyte.
In the autumn of 2019 the pigs scoured the soil very intensively on an area of about 20 ares in the Bibersee area in the municipality of Cham ZG, an area that was moderately contaminated with yellow nutsedge grass. "After a short time, the soil was completely recirculated," states the press release. Feeding tests showed that this yellow nutsedge grass is a treat for the pigs.
First practical experiment in the canton of Zug: Wool and Turopolje pigs naturally decimate the yellow nutsedge grass on an infested field in the Bibersee area.
Surveillance with a long-term camera showed that a very high digging activity took place, especially where the densest stocks of yellow nutsedge grass were, it continues.
According to René Total from Agroscope, the number of yellow nutsedge grass plants per ten litres of soil decreased significantly at the end of the experiment, compared to the samples before the test. However, as the area was not very heavily populated with yellow nutsedge grass, only a few samples could be taken. The experiment would therefore have to be repeated on a more contaminated area.
No germinating yellow nutsedge grass has been found in the faeces samples after one month. This suggests that the pigs destroy the yellow nutsedge grass during eating and digestion to such an extent that it can no longer germinate.
The effort required to care for the pigs should not be underestimated, however. And the report states that the control of the yellow nutsedge grass with the help of the pigs is not a 100% solution. Free-range pigs could, however, help to initially reduce the problem weed as part of the fight against yellow nutsedge grass.