Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good morning everyone! The other night I was watching some of Joel Salatin's videos on YouTube and in one video he's talking about "Forest finished" pigs (I think this was the term he used, or something down those lines). I assume that this means he leaves the pigs out in the boonies some time before slaughter (?).
On another video, some lady said she finished her pigs by feeding them cheese & peaches.

Moving to fish: It is my understanding that one is supposed to purge the fish before killing them, but has anyone tried "finishing" them by changing their feed, rather than not feeding them at all for a few days? If so, what kind of results have you had?

Hi,
I have purged a fish for two days by withholding food but it Dosnt make a difference I reacon.
I also changed my food to a more natural skreetings product with high crustacean content.
And this was a great move as the meat in my trout is very natural coloured. But I don't perge my fish any more as I don't think it changes them at all.

I think success varies on the purging. Quite a few people smoke their fish but I think most just like it that way. JOC had better luck recently but purged much longer and did water changes - http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=24355&start=195.

Most of what I've seen about purging suggests at least a weeks worth.

I'm not sure what would constitute finishing in Trout - maybe feeding them something to change their flesh color like Hezzy89 suggested.

Thanks. I'll be raising tilapia. Going to meet the fish guy tomorrow!