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Carrots destined for landfill used to produce new 'wagyu' lamb in WA
A West Australian company converting thousands of tonnes of carrots destined for landfill into animal feed is hoping to produce a new type of lamb with the same marbling as wagyu beef.
Key points:
- A WA company is hoping to use about 20,000 tonnes of rejected carrots a year as feed for the sheep
- Omega Lamb has spent $3 million in three years studying feed results in lamb
- The lamb will be marketed in Asia and the Middle East
The Omega Lamb Company has patented the feed, which includes carrots, olive oil, grain, hay and the leftover waste from juiced carrots and olives.
WA's biggest horticultural exporter, the Sumich Group, is a partner in the venture, which relies on recycled organics for 80 per cent of the feed.
Sumich owner Nick Tana said he hoped to use about 20,000 tonnes of rejected carrots a year in the company's feeding program at Gingin, north of Perth.
Imperfections result in market rejection of between 5 and 50 per cent of their carrot crop.
"That would equate from 20 tonnes up to 400 tonnes, and 400 tonnes — to put it in context — is 20 full semi-trailers every week," Mr Tana said.
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