Apparent digestibility and nitrogen in crossbred Mong Cai*Moo Laat pigs fed varying proportions of ensiled Taro foliage and rice bran

Taysayavong Lotchana, Viraphet Phetsamay, Vivasane Souksakone and T R Preston*

Champasack University
Champasack province, Lao PDR
Lotchanasouks@yahoo.com

* University of Tropical Agriculture (Colombia), AA #48, Socorro, Santander, Colombia

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Integrated Farming Demonstration center of Champasack University, situated about 13 km from Pakse city, Pakse District, Champasack Province; Laos PDR. Five crossbred castrated male pigs (Mong Cai*Moo Laat pig), with average weight 13 kg, were allocated at random to 5 diets within 5*3 Latin square with periods of 14 days (7 days for adaptation and 7 days for collection of data). The treatments were levels of Taro silage (RB: TS: 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100), to evaluate the effect of ensiled Taro (leaves and stems) on intake, digestibility and N retention. The diets were offered at 3% of live weight (DM basis) and the water ad libitum.