Replacing rice bran by mixture taro (Colocasia esculenta) foliage and banana stem on intake and nutrient digestibility of crossbred pig

Chhay Ty, Pok Samkol, Aing Kimseang, Sorn Suheang and T R Preston^*

Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development. Pras Teat village, Rolous commune, Kandal Stung district, Kandal province.  PO Box 2423 Phnom Penh 3, Cambodia
chhayty@celagrid.org

^* Finca Ecológica, TOSOLY, AA #48, Socorro, Santander, Colombia

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development (CelAgrid). Four exotic crossbred (Large White x Landrace) castrate male pigs weighing on average 30.3kg (SD=1.32) were allotted at random to four diets to study replacing rice bran by mixture taro (Colocasia esculenta) foliage and banana stem on intake and nutrient digestibility of crossbred pigs. The level of rice bran was 10, 20, 30 and 40% in the diet (DM basis) and the remaining was taro foliage ensiled with banana stem. The taro foliage (leaves and stems) and banana stem were chopped by hand in small pieces (about 2-3cm) and wilted one day in order to reduce the moisture content in both foliages before making the silage in proportion of 50:50 in DM basis without adding any other ingredient and stored for a month before feeding to the pigs. The design was a 4*4 Latin square with each period of 12 days.

Total DM intake, intake g/kg live weight, OM intake and CF intake were not significant different as level of rice bran (P>0.05) but the CP intake decreased with increasing replacement of rice bran (P<0.05). DM and CF content of faeces of pig was increased as level of rice bran (P<0.001) but OM and N content which was high on low level of rice bran (P<0.001). Digestibility of OM, N and CF were decreased as increased level of rice bran (P<0.005) but DM digestibility was tendency high on low level of rice bran (P=0.121). N intake was high at treatment of RB10% compared with other treatments (P<0.05). In term of N excretion in faeces was decreased with increase level of rice bran (P<0.005) but N excretion in urine was not significant different among level of rice bran (P>0.05). In total excretion showed that RB10 and RB40 were low in total excretion (P<0.001). N retention and retention as percentage of N intake were high on RB10 and 40 (P<0.05) but not different on RB20 and 30. It is concluded that feed intake was not effect by replacing of rice bran but nutrients digestibility and N retention of pigs decreased by replacing rice bran by mixture taro foliage and banana stem.

Key words: taro foliage, banana stem, rice bran, intake, digestibility  

Introduction

In Cambodia, pig production is important for poor farmers because it is a major source of family income, savings and festival events. Normally farmers keep around 1-3 heads/ household and still practice the traditional scavenging system or a form of semi confinement using poor quality rice by-products without protein supplementation. For these reasons pigs grow slowly and take a long time to reach slaughter weight. Agriculture by-product such as rice bran and broken rice which farmers often use for their animal are expensive and the price are increasing every day. The price of rice bran is increase to 0.26$/kg and broken rice increase to 0.35$/kg in 2012 which poor farmers could not effort buy it. Through that issue, some researchers have been developing systems to use protein-rich forages which available in village for animal (fish, chicken, duck and pigs) to replace expensive feed and return benefit to farmers.  

Some protein rich forages especially taro foliage species have been attracted attention from researchers and farmers because they are rich in protein, and good sources of vitamins and minerals (Du Thanh Hang et al 2008) and it has been used successful for duck (Chhay Ty et al., 2011, Nguyen Tuyet Giang et al. 2010 and 2011), pig (Pham Sy Tiep et al. 2006, Malavanh Chittavong et al. 2008, Pheng Buntha et al. 2008, Rodríguez et al. 2009ab; Du Thanh Hang et al. 2010) and fish (Chhay Ty et al. 2012 un publish data).  

Banana stem is often use as animal feed especially pig by mixing with rice bran and fed directly to pig, however, banana stem is low in nutrients and high fiber which was effect on pig growth performance but nutrient was improved when banana stem incorporate silage with other foliage specially taro foliage.

Objective

The aim of the present experiment is therefore to study replacing rice bran by mixture taro (Colocasia esculenta) foliage and banana stem on intake and nutrient digestibility of crossbred pig

Materials and Methods

Location

The experiment was carried out at the Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development located in Prah Theat village, Sangkat Rolous, Khan Dangkor, approximately 25 km from Phnom Penh city. The experiment began on 14^th December 2011 and finished on 28^th January 2012.

Experimental feeds and feeding

Taro foliage was harvested from lakes/pond as it growth natural, while banana stem was purchased from farmers and rice bran was purchased from a local rice mill near CelAgrid. The taro foliage (leaves and stems) and banana stem were chopped by hand in small pieces (about 2-3cm) and wilted one day in shade in order to reduce the moisture content in both foliages before made an ensiled together with proportion of 50:50 in DM basis without adding any other ingredient and stored for one month before feeding to the pigs.

The pigs were fed thrice daily with equal rations at 8:00 am, 12:00 am and 5:00 pm. Rice bran, salt and shell were mixed together and then fed to pig first prior followed incorporate silage from taro foliage and banana stem in the ratio of 50:50 in DM basis. Water was permanently supplied through low pressure nipples. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the trial and every 12 days.

Treatments and design

The experiment was conducted as a 4*4 Latin Square arrangement of the 4 treatments.  The treatments were:

• RB10: Rice bran 10% and incorporate silage 89% in the diet

• RB20: Rice bran 20% and incorporate silage 79% in the diet

• RB30: Rice bran 30% and incorporate silage 69% in the diet

• RB40: Rice bran 40% and incorporate silage 59% in the diet

Pigs and cages

Four crossbred (Large White x Landrace) castrate male pigs weighing on average 30.3kg (SD=1.32) were housed in metabolism cages during the whole trial (48days). The metabolism cage was length: 80 and width: 50cm and built in an open stable to allow the quantitative collection of faeces and urine. Each experimental period consisted of 12 days; comprising 7 days to adaptation to each diet followed by another 5 days for collection of samples (faeces, urine and feed refusals). 

Data collection

Samples of feeds offered, refusals, urine and faeces were collected every day and 5% of the amount and stored at -18⁰C until the end of each collection period of 5 days. A representative sample was obtained from every treatment, mixed thoroughly by hand and then homogenized in a coffee grinder for analysis of DM, OM, CP and CF. Urine was collected in a plastic bucket to which sulphuric acid was added to maintain the pH below 4.0 (20ml of concentrated H₂SO₄). The volume of urine was measured every day and 5% of the volume stored at -18⁰C until the end of each period, when a sample was taken for analysis of N.

Chemical analyses

All feed ingredients were grind with coffee grinder before analyses. The Dry matter (DM) content was determine using oven dried at 60⁰C for 24h followed the method of Undersander et al. (1993), while, organic matter (OM) (100-ash) and CP (N*6.25) were determined according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (1990). Crude fiber (CF) was determined followed the method of Van Soest P J (1994). All analyses were performance in duplicate and were presented on a DM basis.

Statistical analyses

Analysis of variance was performed according to a 4*4 Latin-square design using the general linear models of Minitab software (Minitab release 16.1.1, 2010). Sources of variation were pigs, period, treatment and error. When the F-test was significant at P<0.05, pair wise comparisons were performed using Turkey’s procedure (Minitab Statistical Software). The model used was:

Y_ijk = μ + T_i + P_j +a_k + e_ijk where

Y_ijk = Dependent variable

μ = overall mean

T_i = treatment effect (1-4)

P_j = period effect (1-4)

A_k = animal effect (1-4)

e_ijk = random error 

Results and discussion

Chemical composition of feeds ingredients 

Chemical compositions of feed ingredients were determined during the trial and indicated that DM, CP, OM and CF content of the mixture foliage silage (taro foliage mix with banana stem in proportion of 50:50 in DM basis) was 12.0, 10.3, 85.4 and 30.6% respectively, while DM, CP, OM and CF content of the rice bran was 89.9, 9.31, 89.7, 47.5% respectively. The pH of silage was poor (6.42) because in this silage was not used other ingredients for fermentation. Ensiling needs other ingredients for fermentation   under anaerobic condition (Moran, 2005; McDonald et al., 2002).  Ensiling material with less than 30% DM may create an environment that is totally anaerobic (suited to clostridia bacteria) rather than micro-aerophilic (suited to lactic acid bacteria). In addition, it may result in the loss of valuable nutrients because water and soluble nutrients accumulate at the bottom of the silo as silage effluent (Titterton and Bareeba, 1999). Molasses is most frequently used, and is of particular benefit when applied to crops with low soluble carbohydrates. Good silages have reported when molasses is applied at 3-5% (Chhay Ty et al., 2001). However, if the treated silage has a very low DM content, most of the carbohydrate source may be lost in the effluent during the first few days of ensilage in pits or bunkers. 

Feed intake

The recorded ratios of DM in the dietary ingredients consumed (Table 4) were closely related to the planned quantities (Figure 2). Replacing rice bran by mixture of taro foliage and banana stem silage did not showed any different in total DM intake, intake g/kg live weight, OM intake and CF intake but excepted  the crude protein content of the DM consumed decreased with increasing replacement of rice bran (P<0.05). As expression in percentage in the diet showed that CP content was decreased as level of rice bran increase (P<0.001), while OM and CF were increased as level of rice bran increased (P<0.001).

Replacing rice bran by mixture of taro foliage and banana stem silage resulted in a curvilinear decrease in DM intake, OM intake and CP intake as kg of live weight (Figure 3, 4and5) but curvilinear increase on CF intake as replacing of rice bran (figure 6).

Faecal characteristics in pigs fed fresh cassava leaves, fresh water spinach 

DM and CF content of faeces of pig was increased as level of rice bran (P<0.001) but it was contrast with OM and N content which was high on low level of rice bran (10%) (P<0.001). A total faecal excretion in fresh material and water content were high in low level of rice bran (RB10%) but other three levels are not different (20, 30 and 40%). However, excretion of faeces in DM basis was not different among four level of rice bran (P>0.05).   

Nutrient digestibility

Digestibility of OM, N and CF were decreased as increased level of rice bran (P<0.005) but DM digestibility was tendency high on low level of rice bran (P=0.121). The low nutrients digestibility might be effect from fiber content in the diets in this study (31.8-36.1%) because fiber is an important factor that it influences to reduces the nutrient digestibility, especially of CP (Ogle, 2006). Fibrous feeds in the diet also lead to an increased rate of passage of digesta through the gut and reduced ileal and total tract digestibility (An et al., 2004). High CF in the diets affects gut size and development, particularly the large intestine (Jorgensen et al., 1996). Nearly all CF digestion takes place in the caecum and colon, where bacteria break down fermentable carbohydrates that have escaped digestion in the stomach and small intestine. Volatile fatty acids from fiber fermentation can provide from 5%-28% of the energy requirements of the growing pigs (Kass et al., 1980) and levels more than 7-10% of CF in the diet are generally resulting in decreased growth rates (Kass et al., 1980). However, pigs are able to digest a substantial part of plant fiber pre-caecally (Lindberg and Anderson 1998). Lindberg and Anderson (1998) reported that increasing the level of leaf meal from white clover, lucern, red clover or perennial rye grass in barley base diets from 10 to 20% of reduced the digestibility of OM, but increased the digestibility of CF. Ravindra et al. (1987) observed that pigs a depression in digestibility of DM, EE, cell wall components and hemicelluloses in diets in which cassava leaves meal is replaced by coconut oil meal. Sarwat et al. (1988) also observe lower digestibility of DM and OM when cassava leaves meal was included in a sorghum based diets of growing pigs. Bui Huy Nhu Phuc et al. (1996) report a significant reduction in apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CF and EE as the level of inclusion of cassava leaves meal increased from zero to 216g/kg diet.

N balance

N intake was high at low level of rice bran (10%) but start decreased when increase level of rice bran (P<0.05). In term of N excretion in faeces was decreased with increase level of rice bran (P<0.005) but N excretion in urine was not significant different among level of rice bran (P>0.05).  In total excretion showed that treatment of RB10 and 40 were low in total excretion (P<0.001). N retention and retention as percent of N intake were high on RB10 and 40 (P<0.05) but not different on RB20 and 30. In overall, N intake and N retention were low in this study; it might be effect from poor nutrition of feed ingredients and high fiber that formula in this study.

Conclusions

• Through the experiment conducted in 48 days on replacing rice bran by mixture taro (Colocasia esculenta) foliage and banana stem on intake and nutrient digestibility of crossbred pig concluded that feed intake was not effect by replacing of rice bran but nutrients digestibility and N retention of pigs decreased as replacing rice bran by mixture taro foliage and banana stem.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the MEKARN project financed by the SIDA-SAREC Agency and to the Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development (CelAgrid), for providing resources for conducting this experiment.

References

An L V, Hong T T T and Lindberg J E 2004 Ileal and total tract digestibility in growing pigs fed cassava root meal diets with inclusion of fresh, dry and ensiled sweet potato leaves. Animal

Feed Science and Technology 114, 127-139.

AOAC 1990 Official Methods of Analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 15th edition (K Helrick editor). Arlington pp 1230

Bui Huy Nhu Phuc, Preston T R, Ogle B and Lindberg J E 1996 the nutritive value of sun-dried and ensiled cassava leaves for growing pigs. Livestock Research for Rural Development 8: (3)

 http://lrrd.org/lrrd8/3/bui.htm

Buntha P, Borin K, Preston T R and Ogle B 2008: Effect of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) leaf silage as replacement for fish meal on feed intake and growth performance of crossbred pigs. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 20, supplement. Retrieved April 21, 2011, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd20/supplement/bunt3.htm

Chhay Ty, Ly J and Rodriguez Lylian (2001) An approach to ensiling conditions for preservation of

cassava foliage in Cambodia. Livestock Research for Rural Development 13 (2):

 http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd13/2/chha132.htm

Chhay Ty, Khieu Borin, Sok Chanpheakdey, Vor Sina, Hem Buntho and T R Preston 2011Replacing rice bran and duckweed with ensiled Taro leaf-stem foliage (Colocasia esculenta) in diets of growing ducks

Livestock Research for Rural Development 23 (4) 2011

Chhay Ty, Kong Saroeun, Vor Sina and T R Preston 2012 Taro (Colocasia esculenta) leaves utilization as protein replacement for soybean meal on the growth performance of catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus). Unpublished report

Du Thanh Hang and Preston T R 2008 Taro (Colocacia esculenta) leaves as a protein source for growing pigs in Central Viet Nam Proceedings MEKARN Regional Conference 2007: Matching Livestock Systems with Available Resources (Editors: T R Preston and B Ogle), Halong Bay, Vietnam, 25-28

November 2007 http://www.mekarn.org/prohan/hang_hue.htm

Du Thanh Hang and T R Preston 2010 Effect of processing Taro leaves on oxalate concentrations and using the ensiled leaves as a protein source in pig diets in central Vietnam, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/4/hang22068.htm

Jorgensen H, Zhao X, Eggum B O and Zhao X Q 1996 The influence of dietary fiber and environmental temperature on development of the gastrointestinal tract, digestibility, degree of fermentation in the hind gut and energy metabolism in pigs. British Journal of Nutrition 75, 365-378.

Kass M L, Van Soest P J, Pond W G, Lewis B and McDowell R E 1980 Utilization of dietary Fiber from alfalfa by growing swine. I. Apparent digestibility of diet components in specific segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Animal Science 50. 175-181.

Lindberg J E and Andersson C 1998 The nutritive value of barley-based diets with forage meal inclusion for growing pig base on total tract digestibility and nitrogen utilization. Livestock Production Science 56, 43-52.

Malavanh C, Preston T R and Ogle B 2008:  Effect of replacing soybean meal by a mixture of taro leaf

silage and water spinach on reproduction and piglet performance in Mong Cai gilts.  Livestock Research

for Rural Development. Volume 20, supplement.  http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd20/supplement/mala2.htm

McDonald P, Edwards R A, Greenhalgh J F D and Morgan C A 2002 Animal Nutrition. Sixth Edition. Longman Scientific and Technical, Harlow, Essex, England.

MINITAB 2010 Minitab Reference Manual release 16.1.1.

Moran J 2005 Tropical dairy farming: Feeding management for small holder dairy farmers in the humid tropics. Department of Primary Industries. 312 pp.

Nguyen Tuyet Giang, Preston T R and Ogle B 2010 Effect on the performance of common ducks of supplementing rice polishings with taro (Colocacia esculenta) foliage. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 22, Article #194. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/10/gian22194.htm

Nguyen Tuyet Giang and Preston T R 2011 Taro (Colocasia esculenta) silage and water spinach as supplements to rice bran for growing pigs, Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 23, Article #45. Retrieved, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd23/3/gian23045.htm

Ogle B 2006 Forages for pigs: nutritional, physiological and practical implications. Workshop-seminar "Forages for Pigs and Rabbits" MEKARN-CelAgrid, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 22-24 August, 2006

http://www.mekarn.org/proprf/ogle.htm

Pham Sy Tiep, Nguyen Van Luc, Trinh Quang Tuyen, Nguyen Manh Hung and Tran Van Tu 2006 Study on the use of Alocasia macrorrhiza (roots and leaves) in diets for crossbred growing pigs under mountainous village conditions in northern Vietnam. Workshop-seminar "Forages for Pigs and Rabbits" MEKARN-CelAgrid, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 22-24 August, 2006. Article # 11. Retrieved July 15, 109, from http://www.mekarn.org/proprf/tiep.htm.htm

Ravindran V, Kornegay E T and Rajaguru A S B 1987 Influence of processing methods and storage time on the cyanide potential of cassava leaf meal. Animal Feed Science and Technology 17: 227-234.

Rodríguez Lylian, Peniche Irina, Preston T R and Peters K 2009a  Nutritive value for pigs of New Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium); digestibility and nitrogen balance with different proportions of fresh leaves and soybean meal in a basal diet of sugar cane juice.  Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 21, Article #16.  http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/1/rodr21016.htm

Rodríguez Lylian, Preston T R and Peters K 2009b Studies on the nutritive value for pigs of New Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium); digestibility and nitrogen balance with different levels of ensiled leaves in a basal diet of sugar cane juice.  Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 21, Article #27.  http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/2/rodr21027.htm

Sarwat S R, Katak S N and Kategile J A 1988 Performance of growing-finishing pigs when given diets containing fresh cassava leaves and roots. East African Agriculture and Forestry Journal. 53:111-115.

Titterton M and Bareeba F B 1999 Grass and legume silages in the tropics. Proceedings of the FAO Electronic Conference on Tropical Silage. 1 September to 15 December 1999.

 http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/x8486e/x8486e0c.htm#bm12

Undersander D, Mertens D R and Theix N 1993 Forage analysis procedures. National Forage Testing  Association. Omaha pp 154

Van Soest P J 1994 Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant, 2nd ed. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

Go to top