Processing, using and developing the giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza) for raising pigs in northern mountainous households of Vietnam.

Pham Sy Tiep1, Nguyen Van Luc, Nguyen Manh Hung, Tran Van Tu, Tran Van Phung

 National Institute of Animal Science, Hanoi; Vietnam.

Abstract

Alocasia macrorrhiza as the local available resources in the Northern mountainous area of Vietnam. The whole Alocasia macrorrhiza (AM)  roots have rich starch and the leaves are rich in protein and vitamins. Efficiently use AM roots and leaves as the local available resources for pigs feed still a necessary problem on pig husbandry in Vietnam mountainous households condition today. Three experiments were carried out in Cho Chu village, Dinh hoa district, Thai nguyen province with the aims at determine the best ratio of AM ensiled leaves in the diet and determine the economical efficiency of growing AM for pigs raising in mountainous households.

Three levels of 5 - 7 -10 % of rice bran with 2% molasses (on the DM) additive in an mixture for ensiling AM leaves to choose the best ensiled AM leaves for pigs feed. On the second experiment, eighteen crossbred pigs (Yorkshire x Mong cai) with an initial body weight of 15.0 ± 1.0 kg were divided into 3 groups. The basic diet (BsD) for control group, protein was supplied by soy bean meal and fish meal and the other diets (EAL15; EAL20) ensiled AM leaves were included as the sole protein sources with 15 - 20% in the dry feed of ration. In the third experiment, to study on determine effect of different plant densities and manure levels on foliage production of AM leaf on slope land. The Split Split-Plot Design will be used with the treatments: Row spacing is main factors: (i) 60 cm, 90 cm, and 120 cm and manure  is sub-factors (i) 5 tones, (ii) 10 tones and (iii) 20 tones/ha/year. 

The results of study concluded that, ensiling AM leaves with 7% rice bran and 2% molasses can reject 78.8% oxalate calcium content, maintain the pH at 4.05-4.12 until 60th day, increase the taste without reducing nutritive value of the silage. And using 10% ensiled AM leaves (replacing fish and soybean meal) in the diet for (Yorkshire x Mong cai) crossbred pigs had no negative effects on the performance of the pigs. The third experiment determined that, the row spacing is 90 cm, planted at 30 cm plant to plant and manure  is supplied with level of 10 tones got high of productivity (20 tons leaf/ha/year) and highest benefits for the farmers to raising pigs by AM leaf in mountainous households in Northern Vietnam.

Keywords: Giant taro, AM,  pigs, process, use, household, productivity.