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(13) The use of sweet potato leaves, water spinach and fresh cassava foliage mixtures as partial replacement for soyabean meal on the reproductive performance of Mong Cai and Yorkshire sows

(13) The use of sweet potato leaves, water spinach and fresh cassava foliage mixtures as partial replacement for soyabean meal on the reproductive performance of Mong Cai and Yorkshire sows

Hoang Nghia Duyet, Truong Thi Thuan and Nguyen Duc Son

HUAF, Hue, Vietnam
duyethue2005@yahoo.com)

Abstract

The effect on the reproductive performance Mong Cai (MC) and Yorkshire (Y) sows of three levels of foliage in the diets in gestation (stage 1) and lactation (stage 2) were evaluated. Dietary treatments LL, ML and HL consisted of 0, 50 and 100% mixtures of foliage (water spinach, cassava leaves and sweet potato leaves with equal parts of each foliage on DM basis) for feeding MC and Y sows as replacement for conventional protein sources, respectively. Results showed that: for MC sows with treatment of 100L were significantly lower the weaning weight, milk production and price to produce 1 kg of piglets at weaning; but not significantly between 0L and 50L treatments. For Y sows the 100L treatment resulted in significantly lower birth weight, and weaning weight of the piglets, lower milk production, higher FCR to produce 1 kg of piglet at weaning, higher sow LW losses during the lactation period and longer weaning to oestrus, in comparison with the other treatments. The differences for all other parameters measured between the 50L and 0L were small and non-significant. It is concluded that the optimum levels of mixtures of leaves are 50% replacement for protein supplements for MC and Y pregnant and lactation sows. MC sow is better adapted with higher vegetable ratio in the diet than Y sows.

Keywords: Foliages, Mong Cai, protein, sows, soybean, Yorkshire