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Matching Livestock Systems with Available Resources |
MEKARN Regional Conference 2007 |
Formal and informal interviews and survey activities were conducted to compile data on what varieties of Taro the farmers used for pigs in Thua Thien Hue, their characteristics, seasonal availability, variation between the year, and how to use them for pig feeding. Biomass productivity was determined through the rainy and dry season, with harvests at intervals of from 30 to 50 days. Chemical composition was determined and a feeding trial conducted with 12 cross-breed pigs to determine effects of feeding the plant fresh, cooked or as silage. The taro foliage (leaves plus stems) provided 20% of diet DM the other components being ensiled cassava root (25%), rice bran (50%), groundnut cake (4%). The taro foliage supplied almost 30% of the dietary protein.
Eight species belonging to the sub-family of Colocasiodeae (Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma) were identified as being available during the year in flat land, upland and coastal areas in Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam. Fresh matter biomass yields were from 250 to 350 tonnes/ha/year with DM yields from 20 to 30 tonnes/ha/year. With average crude protein (combined stems and leaves) of 17% in DM, the crude protein yields were estimated as being from 3.4 to 5 tonnes/ha/year. Approximately 60% of the biomass yield was in the dry season from March to August. Over a 122 days trial, pig growth rates were highest for ensiled taro foliage (540 g/day) and lowest on fresh foliage (443 g/day).
It is concluded that taro has high potential as a protein source for pigs in tropical latitudes in view of its high biomass yield and the good growth rates of pigs when fed the ensiled taro leaves and stems as the major protein supplement in diets of ensiled cassava roots and rice bran.