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Second FAO Electronic Conference on Tropical Feeds
Livestock Feed Resources within Integrated Farming Systems
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Abstract of third paper, from Nguyen Thi Loc.

Questions that might stimulate discussion on this topic include:

1. Are these on-farm experiments an effective test of local
feed resources within systems (cp. CIAT program on ensiling
and processing cassava)?

2. Is cassava an appropriate plant resource within integrated
farming systems, given the problems of soil erosion associated
with its cultivation (and competition for human food and starch
production in some other countries)?

3. Are the protein supplements mentioned really local resources
and, if not, what local substitutes can be suggested?

4. Is the flat rate feeding of protein supplement (200g/day)
the best method for local systems? Should it not increase with
time/weight?

5. Is the diet taking advantage of the local breed to utilize
high fibre supplements (cp. Rodriguez and Preston)?

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ON-FARM EXPERIMENTS IN THE USE OF LOCAL RESOURCES FOR PIGS IN
VIETNAM

Nguyen Thi Loc

University of Agriculture and Forestry,
Dept. of Animal Nutrition, Thu Duc. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
E-mail:loc%hue%sarec%ifs.plants@ox.ac.uk

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ABSTRACT 

In Vietnam, pig production plays an important role. There were
15 millions pigs in 1995, of which 95% were raised by small
scale farmers. They are a very important source of income for
the family. Protein is still a very important constraint in
the traditional diet for pigs because of the high price.
On-farm research has shown that protein intake is very low in
traditional diets (94 - 98 g/pig/day). 

On-farm feeding trials were conducted in two villages in
Central Vietnam, Binh Dien and Xuan (which raise c. 2000 pigs
annually).

Fourteen crossbred (Mong Cai x Large White) weaner pigs were
fed traditionally and 12 similar pigs on a similar basal diet
but given supplements of groundnut cake and fish meal to
provide an additional 100 g/day/pig of crude protein. The mean
daily live weight gain of pigs under the traditional feeding
system was low (202 and 230 g/day in each of the two villages)
but was significantly increased to 363 and 366 g/day (P<0.001)
by giving the protein supplement. The net economic benefit
after deducting the cost of the protein supplement was VND
800/day equivalent to VND 135,000 for the 150 day fattening
cycle.

Trials were conducted in the two villages to evaluate the
effect of processing methods on pH and HCN content of ensiled
cassava roots. The HCN content of the ground whole cassava
root after ensiling for 60 days was reduced from 109 ppm to 64
ppm, while ensiling the chipped root reduced HCN from 111 to
71 ppm. 

Further feeding trials examined the effect of different levels
of A molasses replacing cassava root meal or ensiled cassava
root on the performance of growing-finishing pigs. The optimum
levels of A molasses to replace cassava root (ensiled or
dried) in pig diets, with protein supply kept constant at 200
g/day, was from 15 to 20% in terms of live weight gain and
economic return. Mean live weight gains were 465 g/pig/day for
the cassava root meal diet and 453 g/pig /day for the ensiled
cassava root diet replaced by 20% of A molasses. Feed costs/kg
gain for the 20% molasses diet with dried and ensiled cassava
root were 11% and 27% less than for corresponding diets
without molasses.

Sugarcane juice was fed to 40 pigs on 20 farms in the two
villages. The results from feeding sugar cane juice with 200
grams CP supplement derived from fish meal and ground cake in
farm households in two villages were good.

KEY WORDS: pigs, local feeds, traditional diets, protein
supplement, cassava root silage, "A" molasses, sugar cane
juice

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FAO ELECTRONIC CONFERENCE:
LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES WITHIN INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS
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