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Second FAO Electronic Conference on Tropical Feeds
Livestock Feed Resources within Integrated Farming Systems
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Abstract of tenth paper, from Molina et al.

Questions that might stimulate discussion on this topic
include:

1. In areas where swine production does not exist for
religious reasons, should we still promote the fractionation
of sugarcane?
What other species could be used?

2. How should Gliricidia or another legume be ideally produced
in this integrated system?

3. What other sources of essential amino acids needed in pigs'
diet could be used in a sugarcane based system?

4. What levels of fertilizers are needed to produce those
quantities of sugarcane and can they come from animal excreta?

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SUGARCANE FOR BEEF AND PORK PRODUCTION

Carlos Hernan Molina C., Carlos Hernando Molina D., Enrique
Jose Molina D. and Juan Pablo Molina D. "El Hatico", El
Cerrito, Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
E-Mail: c/o  cipav@mafalda.univalle.edu.co

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ABSTRACT

Tropical countries have a great comparative advantage due to
the intensity and regular availability of solar energy which
may be exploited through plant photosynthesis. Sugarcane is a
C4 plant which has a greater capacity to utilize high light
intensities with reduced water requirement and hence produce
as much as 3.8 times more biomass per hectare than cereals.
Total biomass yields of 255-480 T/ha are reported. 

Sugarcane has been used as the basis for meat production
systems in the tropics, with the aim of maximizing output per
hectare. Fractionation of cane, using traditional artisanal
mills (50% extraction) yields juice for fattening pigs, and
pressed cane stalk and tops for feeding cattle. Trials were
carried out on the farm.

In this study, sugarcane juice, with or without palm oil, and
500 g protein supplement was fed to pigs from 20-80 kg and
achieved average daily gains (ADG) of 633 and 666 g/day
respectively. A second trial (30-80 kg) showed gains of 565
g/day, with or without palm oil. 

Bull calves fed on pressed cane stalk and tops, with
Gliricidia sepium, multinutritional blocks (20% urea), rice
bran and poultry manure grew at 526 g per day, compared to
cattle on a similar diet but with integral sugar cane
replacing the pressed cane stalk and tops which had an average
daily gain of 767 g per day.

Comparison of beef production alone with an integrated pig and
beef system favoured the integrated system. Direct production
from cane was 3,458 kg beef per hectare compared to 5,870 kg
per hectare from pigs and bull-calves together.

These figures compare to a maximum potential production of
1500-2000 kg meat per hectare from one hectare of star grass
(Cynodon nlemfluensis) with fertilizer and irrigation, under
the same climatic conditions.

The integrated systems also provided more employment.

KEY WORDS: Livestock, sugarcane, integration, meat production

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FAO ELECTRONIC CONFERENCE:
LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES WITHIN INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS
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