CONVERSION OF NATIVE MOO LATH PIGS Introduction
RDB fed in small quantities (4% of the diet) also acts as a prebiotic. It increased N retention in pigs (Sivilai and Preston, 2017) and improving growth and feed conversion in pregnant- lactating gilts and growth rate of piglets to weaning (Sivilai et al., 2018). Feeding biochar to animals is a recent development. The objective was to evaluate the effect of biochar on the growth rates of Moo Lath pigs fed forage diet and to compare with RDB.
Materials and Methods
Animals, treatment, design and management
Twenty Moo Lath pigs (15.8 ± 1.3 kg) were fed four dietary treatments arranged in a CRD with 5 replications: CTL, RDB 4%, BIO 1% and RDB+BIO added in the diets.
Data collection and analysis
The pigs were weighed every 14 days and feeds offered and refused were recorded daily with samples were determine for DM, CP, CF and ash (AOAC, 1990). The data were analyzed (Minitab, 2016).
Results
Dry matter intake, growth rate and feed conversion
There was no effect of the additives on feed intake. Growth rate tended to be better and feed conversion was improved for both additives. There were no benefits from combining both additives compared with feeding each one separately.
Table 5.3. Mean values for change live weight, feed intake and conversion for Moo Lath pigs
Live weight CTL BIO RDB BIO+RDB SEM p
Initial, kg 15.9 15.8 15.6 16.0 0.619 0.692
Final, kg 36.5 40.5 40.1 41.6 1.52 0.423
Daily gain, g 179 215 220 220 9.51 0.089
DM intake, g/d 787 850 859 874 41.7 0.58
DM conversion (kg/kg) 4.43b 3.96a 3.89 a 4.02 a 0.13 0.048
ab Means without common superscript are different at p<0.05 Discussion
The positive effect of RDB on growth rates and feed conversion of the Moo Lath pigs agrees with previous results where: RDB 4% improved N retention by 36% and the biological value of the nitrogen by 18% (Sivilai and Preston, 2017) and RDB4% increased the litter weight of weaned pigs by 67% and the overall feed conversion by 64% (Sivilai et al., 2018).
To our knowledge, the feeding of biochar to pigs has not previously been reported. The degree of response observed in this experiment with growing pigs (20-23% and 11-14% for growth and feed conversion) is similar to the 15 and 18% improvements in growth and feed conversion reported for biochar fed to cattle (Sengsouly and Preston, 2016). Biochar and RDB each increase pig growth rate and efficiency but they were effected when they combined.
Conclusions
In pigs, growth rate tended to be better (p=0.089) and feed conversion was improved (p=0.048) for both additives, fed separately or together, when compared with the control diet. There were no benefits from combining both additives
It is postulated that biochar and distillers’ byproduct recommended to bind toxins from the feed which are either
excreted in the feces or degraded by some organisms in the animal’s gut microbiome.
GENERAL DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
The reasons for using indigenous pig breeds such as the Moo Lath in rural areas of Laos, usually in some form of semi- scavenging system have been well documented (Phengsavanh et al., 2011).
Bananas are grown everywhere in Laos and there is a long tradition of chopping the pseudo-stem and feeding it to pigs and poultry. However, this abundant feed resource has received little attention from researchers. By contrast, Taro have been thoroughly researched as a component of diets for pigs (Chittavong et al., 2012; Kaensombath and Lindberg, 2012; Hang et al., 2015). The only negative attribute the high level of oxalic acid has been shown to be controllable by ensiling and supplementation with a source of calcium (Hang et al., 2011).
The objective of this thesis was to test a number of initiatives which would lead to better utilization of these two forages abundantly available in tropical ecosystems when fed to indigenous native “Moo Lath” pigs.
In Paper 1 (chapter 2), the experimental diets were (% DM basis) ensiled banana pseudo-stem: 0, 5, 10 and 15% the results were supported evidence for the decision made in the conclusion to restrict the level of ensiled banana pseudo-stem to 10%.
In Paper 2 (chapter 3) was a follow-up to findings by fellow researchers (Phanthavong et al., 2016; Sangkhom et al., 2017; Binh et al., 2017; Sengsouly et al., 2016) that byproducts of beer manufacture (brewers’ grains) and local rice wine fermentation-distillation. It was suggested beneficial presence of β-glucan, a component of the cell wall of both cereal grains and
yeasts, that is unknown for RDB and BG in pig diet, as this result is positive effect on digestibility and N retention
The follow-up to the previous experiment in paper 3 (chapter 4) was the testing of the same two additives in the diets of pregnant and lactating native Moo Lath gilts and their progeny to weaning. The gilts gained more body weight during gestation, and were heavier at the end of lactation, when their diet was supplemented with 4% BG or 4% RDB. Litters from dams supplemented with the additives were heavier at birth, and at weaning, and grew faster than litters from un-supplemented gilts.
Supplementation of the dams appeared to have no effect on piglet mortality at birth or during lactation, nor on live weights of piglets at birth or weaning, and did not affect overall feed DM intake.
However, DM feed conversion was improved by 60% when the Moo Lath gilts were supplemented with 4% RDB
The experiment described in Paper 4 (chapter 5) was also a follow-up to findings by colleagues (Leng et al., 2012; Silivong and Preston, 2016; Sengsouly and Preston, 2016) that biochar appeared to have “prebiotic” properties when fed to cattle and goats. Biochar was fed at 1% of the basal diet of taro-banana pseudo stem in a comparison with RDB at 4%. Growth rate tended to be better (p=0.089) and feed conversion was improved (p=0.048) for both additives, fed separately or together, when compared with the control diet. There were no benefits from combining both additives compared with feeding each one separately. Whilst considerable research needs to be done, the possibility is that biochar and RDB bind toxins or immobilize anti-nutritional compounds in feeds which are either excreted in the feces or degraded by some organisms in the animal’s gut microbiome, thesis concluded:
1) The biological value of the protein in ensiled taro foliage was not recommended to have more than 10-15% of ensiled banana pseudo-stem in a diet based in ensiled taro foliage for native Moo Lath pigs.
2) Additives (4% in diet DM) in the form of rice distillers’
byproduct or brewers’ grains, improved feed intake, digestibility and N retention, with a greater response in N retention and biological value of the protein for rice distillers’ byproduct.
3) These additives also improved performance of gilts when fed throughout pregnancy and lactation with specific benefits in weight of piglets weaned and overall feed conversion.
4) Biochar fed at 1% of diet DM, appeared to support equal benefits in growth and feed conversion in Moo Lath pigs as the 4% addition of rice distillers’ byproduct. It is suggested that both these additives act as “prebiotics” in neutralizing anti-nutritional components in the feed thus enhancing animal performance and wellbeing.
LIST OF PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
1) Sivilai, B., Preston, T.R. and Kaensombath, L., 2016. Feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention by Moo Lath pigs fed ensiled banana pseudo-stem (Musa spp) and ensiled taro foliage (Colocasia esculenta). Livestock Research
for Rural Development, 28 (6),
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd28/1/boun28006.html
2) Sivilai, B. and Preston, T.R., 2017. Effect of level of dietary protein on growth and feed conversion of Moo Lath pigs fed a mixture of ensiled taro foliage (Colocasia esculenta) and of ensiled banana pseudo-stem (Musa spp). Livestock Research
for Rural Development, 29 (34).
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd29/2/boun29034.htm
3) Sivilai, B. and Preston, T.R., 2017. A low concentration of rice distillers’ byproduct, or of brewers’ grains, increased diet digestibility and nitrogen retention in native Moo Lath pigs fed ensiled banana pseudo-stem (Musa spp) and ensiled taro foliage (Colocasia esculenta). Livestock Research for Rural
Development. 29 (123).
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd29/6/lert29123.html
4) Sivilai, B. Preston, T.R., Hang, D.T. and Linh, N.Q., 2018.
Effect of a 4% dietary concentration of rice distillers’
byproduct, or of brewers' grains, on growth rate and feed conversion during pregnancy and lactation of native Moo Lath gilts and their progeny. Livestock Research for Rural
Development, 30 (20).
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd30/1/lert30020.html
5) Sivilai, B., Preston, T.R., Leng, R.A., Hang, D.T. and Linh, N.Q., 2018. Rice distillers’ byproduct and biochar as additives to a forage-based diet for growing Moo Lath pigs; effects on growth and feed conversion. Livestock
6) Research for Rural Development, 30 (111).
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd30/6/lert30111.html
7) Sivilai, B., Hang, D.T., Linh, N.Q. and Preston, T.R., 2018.
Effect of replacing ensiled taro foliage (Colocasia esculenta) with ensiled banana pseudo-stem (Musa spp) and soybean meal on intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in Moo Lath pigs.
Livestock Research for Rural Development, 30 (54).
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd30/3/lert30054.html
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