POWER ALTERNATIVE FOR PIGS

Patricia Argenti
Freddy Espinoza
Investigators. FONAIAP-National Agricultural Research Center.
Zootechnical Research Institute. Maracay.

Pig production is closely related to the use of high technology and volumes of grain and protein sources that usually are not produced in sufficient quantities and cost in developing countries. This generates a strong dependence on foreign raw materials.

With changes in agro policies of the country, in the late 80s, pig production has been seriously affected and currently reaches approximately 1,800,000 heads in 300 farms that have survived. The most affected at the level of pork producers is food, because it represents approximately 75% of production costs and is made mostly with foreign raw materials (> 60%), thus causing a heavy reliance on monetary exchange, which is not seen real signs of stabilization.

For these reasons, different agricultural research institutes as FONAIAP, universities and private institutions have turned to the search for alternative sources of energy, protein and minerals and non-traditional domestic production, with the aim of replacing as much as possible the percentage Inclusion of corn and soybeans, reducing production costs and dependence.

Under the current economic crisis, medium and small producers mainly pigs, are alternatively feed their pigs with domestic raw materials, although it is likely to require more time to reach slaughter weight, but at a lower cost, which will translate into increased profitability, lower capital flight and a self-sufficiency that would actually stop being foreign funders of agriculture.

To make this alternative feasible, even for large hog producers, agricultural policies should be implemented to encourage the production of nontraditional materials like yam, cassava, legumes, tubers, grain legumes and leaves, sugar cane, algae and yeast as well as promote the use of crop residues, rice paddy, manure, fermenting bacteria byproducts, corn and fish, among others.

The following is a brief reference to some of the alternatives mentioned above.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batata)

It is a culture apparently free of antinutritional factors, high yielder, with yields between 10 and 50 t / ha and an average national yield between 6,200 and 6,800 t, intended for human consumption. This item can take root and foliage. It is easily digestible, rich in carbohydrates and contains soluble vitamins in sufficient amounts to partially cover the nutritional requirements of pigs.

It is considered one of the most comprehensive energy crops. Additionally, you can get two cycles / year, is easily spread and adapted to different ecosystems. It has a protein content in the root of 2.8 to 9%, depending on the variety and 17% in the foliage. The energy value is between 3,160 and 3,220 kcal / kg DM, equivalent to 90 to 96% of the amount contributed by cassava and sorghum, respectively. A content-free extract (NFE) 88.6%, 3.2% crude fiber, 3.5% ash and 0.04% available phosphorus.

As some results obtained by the FONAIAP in feed for pigs , it was determined that it is possible to replace up to 50% of sweet sorghum flour, improving key production and economic parámentros.

Research in the Central University of Venezuela was determined that it is possible to replace cereals in more than 50% sweet potato flour, and that diets based on sweet potato roots and leaves are not only suitable for fattening pigs. However, additional levels of 1,300 g (27% CP) are obtained gains and feed conversions appropriate to allow the replacement of approximately 15% of the conventional diet of sweet potato roots and foliage.

Furthermore, in fattening animals with 2 kg of high protein supplement (29%) and potato root fresh ad libitum a diet that are possible to obtain performance parameters similar to those of a basal diet of sorghum and soybeans, with a than 50% replacement of the total diet, and animals undergoing initiation should not be used in more than 50% of the fresh root of sweet potato, affecting production parameters.

Moreover, we have found a 40% saving in power costs, with respect to the use of commercial feed, by using a protein supplement enriched with vitamins and minerals (29% CP), more chopped fresh potatoes for young animals, and developing whole pig or adults.

Rice (Oryza sativa)

It is a high performance culture national productions since 1992 with 726,002 t, have been considerably exceeded the demand for human consumption. These surpluses are intended for blending with wheat flour for making bread, beer production, mixed grain for human consumption and animal feedstuffs.

Today is also exported for human consumption. Owns 89.0% of dry matter, 7.3% crude protein, 5.5% digestible protein, metabolizable energy of 2,367 kcal, 9.0% crude fiber, 0.04% calcium and 0.26% phosphorus.

Has the advantage of being a culture of high agronomic study, relatively low-cost, highly automated, easy storage, good nutritional value, no toxic components, with high standing offer product and produce usable by-products in animal production.

As to the results obtained in pig feed has been found that substitution of 50% of paddy equivalent to portions witnesses corn-soy based, permitting lower costs per kilogram of feed.

However, there is a kind of general agreement over 60% replacement of maize with rice paddy, which reduces weight gain by increasing the level of fiber in the diet and decrease the digestibility of nutrients, as well as the effect abrasive shell level of the intestine. However, this effect decreases significantly in the finishing phase, where substitutions have been obtained 100% corn by paddy rice, with results very similar between treatments, with a nutritional value equivalent to 94% of corn.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta)

This item has a high degree of adaptability and resistance to drought. Tolerates poor soils, is a culture of widespread national and easily spread. Their yields range from 3 to 20 t / ha, with a low national production, about 366.8 thousand t. However, in studies of breeding and agrotechnical management have been achieved yields of 75 to 80 t / ha / year. Cassava is mainly an energy source (80% starch and 20% sugar). The toxicity of cassava has been widely discussed, but there are various opinions believe there are varieties of non-toxic or low toxicity, such as those intended for human consumption.

As for inclusion in diets for swine, must be accompanied by a suitable charge and may have an increased concentration of glycosides, which are the precursors of hydrocyanic acid. The high protein content of the leaves is another alternative use for pig farmers. The disadvantages are mainly cassava harvest, low current production and poor storage and processing. However, there cassava processing plants in several states, some to be reactivated and others that are being initiated, which could encouraged to produce food for human and animal consumption.

Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus)

Jicama is a legume tuber, similar to sugar beet, which can be considered a full crop, it is usable as a whole (leaves, seeds and tubers). Seed oil and extract compounds called carotenoids, used as biodegradable natural insecticides. The tubers have a protein content between 14 and 17%, well above that of other roots and tubers such as cassava and sweet potatoes, and an energy value between 3.3 and 3.8 kcal, making it an alternative for food and feed.

This species is native to Mexico and Central America, being found also in Asia and South America, where it is used primarily for human consumption. In Brazil, the foliage of Nupe (P. tuberosus) has been used as animal feed since colonial times. It has a high global efficiency, which sometimes exceeds 100 t / ha.

In Venezuela, researchers FONAIAP-Zooténicas Research Institute, are evaluating various species of Pachyrhizus, finding yields have exceeded 50 t / ha. In preliminary tests in swine feed, replacing 20 to 40% of feed for jicama, values ​​were obtained daily gain of 0.760 kg for the control animals (pet food corn-soybean), 0.867 kg of treated animals 20% substitution with jicama and 0.850 kg, with 40% of jicama.

Sources of phosphorus in animal nutrition

Phosphorus is a mineral of greater participation in many functions in living organisms. It is one of the most limiting for the production of pigs in confinement and fed grain-based diets.

Phosphorus sources are traditionally used as inorganic phosphates and bone meal, have a high price and low production, making it necessary to use alternative sources such as phosphate rocks, which in Venezuela is estimated reserves of 2,000 million tons. However, prior to general use are being tested, because some of the national phosphate rocks have a high fluorine content and low phosphorus bioavailability.

Tests have been performed in the country to assess the possibility of using rocks fosfocálcicas Falcon state in rations for pigs in the growth phase and when it provided the requirements of calcium and phosphorus with rock Phosphocalcic included in the diet, similar behavior was obtained than those fed rations including bone meal as a source of calcium and phosphorus (control). When the rock was given separately, consumption was low, indicating low palatability thereof.

Several trials are currently underway in the FONAIAP to determine the relative bioavailability of the country's major phosphate rock and its effects and tolerance levels in feed for poultry and pigs.

Conclusions and recommendations

* The pig sector grew violent, but sustained by imports, which led to the collapse faster than experienced with agro policy change.

* The continued rising cost of raw materials and other production costs and the falling purchasing power, have created a situation whose solution is not foreseen in the short term.

* It is recommended to increase domestic agricultural productivity by promoting the cultivation of other species able to replace traditionally imported components in balanced rations.

* Increase consumption of fresh pork through a makeover of the product, with campaigns on their nutritional content and the various forms of preparation, which would increase sales.

* To promote export of pork, for which it should improve health management in poultry and in slaughterhouses, overcoming barriers to international requirements and regulations.

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