Forages as protein sources for pigs in the tropics.

Abstract

Abstract The decreasing availability and increasing prices of petroleum-based fuels is already having an impact on availability of feed resources. Research to develop alternative sources of live stock feed thus has a high priority. It is also important that the alternative feed resources can be grown on the farm as this will: (i) directly benefit the poorer farmers, who do not have cash resources topurchase supplements from outside the farm; and (ii) be an active response to the need to localize the farming system as a defence against the decreasing availability and increasing prices of petroleum-based fuels which will drive up the costs of transport. This review has shown that the leaves from shrubs such as cassava and mulberry, from vegetables such as sweet potato (SP) and cocoyam, together with water plants such as duckweed ( Lemna spp.) and water spinach ( Ipomoea aquatica ), can be used successfully in diets for pigs to replace at least half the protein usually supplied as soyabean and fish meals (FMs). It is strongly recommended that future research in this area should be with basal diets that are low in protein and in cell wall constituents, as this will facilitate: (i) increasing the percentage of forage protein in the diet; and (ii) decreasing the overall protein level in the diet in accordance with the concept of the 'ideal’ protein.