Dr Lily Ngullie
ACTO Animal Science, KVK Longleng
Introduction:
Feeding in pig accounts for 70-75% of the total production cost. Feeding pigs has therefore, to be balanced and economical. Two types of feeding are practised: a) concentrate feeding, b) mixing recommended concentrate feed with other locally available agro-industrial by products including incorporation of tuber crops like sweet potato, tapioca, and radish beside some other fodder crops. It goes without saying that profit margin will be more with concentrate feed as 1 kg of live weight could be produced with fewer amounts of such feeds. Locally available agro-industrial by-products when mixed in ideal proportions are good for maintenances and finisher pigs.
KVK intervention:
Tapioca or Cassava is widely cultivated in Jhum field for consumption as well as for animal feed. The quantity of incorporation into the pig feed is randomly fed without any scientific methods. Therefore taking into consideration the abundant availability of tapioca in the district, KVK Longleng conducted training and demonstration on feeding. After which farmers were selected for carrying out the testing in the field level. KVK Longleng conducted an On Farm Testing (OFT) on grower pig fed with 50 per cent replacement of maize with tapioca root meal in the ration which was carried out in 10 grower pigs at different villages of Longleng district from 2 months up to 5 months of age.
Preparation of tapioca root meal:
Fresh tapioca root was taken for the trial. The outer layer was removed and thin slices were made and dried in the sun. After drying properly, it was grounded into powdered form and the required quantity was taken for mixing in the ration.
The grower pig was fed according to scientific requirements from 2 months up to 5 months of age. Initial body weight at 2 months was taken before the trial and monthly body weight recorded till 5 months of age. The body weight at 2 months recorded as 6.66±0.74 kg which increased up to 32.5±2.10 kg with BC ratio of 2.72:1.
Conclusion: The total cost of production of pig can be reduced by incorporating tapioca root meal in the grower pig ration. The feed cost was reduced by around Rs.6.72 per kg and there was no incidence of diarrhoea and mortality during the trial period. Therefore tapioca root meal can be safely incorporated in correct proportion for economical production of pig in rural areas.
