Pigs are the most important livestock species in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from economic as well as cultural perspectives. Most of the estimated population of 1.8 million pigs are maintained by smallholder farmers. The genetic attributes, differentiation and production capacities of indigenous pigs are largely unknown. But the rich socio-cultural diversity of rural communities living in geographically isolated pristine environments, with long and strong attachments with indigenous pigs implies that indigenous pigs may harbour unique genetic diversity. This study reports preliminary survey of indigenous pigs sampled from major pig farming areas of the country as part of a South Asia-wide regional indigenous pig genetic diversity study. It assesses farmers' perceptions about the origin, population trend and utility value of indigenous pigs, as well as their trait preferences. Average herd sizes and external physical forms and appearances of pigs are described. About 19 percent of the sampled indigenous pigs were identified through pedigree checks to have an admixtured genotype with some distant indigenous or exotic parentage. The importance of indigenous pig genetic resources in PNG requires a policy and legislative framework to support sustainable utilization. As a first step in informing such development, a comprehensive molecular genetic study is required to elucidate the genetic attributes of this unique genetic resource.
Blending sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam)) with a protein concentrate for pig feed is a common strategy used by small-scale livestock farmers across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. However, high dietary fibre in sweet potato (SP) forage may reduce nutrient utilisation and energy metabolism and reduce the growth rate of young pigs. A 32-day metabolic trial with grower pigs using a 4 × 4 Latin square design tested the hypothesis that there would be no difference in apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, energy and nitrogen (N) balance in 25 kg grower pigs (Large White × Landrace × Duroc) fed diets based on a blend of 43–40% protein supplement with 57–60% of DM as SP roots either boiled (BR43) or ensiled alone (ER43) or ensiled with vines (ERV40). Blended SP diets provided ~14–15% crude protein (CP), 16.1–16.3 MJ digestible energy (DE)/kg DM and 0.54–0.58 g lysine/MJ DE. The control diet (STD) contained 16.5% CP, 14.8 MJ DE/kg DM, 0.58 g lysine/MJ DE. The major findings were as follows: (1) DM intake was higher (P < 0.05) for BR43 than ER43, ERV40 and STD diets, which were similar; (2) DM ATTD and energy utilisation were higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed SP diets; (3) carbohydrate (N-free extracts) ATTD was higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed BR43 and ER43 diets, while CP ATTD of both these diets was similar to that of STD and higher than that of ERV40; (4) ATTD of fats (ether extracts), CP, carbohydrates (N-free extracts) and total phosphorus was lower (P < 0.05) on ERV40, but fibre ATTD was higher; (5) N intake and N retained were similar (P > 0.05) for pigs fed BR43, ER43 and STD diets but lower for ERV40 (P < 0.05). Boiled or ensiled SP roots provided high nutrient and energy utilisation in growing pigs, but the inclusion of SP vines lowered ATTD, energy utilisation and N retained from the mixed diet (ERV40). It is concluded that boiled or ensiled SP root are equally valuable as blended feed for grower pigs. However, at 30%DM, ensiled SP vine in blended feed led to reduced grower-pig performance.
Background: Feeding sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, L. (Lam)) roots and forage to pigs is characteristic of smallholder farming in tropical countries and particularly the use of indigenous breeds and their crossbred progeny (mixed genotype, MG) growing pigs.Presenting forage as ensiled, fermented feed, is a recent technology to smallholder pig feeding in the Pacific region, which until now was not tested for metabolic contribution to effective nutrition for MG pigs and towards reducing the feed costs of production.Objectives: To determine the nutritional utilization of sweet potato for mixed genotype local pig breeds.Methods: Two metabolic trials tested the total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) of nutrients and N balance in MG growing pigs fed ensiled SP roots (ER) or roots and vines (ERV), blended with two protein concentrates at 380, 400, 430 and 500 g/kg DM into four treatment diets, ER380, ER430, ERV400 and ERV500, compared against a standard wheat-based commercial pellet diet (STD). The trials were conducted using a 4 × 4 Latin Square design with two sets of four MG pigs at 23 kg (Trial 1) and 27 kg (Trial 2) starting BW. The trial pigs were offered one of four diets interchanged during four 8 d periods, with a 5 d adaptation phase and 3 d for total collection of faeces and urine. Pigs were housed in all-steel metabolic cages (1.0 m × 1.0 m × 1.5 m) on stands 0.7 m above floor level.Results: DMI was higher (2,290-2,739 g/d) for pigs on the SP-based diets (p < 0.05), ADG in Trial 1 was lower (686-718 g/d) but in Trial 2 was similar (944-1072 g/d) to pigs fed STD (p > 0.05), while the FCR (2.72-3.70) was higher than STD (p < 0.05) in both trials. DM, OM, CF, fats (EE), carbohydrates (NFE) and energy coefficients of TTAD were superior on the SP-based diets, but Ash, Ca and Total P CTTAD were reduced compared to STD (p < 0.05). N retained (g N/d) differed between the diets; 27.1 (ERV400), 20.8-24.8 (ER430), 27.7-29.0 (ERV500), 30.8-31.2 (STD); and did not reflect dietary CP or amino acid levels, dietary fibre content, or energy digestibility.However, N retention (NR% intake) and utilization (NR% digested) was inferior to STD for all SP-based diets except ER380 (Trial 2). Higher faecal N (g/d) (P < 0.05) suggested increased hind gut fermentation in pigs fed on SP-based diets, whereas higher urine N (g/d) (p < 0.05) indicated a lower N requirement. Conclusion:Dietary fibre in SP vines reduced nutrient utilization for growth but MG pigs adapted over time. Reduced protein and amino acid supplementation were recommended for MG pigs.
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