Sử dụng hiệu quả khẩu phần nguồn thức ăn địa phương cho giống lợn bản địa moo lath, CHDCND lào

HUE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

BOUNLERTH SIVILAI

THE UTILIZATION OF DIETARY LOCAL FEED RESOURCES FOR
MOO LATH PIG IN LAOS

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN AGRICULTURE


HUE, 2019
HUE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

BOUNLERTH SIVILAI

THE UTILIZATION OF DIETARY LOCAL FEED RESOURCES FOR
MOO LATH PIG IN LAOS

SPECIALIZATION:

ANIMAL SCIENCE

CODE: 9620105
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN AGRICULTURE

SUPERVISORS: 1. ASSOC.PROF.DR. NGUYEN QUANG LINH
2. ASSOC.PROF. DR. DU THANH HANG

2

HUE - 2019

3


DECLARATION
I declared that this thesis is my original research works. It is a scientific
research which overall data presented in this thesis are contributed truly and
righteously. The research works was done under the guidance of Professors in Hue
University and collaborative professional researchers. All acceptation is evidently
indicated to the best of immense knowledge that they have been published in
Journal of Livestock Research for Rural Development (LRRD).
Hue, April 2019

Bounlerth SIVILAI

1


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This thesis describes research on the improving and utilization of foragebased diets for Moo Lath pigs in Laos, I wish to thank Mekong Basin Animal
Research Network (Sida/MEKARN II) project and University of Agriculture and
Forestry, Hue University for financial support of experiments and the course works
in Vietnam.
This thesis based on the efforts of many people. In the first place, I would
like to thank all those persons who contributed to obtaining the data and the texts
of the various chapters. Without their help this thesis would never been written.
Especially, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Professor Nguyen Quang

Linh, Professor Thomas Reg Preston, who always open the gates to scientific
research. I am also grateful for their supervision and guidance of my research. I
would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Professor Du Thanh Hang, who
supervised the data analysis. It would be nice to thank for all of lecturers and
researchers in Hue with hospitality while my staying in Hue city. I am grateful to Dr.
Lampheuy Kaensombath and professor R.A. Leng for their contributions and
helping.
My sincere thanks also goes to Dr. Kieu Borin, regional coordinator of the
Sida/MEKARN II project for any support and make the PhD program possible and
Dr. Chive Phiny for the budgets for travelling and allowances. Dr. Vanthong
Phengvichit and Dr. Daovy Kongmanila the country coordinators for providing the
immense suggestion on study condition and financial report as well as accountants
in National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) for arrangement
research funds conveniently. Also thank my colleagues, friends and teachers in
Department of Livestock and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture (FAG), National
University of Laos for their kindly supports. My lovely students and their friends
whom helped in field works with forage collecting, experiments and sample
preparing analysis.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family for all their kind regards,
encouragement and love. Most of appreciation to my wife Linh Thamavong for her

2


patience, effort working hard and taking care for our family during my studying.
Special thank to my mother for her support, loving and devotion to my three
children during studying time. Great thanks to my sister Boakeo Phaisilai and her
husband, my younger sister Boasone Sivilai and my uncles’ family for their help in
looking my mother, supporting me spiritually throughout studying, writing thesis
and my life in generally.

ABSTRACT
The research was objected to investigate the effect of ensiled taro foliage
combined with banana pseudo stem as basal diets, using by-product of rice
distillers or brewers’ grains, and biochar as feed additive supplemented in the diet
of native Moo Lath Lao pig. Four experiments were conducted to comprising on
the thesis.
The first experiment (Chapter 2): Four pigs were used in the experiment
with 30 kg  2.63 kg LW. An experiment was arranged in a 4*4 Latin Square Design
with diet levels of ensiled banana pseudo stem of 0, 5, 10 and 15% replacing
ensiled taro foliage and soybean meal. Apparent digestibility of DM and CP, daily N
retention and biological value (BV), all declined linearly as ensiled banana-pseudo
stem replaced ensiled taro foliage. It is appeared that the BV of the protein in the
ensiled taro foliage was superior to combination of ensiled banana pseudo stem
and soybean meal.
In the second experiment (Chapter 3): A small amount of either rice
distillers’ by-product (RDB) and brewers’ grain (BG) were added in the ensiled
forage-based diet. Six female native Moo Lath pigs (29.3  2.3 kg LW), fed a basal
diet of ensiled banana pseudo-stem, ensiled Taro foliage and broken rice were
allocated to a 3*3 double Latin Square Design. Three treatments were BG 4%, RDB
4% or no supplement (CTL). Both supplements improved feed intake, digestibility
and N retention, with indications of greater responses in N retention and in the
biological value of the protein for the rice distillers’ by-product. It is suggested that
the beneficial effect of both supplements may have been due to the presence of βglucan, a component of the cell wall of both cereal grains and yeasts, that is shown
3


to have immunological, health-benefiting effects in animal.
In the third experiment (Chapter 4): The supplements would bring similar
benefits during the stage of pregnancy and lactation in Moo Lath gilts. Twelve

native Moo Lath pig gilts (80.8 ± 3.9 kg LW) were used in the experiment. Three
dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 4 replications were:
CTL: No supplement; RDB 4% or BG 4% in diet DM basis. The pig 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. The litter sizes from dams
supplemented with 4% RDB were heavier at birth, and at weaning, and grew faster
than litters from un-supplemented gilts. Supplementation of BG4% or RDB 4%
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.
In the fourth experiment (Chapter 5): The study was to evaluate the effect
of biochar compare with rice distillers’ by-product fed a forage diet on growing
pigs. Twenty native Moo Lath pigs (15.8 ± 1.3 kg LW) were housed in individual
concrete pens. There were four dietary treatments arranged as a completely
randomized design. The treatments (% in diet DM) were: no additive (CTL), 4% rice
distillers’ by-product (RDB), 1% biochar (BIO) and the combination of RDB and BIO
(RDB+BIO). The 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.
Keywords: Local forage, prebiotic, additive feed, indigenous pig, biological
value, growing, pregnancy-lactation, piglets

4


DEDICATION

To my family with my respectful gratitude: Parents, my wife (with daughter and

son), older and younger sisters
ແດດ່ຄອບຄຄົວທທດ່ແສນເຄຄົາລຄົບຮຮກຂອງຂຂອຍ: ພພດ່ແມດ່, ພຮນລະຍາ (ພຂອມດຂວຍລລູກສາວ ແລະ
ລລູກຊາຍ),
ເອອຂອຍ ແລະ ນຂອງສາວ

5


TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION........................................................................................................................I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..........................................................................................................II
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................III
DEDICATION.........................................................................................................................V
TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................................................VI
LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................................IX
LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................XI
LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS............................................................................XIV
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................1
1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY......................................................................................1
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY........................................................................4
2.1. Aims of the thesis..................................................................................................4
2.2. Objectives of the thesis.........................................................................................4
3. HYPOTHESES OF THE RESEARCH..................................................................................4
4. INNOVATION CONTRIBUTED OF THE DISSERTATION...................................................5
REFERENCE...........................................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................10
1.1. PIG PRODUCTION IN SMALLHOLDER OF LAOS.......................................................10
1.1.1. The role of pig production...............................................................................10
1.1.2. Pig population and consumption.....................................................................10
1.2. CURRENTLY TYPICAL PIG FARMING IN LAOS...........................................................11

1.2.1. Smallholder pig farming...................................................................................12
1.2.2. Semi-intensive pig production.........................................................................15
1.2.3. Commercial scale pig production.....................................................................16
1.3. Feeds and feeding practical management in smallholder pig farms......................17
1.3.1. Feeds derived from agricultural by-products...................................................17
1.3.2. Green plant materials as feeds for pigs...........................................................18
6


1.3.3. Feeds derived from leftover materials.............................................................18
1.4. CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITY IN SMALLHOLDER FARMS...............................18
1.4.1. Main problem in smallholder pig production..................................................18
1.4.2. Opportunity improvement of pig productivity................................................19
1.5. ALTERNATIVE USE OF LOCAL FEED RESOURCES FOR PIGS......................................20
1.5.1. Taro foliage (Colocasia esculenta)....................................................................20
1.5.2. Banana pseudo stem (Musa spp) by-product..................................................22
1.6. UTILIZATION OF FORAGE-BASED DIET FOR PIGS.....................................................23
1.6.1. Taro as protein sources for pigs.......................................................................23
1.6.2. Effect of taro foliage on apparent digestibility and N retention in pigs...........23
1.6.3. Effect of taro foliage on growth performance of pigs......................................24
1.6.4. Effect of taro foliage replacing by banana pseudo stem in pig diets...............25
1.7. GRAIN FERMENTED BYPRODUCTS AS SUPPLEMENT FEED FOR PIGS.....................27
1.7.1. Rice distillers (Khi-Lao) by-products.................................................................27
1.7.2. Brewery grain (Khibeer) by-product................................................................29
1.8. UTILIZATION OF GRAIN FERMENTATION BYPRODUCTS..........................................32
1.8.1. Use of rice distillers’ by-product or brewers’ grains as protein sources..........32
1.8.2. Effect of rice distillers’ by-product or brewers’ grains as supplement
feeds...........................................................................................................................33
1.8.3. The use of biochar as a feed additive in animals.............................................33
1.9. NUTRIENT REQUIREMENT OF PIGS.........................................................................34

1.9.1. Dietary protein requirement............................................................................34
1.9.2. Dietary energy requirement............................................................................35
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................36
CHAPTER 2: 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..........49
CHAPTER 3: A LOW CONCENTRATION OF RICE DISTILLERS’ BYPRODUCT OR OF
BREWERS’ GRAINS ON DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN RETENTION IN NATIVE MOO
LATH PIGS FED ENSILED BANANA PSEUDO-STEM (MUSA SPP) AND ENSILED TARO
FOLIAGE (COLOCASIA ESCULENTA)....................................................................................58

7


CHAPTER 4: EFFECT OF A LOW 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..........70
CHAPTER 5: EFFECT OF RICE DISTILLERS’ BYPRODUCT AND BIOCHAR AS ADDITIVES
WITH A FORAGE-BASED DIET FOR GROWING AND FEED CONVERSION OF NATIVE
MOO LATH PIGS.................................................................................................................83
GENERAL DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION.........................................................................95
1. GENERAL DISCUSSION................................................................................................95
2. CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................................97
3. IMPLICATIONS FUTURE RESEARCH............................................................................98
3.1. Implications.........................................................................................................98
3.2. Future research...................................................................................................98
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................99
LIST OF PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC PAPERS...........................................................................102

8

LIST OF TABLES
CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................10
Table 1.1. Number of livestock products and meat consumption in 2017............11
Table 1.2. Classification of phenotype characteristics and reproductive
performance of native pigs distributed in smallholder farm conditions in Lao PDR
................................................................................................................................13
Table 1.3. Composition of taro plant in different parts of studying (% DM basis)
................................................................................................................................21
Table 1.4. Composition (g/kg CP) of EAA in the leaves of taro compared to
soybean meal.........................................................................................................21
Table 1.5. Oxalate contents in taro (total, soluble and insoluble oxalate).............21
Table 1.6. Nutrients content of banana stalk in fresh matter................................22
Table 1.7. Chemical composition of the ingredients, the fermented mixture
and the residue......................................................................................................27
Table 1.8. Chemical composition and gross energy of rice distillers’ byproduct (% in DM basis).........................................................................................28
Table 1.9. Crude protein (% in DM) and amino acid composition (g/16 g N)
of rice distillers’ by-products..................................................................................28
Table 1.10. Amino acid components in rice distillers’ by-product and ideal
protein (g/16 g N)...................................................................................................29
Table 1.11. nutritional table of fresh brewers’ grains............................................31
CHAPTER 2: 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..........49
Table 2.1. Chemical composition of the ingredients in the diets...........................52
Table 2.2. Experimental diets and chemical composition......................................52
Table 2.3. Mean values for feed intake and apparent digestibility of diets...........53
Table 2.4. Effect of ensiled banana pseudo-stem and taro foliage on N
balance and retention in Moo Lath pigs................................................................55

CHAPTER 3: A LOW CONCENTRATION OF RICE DISTILLERS’ BYPRODUCT OR OF
BREWERS’ GRAINS ON DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN RETENTION IN NATIVE MOO
LATH PIGS FED ENSILED BANANA PSEUDO-STEM (MUSA SPP) AND ENSILED TARO
9


FOLIAGE (COLOCASIA ESCULENTA)....................................................................................58
Table 3.1. Proximate composition of diet ingredients...........................................62
Table 3.2. Composition of diets (DM basis)...........................................................62
Table 3.3. Mean values for DM intake and % CP of the diet consumed by
Moo Lath pigs without (CTL) or with supplements of BG or RDB..........................63
Table 3.4. Mean values for apparent digestibility by Moo Lath pigs fed diets
without (CTL) or with supplements of BG or RDB.................................................64
Table 3.5. Mean values for N balance by Moo Lath pigs fed diets with or
without (CTL) supplements of BG or RDB..............................................................65
CHAPTER 4: EFFECT OF A LOW 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..........70
Table 4.1. Composition of experimental diets (% DM basis).................................71
Table 4.2. Proximate analysis of diet ingredients...................................................74
Table 4.3. Mean values for live weight (kg) of Moo Lath gilts at conception,
before and after parturition and weaning.............................................................74
Table 4.4. Mean values for changes in weight of Moo Lath gilts
supplemented during pregnancy with 4% of rice distillers’ by-product or 4%
brewers’ grains.......................................................................................................75
Table 4.5. Mean values for weight of litters from Moo Lath gilts
supplemented during pregnancy with 4% of rice distillers’ by-product or 4%
brewers’ grains.......................................................................................................76
Table 4.6. Numbers of piglets born and surviving to weaning supplemented
with 4% of rice distillers’ by-product or 4% brewers’ grains..................................77

Table 4.7. Mean weights (g) of piglets at birth and 28 day weaning
supplementation of the diet with brewers’ grains, rice distillers’ by-product
................................................................................................................................77
Table 4.8. DM feed intake from conception to weaning of Moo Lath
gilts supplemented with 4% brewers’ gains or 4% rice distillers’ by-product
................................................................................................................................78
Table 4.9. Effect of supplementing with 4% brewers’ gains or 4% rice
distillers’ by-product on DM feed conversion (kg/kg)............................................78
CHAPTER 5: EFFECT OF RICE DISTILLERS’ BYPRODUCT AND BIOCHAR AS ADDITIVES

10


WITH A FORAGE-BASED DIET FOR GROWING AND FEED CONVERSION OF NATIVE
MOO LATH PIGS.................................................................................................................83
Table 5.1. Proximate composition of diet ingredients...........................................87
Table 5.2. Composition of experimental diets.......................................................87
Table 5.3. Mean values for change live weight, feed intake and conversion
for Moo Lath pigs fed rice distillers’ by-product, biochar or both.........................88

LIST OF FIGURES
CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................10
Figure 1.1. Number of pigs in Laos from 2013-2017.............................................11
Figure 1.2. Lao name - Moo Chid (Moo Markadon or Moo Boua)........................14
Figure 1.3. Lao name - Moo Lath...........................................................................14
Figure 1.4. Lao name - Moo Nonghad or Moo Hmong..........................................14
Figure 1.5. Lao name - Moo Deng or Moo Berk....................................................14
Figure 1.6. Traditional rice distillers’ by-product production in Laos....................29
CHAPTER 2: 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..........49
Figure 2.1.

Effect of increasing level of ensiled banana pseudo stem

replacing taro foliage on apparent DM digestibility in Moo Lath pigs...................54
Figure 2.2. Effect of ensiled banana pseudo stem.................................................54
and taro foliage on CP digestibility in Moo............................................................54
Lath........................................................................................................................54
Figure 2.3. Effect of ensiled banana pseudo stem and taro foliage on CF
digestibility in Moo Lath pigs.................................................................................54
Figure 2.4. Effect of ensiled banana pseudo stem replacing ensiled taro
foliage on N retention in Moo Lath pigs................................................................55
Figure 2.5. Effect of ensiled banana pseudo-stem replacing taro foliage on N
retained as % of N digested in Moo Lath pigs........................................................55

11


CHAPTER 3: A LOW CONCENTRATION OF RICE DISTILLERS’ BYPRODUCT OR OF
BREWERS’ GRAINS ON DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN RETENTION IN NATIVE MOO
LATH PIGS FED ENSILED BANANA PSEUDO-STEM (MUSA SPP) AND ENSILED TARO
FOLIAGE (COLOCASIA ESCULENTA)....................................................................................58
Figure 3.1. Metabolism cage for faces and urine collection..................................60
Figure 3.2. Chopped banana pseudo-stem............................................................61
Figure 3.3. Rice distillers' by-product.....................................................................61
Figure 3.4. Brewers' grains.....................................................................................61
Figure 3.5. Effect of rice distillers’ by-product and brewers’ grain on DM
intake by Moo Lath pigs.........................................................................................64
Figure 3.6. Effect of rice distillers’ by-product and brewers’ grain on

apparent digestibility of DM by Moo Lath pigs......................................................64
Figure 3.7. Effect of rice distillers’ by-product and brewers’ grains on
apparent digestibility of crude protein by Moo Lath pigs.....................................64
Figure 3.8. Effect of rice distillers’ by-product and brewers’ grains on
apparent digestibility of crude fiber by Moo Lath pigs..........................................64
CHAPTER 4: EFFECT OF A LOW 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..........70
Figure 4.1. Rice distillers’ by-product.....................................................................73
Figure 4.2. Gilts and piglets during lactation.........................................................73
Figure 4.3. Effect on live weights of Moo Lath gilts at conception,
parturition and weaning of supplementation with 4 % RDB or 4% BG................75
Figure 4.4. Mean values for changes in weight of Moo Lath gilts during
pregnancy...............................................................................................................75
Figure 4.5. Loss of weight of Moo Lath gilts during lactation................................75
Figure 4.6. Effect of supplementation with 4% brewers’ gains or 4% rice
distillers’ by-product on litter weight at birth........................................................76
Figure 4.7. Effect of supplementation with 4% brewers’ gains or 4% rice
distillers’ by-product on litter weight at weaning..................................................76
Figure 4.8. Effect of supplementing with 4% brewers’ gains or 4% rice

12


distillers’ by-product on weight gain of their litters from birth to weaning..........76
Figure 4.9. Effect on litter weight of piglets weaned of supplementing with
4% brewers’ gains or 4% rice distillers’ by-product...............................................78
Figure 4.10. Effect on DM feed conversion of the piglets weaned
supplementing with 4% brewers’ gains or 4% rice distillers’ by-product..............78
CHAPTER 5: EFFECT OF RICE DISTILLERS’ BYPRODUCT AND BIOCHAR AS ADDITIVES

WITH A FORAGE-BASED DIET FOR GROWING AND FEED CONVERSION OF NATIVE
MOO LATH PIGS.................................................................................................................83
Figure 5.1. The biochar was the residue from rice husks used as fuel in a
gasifier stove..........................................................................................................85
Figure 5.2. Effect of additives (DM basis) of rice distiller’s by-products (4%)
and biochar (1%) on DM intake of Moo Lath pigs.................................................88
Figure 5.3. Effect of additives (DM basis) of rice distiller’s by-product (4%)
and biochar (1%) on live weight gain of Moo Lath pigs.........................................89
Figure 5.4. Effect of additives (DM basis) of rice distiller’s by-product (4%)
and biochar (1%) on DM feed conversion of Moo Lath pigs.................................89

13


LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
AA

Amino acid

ADF

Acid detergent fiber

ADG

Average daily gain

BG

Brewers’ grains

BR

Broken rice

CF

Crude fiber

CP

Crude Protein

CV

Covariance

DE

Digestible energy

DLF

Department of Livestock and Fishery

DM

Dry Matter

EAA

Essential Amino Acid

EE

Ether Extract

FW

Final Weight

GDP

Gross domestic production

GE

Gross energy

HCN

Hydrogen Cyanide

LPHC

Lao Population and Housing Census

LSB

Lao Statistic Bureau

MAF

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

ME

Metabolizable energy

N

Nitrogen

NDF

Neutral detergent fiber

NRC

National Research Council

OM

Organic Matter

P

Phosphorus

RDB

Rice distillers’ by-product

SD

Standard deviation

T

ton

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

14


INTRODUCTION
1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Livestock production plays a significant role as source of food and of cash
income for smallholder farmers in rural areas in Laos. There were 3.7 million pigs
in Laos (DLF, 2017). Most of the pig mainly production in Laos is produced under
traditional conditions with approximately 75% in rural smallholder pig farms
(Souriyasack, 2011). The typical smallholder pig farm relies on a scavenging system
for forages and left-over food with little or no supplementation. Supplementary
energy-rich feeds are rice bran, broken rice, maize and cassava root, but usually
the price makes them out of reach of poor farmers. The only sources of protein
that farmers can afford are green plant material and natural vegetables. These
feed resources are not available in all seasons and are imbalanced nutritionally,

with lack of protein being the major issue. The classical sources of protein used in
pig production such as fish meal and soybean meal are almost exclusively imported
and out of reach of smallholder farmers. The results are low productivity (Stür et
al., 2010) with growth rates often less than 100 g/day (Phengsavanh et al., 2010).
This means a production cycle of 1.5 to 2 years to reach market weight of 60 to 70
kg (Phengsavanh and Stür, 2006). The reproductive performance of sows is marked
by depressed litter size, a high mortality of piglet and outbreaks of disease.
The only options so far available to most smallholder farmers are to make
better use of the locally available feed resources and/or to introduce protein-rich
plants that are easy to grow such as the perennial leguminous forage
Stylosantheses guiensis (Phengsavanh and Stür, 2006). For these reasons the two
feed resources chosen for this research were banana pseudo stem (Musa spp) as
source of energy and the Taro plant (Colocasia esculenta) as the source of protein.
Banana pseudo stems (BPS) from the banana tree are distributed in Laos,
as bananas are widely grown for production of fruit for family consumption and
sale. The total harvest area of banana trees in Laos was estimated to be 28,600 ha,
with yields of 42 tonnes of fruit/ha (MAF, 2017). The stem of the banana trees is

1


referred to as a “pseudo stem” as it appears to be held erected by water, not by
lignified fiber as in most trees. After the fruit is harvested this pseudo-stem is
either left to rot on the ground or is occasionally harvested, chopped into small
pieces and fed to pigs, ducks and chickens (Tien et al., 2013).
Banana pseudo stem has 8.5% lignin in DM, more than twice that in rice
straw (4.5%). However, a more detailed analysis using Light Microscopy, Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM)
revealed major differences in anatomical characteristics, with the fiber in banana
pseudo stem presenting a tubular structure which would facilitate the movement

of water within the stem (Li et al., 2010). It is not known if such a structure is what
facilitates the process of chopping the stem with a knife as is done traditionally,
usually by women. But it would explain the high content of water in the stem of
about 94%, the major nutritional constraint to banana pseudo stem would appear
to be the low level of protein about 3-4% in DM (Floulkes et al.,1978). However, an
unusual finding was reported presence of 3% of soluble sugars in the liquid
fraction which means that almost half of the reported 6% of DM in the banana
pseudo stem is present as soluble sugars (Dao Thi My Tien et al., 2010). These have
not been identified but the fact that the pseudo stem ensiles readily the pH falling
from 4.5 to 3 within 5 days, confirms that they are readily fermentable (Dao Thi My
Tien et al., 2010).
Taro foliage (Colocasia esculenta) as the source of protein, as taro was
found in natural habitats where water is stored, near river banks, streams and
ponds in Laos. It was reported that the planted area was 11,335 ha with average
root yield of 10.7 tonnes/ha (MAF, 2017). In the study reported by Kaensombath
and Frankow-Lindberg (2012) the forage biomass yield at root harvest was 1,483
kg/ha of DM, provide 260 g/kg of protein; the tuber DM yield was 2,732 kg/ha.
Taro leaves are rich in protein (about 20% in DM) with a balance of
essential amino acid close to that in an “ideal” protein (Rodríguez et al., 2006). The
petioles are rich in sugars which facilitate ensiling the combined leaves and
petioles to give a feed with 14-15% CP in the DM (Malavanh et al., 2008; Giang et
2


al., 2010; Hai et al., 2013). Many experiments have demonstrated that ensiled taro
foliage can be fed as a source of protein for pigs (Toan and Preston, 2010;
Chittavong et al., 2012; Kaensombath and Lindberg, 2012; Hang et al., 2015). The
limitation to the use of taro foliage in diets for pigs is the presence of oxalates
which form crystalline insoluble salts that cause irritation in the mouth of pigs
when the foliage is consumed fresh. However, this problem can be resolved by

ensiling the taro before feeding (Hang et al., 2011).
Probiotics and prebiotics, as legislation to forbid use of antibiotics as
growth promoters is increasingly being enforced so as to prevent development of
resistant strains of organisms that are pathogenic to humans. The two approaches
to safeguarding animal health and/or improving productivity are to replace
antibiotics with either beneficial microorganisms (probiotics) such as Lactobacilli
and yeasts that enhance the normal microbial flora in the animals’ digestive
system or with additives (prebiotics) that provide habitat for microbial
communities in the form of support structures for biofilms, or specific nutrients
that support the proliferation of beneficial micro-organisms. In the former
category Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus spp. have been effective
organisms in binding a wide range of mycotoxins (Gallo et al., 2015). In the latter
category are compounds such as β-glucan that are present in the walls of cereals
such as barley and rice, and of yeasts. These appear to be released in natural
processes such as occur in the alcoholic fermentation of barley and rice and
subsequent distillation to give beer and rice wine.
The byproducts from these processes such as brewers’ spent grains’ and
rice distiller soluble (“Hem” in Vietnam, “Khi Lao” in Laos and “Bar Rao” in
Cambodia) fed at low levels in the diet (4 to 5% as DM) were shown to protect
cattle (Phanthavong et al., 2016; Sengsouly and Preston 2016; Binh et al., 2017)
and goats (Binh et al., 2018) from HCN toxicity caused by cyanogenic glucosides
present in foliage of “bitter” varieties of cassava.
Biochar, the by-product from the carbonization of fibrous residues at high
temperatures of 500-1000 °C was originally identified as an ameliorating agent in
3


soils and as a vehicle for sequestering atmospheric carbon (Lehmann, 2007) with
associated beneficial effects on crop and plant growth (Lehman and Joseph, 2015;
Preston, 2015). In pigs and chickens, it has been shown to be effective as an agent

to facilitate the degradation of phytotoxins and mycotoxins (Gallo et al., 2015;
Prasai et al. 2017), as well as providing habitat that enhances activities of microbial
communities (Leng, 2017).
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
2.1. Aims of the thesis
The aims of present research was to investigate the utilization of local feed
resources as forage-based diets and supplementation of grains’ fermentation byproducts as additive feed to develop feed and feeding practical management with
improving growth performance for native Moo Lath pigs in rural smallholder farms
of Laos.
2.2. Objectives of the thesis
The objectives of the research was to determine a local available forage of
banana pseudo stem and taro foliage as basal diet and grain by-products as
supplement feeds on growth performance and reproduction of native Moo Lath
pig in smallholder of Laos. The specific objectives in each chapter was stated as
bellows:
1) Paper 1 (Chapter 2): To determine the effect of replacing ensiled taro foliage with
ensiled banana pseudo stem in different proportion on feed intake, nutrient
digestibility and nitrogen retention for native Moo Lath pigs in Laos
2) Paper 2 (Chapter 3): To investigate the effect of a low concentration of rice
distillers’ by-product or brewers’ grains on digestibility and nitrogen retention in
native Moo Lath pigs fed ensiled taro foliage and ensiled banana pseudo-stem as
forage-based diets
3) Paper 3 (Chapter 4): To continuously test with a low concentration of rice
distillers’ by-product or brewers’ grains when they were similar affected on
growth rate and feed conversion during pregnancy and lactation of native Moo
Lath gilts and their progeny fed ensiled taro foliage and ensiled banana pseudo-

4

stem as forage-based diets
4) Paper 4 (Chapter 5): To evaluate the effect of rice distillers’ by-product and
biochar as additives to a forage-based diet on growing and feed conversion of
native Moo Lath pigs in Laos
3. HYPOTHESES OF THE RESEARCH
The researches were hypothesis that ensiled taro foliage combined with
banana pseudo stem could be used as forage-based diet and rice distillers’ byproduct or brewers’ grains in term of the biochar could be potential source of local
prebiotic/probiotic to be improve the growth performance and better support for
reproductive performance during pregnancy-lactation and progeny of native Moo
Lath pig gilts in Laos.
1) Paper 1 (Chapter 2): Ensiled taro foliage as protein sources combined with
ensiled banana pseudo stem will be contributed suitable inclusive in the diet
supporting for digestibility and biological value and could be included as foliage
based-diet improving growth performance for native Moo Lath pigs
2) Paper 2 (Chapter 3): Small amounts (4% of diet DM) of either brewers' grains or
rice distillers' by-product (Khilao) supplemented in foliage based diets would
support increased growth rate in local Moo Lath pigs.
3) Paper 3 (Chapter 4): Small amounts (4% of diet DM) of either brewers' grains or
rice distillers' by-product supplements would bring similar benefits during the
pregnancy-lactation and progeny of native Moo Lath pig gilts
4) Paper 4 (Chapter 5): Supplementation of biochar in a forage-based diet would be
affected on growth performance and feed conversion of native Moo Lath pigs
and to compare it with rice distillers’ by-product already shown to be effective as
a prebiotic in diets of Moo Lath pigs
4. INNOVATION CONTRIBUTED OF THE DISSERTATION
The innovation of this dissertation is the use of low concentrations (4% of
diet DM) of agro-industrial by-products such as brewers’ grains, rice distillers’
residues and addition of biochar (1% of diet DM) as additives feed that appear to
act as “prebiotics”, enhancing the growth and feed conversion of indigenous Moo
Lath pigs fed on local feed resource of ensiled foliage of Taro (Colocasia esculenta)

and banana pseudo-stem (Musa spp). Rice distillers’ residue (Khilao) is a by-

5


product of artisanal rice wine production widely available in rural areas of
countries in SE Asia. Biochar is the residue after carbonization of rice husks in
gasifier stoves used in rural households to produce gas for cooking. The carbon in
biochar is in close association with phenolic compounds making it resistant to
microbial oxidation, thus when recycled to soil in animal excreta, it will act as a
mechanism for sequestering atmospheric carbon.

REFERENCE
Binh, P.L.T., Preston, T.R., Duong, K.N. and Leng, R.A., 2017. A low concentration
(4% in diet dry matter) of brewers’ grains improves the growth rate and
reduces thiocyanate excretion of cattle fed cassava pulp-urea and “bitter”
cassava foliage. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 29
(104). 5/phuo29104.html
Binh, P.L.T., Preston, T.R., Van, H.N. and Dinh, V.D., 2018. Methane production in an
in vitro rumen incubation of cassava pulp-urea with additives of brewers’
grain, rice wine yeast culture, yeast-fermented cassava pulp and leaves of
sweet or bitter cassava variety. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 30
(77). />Chittavong, M., Lindberg, J.E. and Jansson, A., 2012. Feeding regime and
management of local Lao pigs in Central Lao PDR. Tropical Animal Health
Production, 45 (1), 149-155. doi: 10.1007/s11250-012-0186-1
Dao Thi My Tien, Ngo Thuy BaoTran, Bui Phan Thu Hang and Preston, T.R., 2010. A
note on ensiling banana pseudo-stem with Taro (Colocasia esculenta) leaves
and petioles. (Editor: Reg Preston) International Conference on Livestock,
Climate Change and Resources Depletion, Champasack University, LAO PDR,
9-11 Nov, 2010.

/>Department of Livestock and Fishery (DLF)., 2017. Planing implementation of

6


Department of Livestock and Fishery in the year 2017-2018, Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Vietiane Capital, Lao PDR. 1-6
Ffoulkes, D. and Preston, T.R., 1978. The banana plant as cattle feed: digestibility
and voluntary intake of different proportions of leaf and pseudo-stem.
Tropical Animal Production, 3 (2), 114-117.
Gallo, A.G., Gianluca, J.C., Frisvad, T. and Nielsen Bertuzzi, K.F., 2015. Toxin. Review
on mycotoxin issues in ruminants: Occurrence in forages, effects of
mycotoxin ingestion on health status and animal performance and practical
strategies to counteract their negative effects. Journal of toxinology, (7),
3057-3111.
Giang, N.T., Preston, T.R. and Ogle, B., 2010. Effect on the performance of common
ducks of supplementing rice polishings with taro (Colocacia esculenta)
foliage. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 22 (194).
0/gian22194.htm
Hai, T.T., Ly, N.T.H, and Preston, T.R., 2013. Effect of replacing fish meal by a mixture
of ensiled taro (Colocasia esculenta) foliage and ensiled sweet potato vines
(Ipomoea batatas L.) on reproduction and piglet performance in VanPa sows
in central Vietnam. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 25 (39).
/>Hang, D.T., An, T.T.X., Thuong, L., Loc, N.T., Hai, V.V., Tra, T.T.T., Hai, P.V. and Ngoan,
L.D., 2015. Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott): biomass yield and nutritive
value for pigs. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 27 (109).
/>Hang, D.T., Binh, L.V., Preston, T.R. and Savage, G.P., 2011. Oxalate content of
different taro cultivars grown in central Viet Nam and the effect of simple
processing methods on the oxalate concentration of the processed forages.
Livestock

Research

for

Rural

Development,

23

(122). 3122.htm
Kaensombath, L. and Lindberg, J.E., 2012. Effect of replacing soybean protein by
taro leaf (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) protein on growth performance of
exotic (Landrace x Yorkshire) and native (Moo Lath) Lao pigs. Tropical Animal

7


Health and Production, 45 (3), 1-7. DOI: 10.1007/s11250-012-0299-6.
Lehmann, J. and Joseph, S., 2015. Biochar for environmental management;
science, technology and implementation (2nd Edition.). Published by
Earthscan UK and USA
Lehmann, J., 2007. A handful of carbon. Nature, 447, 143144. ne ll.edu/faculty/lehmann/publ/Nature
%20447,%20143-144,%202007%20Lehmann .pdf
Leng, R.A., 2017. Biofilm compartmentalisation of the rumen microbiome:
modification of fermentation and degradation of dietary toxins . Animal
Production Science, 57, (11), 2188-2203. doi.org/10.1071/AN17382
Li Kun., Fu Shiyu., Zhan Huaiyu., Zhan Yao. and Lucia A Lucian., 2010. Analysis of
the chemical composition and morphological structure of banana pseudostem, Bioresources, 5 (2) 576-585

Malavanh, C., Preston, T.R. and Ogle, B., 2008. Ensiling leaves of Taro (Colocasia
esculenta (L.) Shott) with sugar cane molasses. Livestock Research for Rural
Development, 20 (supplement).
/>Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)., 2017. Planing implementation of
Livestock and fishery division, Department of Livestock and Fishery, Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry, 1-10
Phanthavong. V., Preston, T.R., Viengsakoun, N. and Pattaya, N., 2016. Brewers'
grain and cassava foliage (Manihot esculenta Cranz) as protein sources for
local “Yellow” cattle fed cassava pulp-urea as basal diet. Livestock Research
for Rural Development, 28 (196).
/>Phengsavanh, P. and Stür, W., 2006. The use and potential of supplementing village
pigs with Stylosanthesguianensis in Lao PDR. Workshop-seminar on Forages
for Pigs and Rabbits. MEKARN-CelAgrid, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 22-24
August, 2006. 14, 115.
Phengsavanh, P., Ogle, B., Stür, W., Frankow-Lindberg, B.E. and Lindberg, J.K.,
2010. Feeding and performance of pigs in smallholder production systems in

8