UTILIZATION OF FRESH PARA GRASS REPLACING CONCENTRATE FEED FOR PIG FATTENING

Abstract

The objectives of this experiment are to reduce feed cost and to find the proper method of  feeding for pig fattening. Twenty weaning crossbred pigs were divided into 4 dietary treatments with 5 replications of Randomized Complete Block Design. Rations fed ad lib to pigs of groups 1,2,3 and 4 being 100% concentrate, a mixture of 50% concentrate, 40% chopped green para grass and 10% fresh leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) leaf by weight, a mixture of 40% concentrate, 50% chopped green para grass and 10% fresh leucaena leaf, and a mixture of 40% concentrate and 10% leucaena leaf with 50% unchopped green para grass by weight respectively until 90 kilograms of body weight. The results have shown highly significant difference (p<.01) on growth rate, feed conversion ratio and testing period between groups 1,4 and groups 2,3. The carcass quality are comparable. Replacing pig concentrate by different amounts of green roughages reduced feed cost of group 2,3 and 4 for by 84.69,141.80 and 46.99 baht/head respectively. These ways of feeding seem to be appropiate to small farmers and to pig fattening management during critical period when market price falls down and market supply is a surplus.