Current feeding systems for swine production in the Caribbean: opportunities and constraints.
1983
Dean R.
Production systems range from a few confinement, high capital units to many extensive, low output units. Changes needed in the feed supply system to improve the swine production industry are 1) utilization of local feedstuff sources, 2) development of agro-industrial waste processing technologies, 3) improved choice of supply of feed to livestock producer, 4) transference of lower cost of feedstuffs to farmer. The findings of the Belize Livestock Feeds Project which developed 43 new swine rations and 135 poultry rations are briefly described: simple corn and meat/bone meal diets were inefficient and costly; low temperature blood meal could be substituted for soybean meal; crystalline amino acids were found to be cost effective and multiple combinations of energy sources were beneficial in reducing protein supplementation. Heat treated rice mill feed gave improved feed utilization efficiency and lowered cost of production compared to untreated, due to minimization of the anti-nutrient factor and stabilization of fat content. A solar energy drier for fish meal production was developed and a number of meals produced, the composition of which are given. A ration substitution matrix is presented which allows for substitution of one ingredient for another. The results of a swine feeding trial of Heifer Project International in Dominica are summarized in which the cost of feed per kg of weight gain was lower in pigs fed on a high copra meal diet (88 % copra) than the control diet. Crystalline lysine was successfully substituted for fish meal when supply was low.
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