Native swine for 'lechon de leche' production: improving feed availability through integration of sakwa [mother corm of gabing san fernando, Xanthosoma sagittifolium] as feed in coconut-based production system [in Mulanay and San Narciso Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon, Philippines] Terminal Report (July 2009 - October 2011)

Mulanay and San Narciso, two municipalities in the Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon province [Philippines] are coconut-producing communities. Eighty percent (80%) of the household are into coconut monocropping. Based on the 2006 assessment conducted by the Agricultural Systems Cluster (ASC) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) [College, Laguna, Philippines], among the many agri-based enterprises documented in the area, native pig production was observed to be widely practiced in several municipalities primarily to cater the growing 'lechon de leche' (suckling pig) market of Metro Manila [Philippines]. The animals are allowed to range under coconut and were fed with whatever available materials in the locality. On the other hand, Gabing san fernando (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is planted under coconut and unutilized patches of land for home consumption and occasionally as feeds for the native pigs. Previous studies (Villancio, et al., 2001) have shown the potential of sakwa (mother corm of gabing san fernando) as substitute to corn in grower and finisher rations for pigs. This project promoted the utilization of sakwa, as the main source of feed for ranging native swine to improve nutrient availability and increase the average daily gain (ADG) of the animals, thereby, reducing the length of time to achieve the desired marketable weight. With better nutrition, native sows are also able to produce healthier piglets which will eventually translate to lesser mortality. Specifically, the study aimed to improve nutrient availability by integrating locally available but better quality feedstuff to shorten the growing period of the animals; introduce Good Agricultural Practices to assure clean and safe meat for the consumers and introduce a new sharing scheme to sustain the swine livelihood activity of the farm households. The project was implemented in Brgy. [village] Latangan, Mulanay and Brgy. San Juan, San Narciso. There are six farmer-partners in each site (including the boar raiser), to establish and manage a coconut-native swine module. Each farmer-partner (except the boar raiser) received one module consisting of two ready to breed native gilts, and five weanlings to be repaid following the 'Dos por Cinco' modified repayment scheme. One native boar is provided for each project site or per cluster of 5 farm households. As counter-part, the farmers plant the root crop 'gabing san fernando' and other forage feeds and herbal plants to an area of at least 1000 square meters under coconut and provide a simple shed for the animals. The study monitored the performance of the animals, change in income of the farmer partners and the repayment/transfer rate. Results showed increase in average daily gain which translates to shorter growing period. In two years, animal holdings increased by 500-100% and increased the household income by up to 50%; repayment is about 80% and the number of beneficiaries or farmer partners increased by 300%.