The pig alternative feed formula developed by the Animal Research Institute can replace up to 75% of imported corn

The Animal Research Institute used cassava flour and broken brown rice to develop an alternative formula for pig feeding. (Provided by the Animal Laboratory)

Pig breeding is an important industry in Taiwan, but it relies heavily on imported corn as the main energy feed ingredient. In response to the supply risks caused by international geopolitics and climate change, the Animal Industry Experimental Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture conducted research on feeding alternative raw materials for weaned pigs. They used cassava flour and public grain broken brown rice allocated by the Agricultural and Food Administration, mixed it in a 1:2 ratio, and successfully developed a formula that can replace up to 75% of the dietary corn.

The Animal Research Institute stated that in order to seek diversified and localized potential alternative feed sources, it combined cassava with high starch thermal energy and brown rice with rich protein and amino acid content. Through an in vitro starch digestibility test, an optimal 1:2 mixing ratio was formulated to overcome the difficulty of digesting cassava starch and the lack of protein. The research team further conducted a four-week actual feeding trial with 4-week-old weaned pigs to test the effect of replacing 25%, 50% to 75% of dietary corn.

The Institute of Animal Testing pointed out that the results showed that even if the replacement ratio was as high as 75%, the feed intake, daily weight gain and feed utilization efficiency of the pigs were no different from those of the control group that did not replace corn. The fecal intestinal bacteria, blood biochemical values, and immunoglobulin indicators of the pigs all maintained normal health, confirming that the mixed raw material can meet the nutritional needs of weaned pigs.

The Animal Research Institute conducted research on feeding alternative raw materials for weaned pigs, using cassava flour and broken brown rice to develop alternative formulas. (Provided by the Animal Laboratory)