Azolla filiculoides as partial replacement for traditional protein supplements in diets for growing-fattening pigs based on sugar cane juice

[摘要] TheaquaticplantAzollafiliculoideswasgrowninninetanksoftotalarea468m²andfedaspartialreplacement(0,15and30%)oftheproteininasoyabean-basedsupplementgiveninrestrictedquantities(200gprotein/animal/daily)withfreshsugarcanejuicetogrowing-fatteningpigs.ThetrialwasdoneonacommercialfarmintheValledelCaucainColombia(1000mabovesealevel;meantemperature24°Candrainfall1100mm).TherecordedproductivityoftheAzolladuringthe5monthperiodofthetrialwashigh(equivalentto9tonnesprotein/ha/year).Inthegrowingphase,pigperformancedecreasedastheamountofAzollainthedietincreased.Theseeffectswerereversedinthefininishingphasewhentherewasastrongtendencyforthepigsfedazollatogrowfasterthanonthecontroltreatment.Thefinalresultwasthattherewerenodifferencesingrowthrateamongtreatmentgroupsforthetotalperiodofthetrial(from24to89kgliveweight).ThispreliminaryinformationhasservedtostimulateinterestinthegrowinganduseofAzollaasaproteinsupplementinColombia.Thetechnologyisalreadybeingappliedonanumberoffarmswithsatisfactoryresultsbothfromthebiologicalandeconomicstandpoint.Moreimportantly,theseon-farmactivitiesaregeneratinginvaluableinformationconcerningthepracticeofgrowingandutilizationofthisfeedresourceundervaryingenvironmentalconditions.

[学科分类] 农业科学（综合）