This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
Boosting Pig Farming with Sweet Potato Silage ¶
As pig farming continues to grow in Kenya, farmers are seeking ways to increase profits while ensuring the health and well-being of their animals. One innovative solution is using sweet potato tubers and vines to supplement commercial feeds.
According to recent estimates, as much as 65% of sweet potato production in China is used for animal feed production. In Kenya, however, the utilization of sweet potatoes for animal feed, especially pigs, is still low.
One of the reasons for this is the simple stomach nature of pigs, which requires them to be fed commercial feeds that consume 60-80% of production costs. However, by using sweet potato silage, pig farmers can reduce their feed costs and increase their profits.
Sweet potato silage is made by ensiling the tubers and vines in an oxygen-free environment. This process enhances the quality of the feed material by converting nitrogen to protein. The resulting silage is rich in energy and protein, making it an ideal supplement to commercial feeds.
To make sweet potato silage, farmers can follow these simple steps:
- Harvest and wilt the vines for three days in a partial shade.
- Chop the vines into 5-1cm long pieces and the tubers into 2.5cm2 pieces.
- Place the contents in alternating layers into a silage bag, drum, or pit at the rate of 70% vines, 30% tubers, and 0.5% salt or sun-dried poultry manure.
- Mix each layer thoroughly and firmly compress each layer by rolling on it a heavy object.
- Cover the compacted material with a thick layer of black polythene to exclude air and water, and cover the later with some soil logs or stones to keep the paper in place.
- Make 10cm slits at the bottom of the silage tube to enhance effluent drainage.
The silage will be ready for utilization after 30 days. It is best fed to pigs that are over three months of age and weigh more than 25kg. A pig consumes about 3-6% of its body weight per day, and 40% of this can come from the silage and 60% from pig feeds (concentrates).
By incorporating sweet potato silage into their feeding regimen, pig farmers can reduce their feed costs, increase their profits, and improve the health and well-being of their animals.
