Pigs for fattening or breeding were raised to supplement the farm income especially during periods when income from crops is too low. Investments in raising pigs may be seen as savings in times when money is needed especially during festivals, planting season or start of school year.
Pigs were fed with crop-by-products like rice bran, broken rice, dried cassava, leucaena leaves, water hyacinth, morning glory, sweet potato leaves etc. To increase the protein level of the ration it was recommended to supplement protein concentrate. Low pig prices are inhibiting the technical and economic feasibility of this system. Pig prices for longer periods are unpredictable. Accepting this reality the project looks for a system in which pigs contribute more to the total system.
In Phayao Province farmers cooperating in the pig-crop system want to change to the farm pond based pig-fish-crop system. Another system which may be successful is the fish-in-paddy based pig-fish-crop system. These two systems are discussed below. In Mahasarakham Province feeding of crop-by-products in the pig-crop system was started on three farms in April 1984.
Pigs were first integrated in October 1983. Monitoring during a period of 2½ years provided the project interesting data. Different aspects of the pig component experienced in this period will be discussed in detail in C.
Crop-by-products are being used as supplementary feeds for pigs. Pig fattening and/or breeding provides income but in addition pig manure is used more intensively to raise the output of the fish in ponds indirectly. Pig manure fertilizes the farm pond which increases fish production. Contribution of the pig component to the system is being evaluated.
Ponds were dug on two farms in February 1985 in Phayao Province. In February 1986 some more ponds were dug. In Mahasarakham Province an “in-Station” farm pond based pig-fishcrop system was tried. The pig component was divided in three groups of 2 pigs. Each group got a different feed.
Results of the pig component in this system are reported and discussed in C. Management and production of the farm pond component are reported below.
a. On-Farm trial farm pond based pig-fish-crop system in Phayao Province.
| Field researcher | : | Mr. Pracha Doendao |
| Field technician | : | Mr. Somsak Chat-inta |
| Mr. Direk Klanpatum |
Farmer Luang has one breeding sow and 5 piglets for fattening. Pig manure was used to fertilize two fish ponds and a paddy field. Contribution of the pig component to the different systems is difficult to estimate. However a neighbour who dug a pond at the same time as Mr. Luang, but did not fertilize his pond, had no harvest from his pond yet. Stocking capacity was very low and the fish were still small. The grey colour of the water in the pond showed there was very little natural food for the fish in the pond.
The ponds of Mr. Luang showed water with a green colour full of phytoplankton. The farmer harvested seed fish from the two ponds of 200 m2 amounting to 1160 baht since Feb. 85. The fingerlings were sold as seed fish to other farmers. In November and December he harvested fish for consumption. Fourteen kg was consumed by his own family and 48 kg was sold in the local market for a total of 1155 baht. The whole system will be analyzed further when more data is available.
b. In-Station Farm pond based pig-fish-crop system in Mahasarakham Province.
| Field technician | : | Mr. Samrit Kambunkird |
| Mr. Supakarn Chaisuriwirat |
Six piglets (3 males + 3 females) of 40 kg each were bought on 18 April 1985. The new pig pen was build next to a fish pond of about 800 m2. The pigs were fed with rice bran, broken rice, concentrate, dried cassava and fresh leucaena. Pig manure fertilized the pond.
The fish pond was stocked with 1000 Puntius fingerlings which were bought for 100 baht.
A small quantity of fish was harvested so far. In November 1985, 22 kg of fish was harvested. The average weight of the fish was 85 grams. The January 1986, 46 kg of fish was harvested. The average weight was 140 grams per fish. The price of fish was about 20–25 baht/kg.
This unit was started to have the opportunity to examine the system and gain experience in the North-East. At present the system will be improved and used for demonstration during field days.
This is another possibility to make better use of pig manure. In this system pigs are raised as in the other systems. Fish, however, is raised in small canals around the paddy. When the paddy is flooded in the rainy season the fish can feed in the paddy. When the paddy dries up three month later the fish will be returned to the canals and should be harvested because the canals may be to small for 3–4 month old fish. The canals may be stocked with small seized fingerlings. These may be extended during the dry season. Pig manure from a pig pen next to the paddy fertilizes the paddy and canals.
This system was implemented on one farm in Phayao Province. Some other farmers showed interest and will be assisted when they decide to implement the same.
In this system duck housing is build above the pond and the ducks fertilize the pond. The ducks are raised for eggs to provide a daily income to the farmer. This is discussed with the Integrated Farming Group at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok who has the experience with this system. A revised design was implemented on four farms in Phayao Province. The ducks will be partly confined on the pond and partly roam around the farm and in the paddy fields. It will be examined how much feed needs to be supplemented during the several seasons of the year to sustain a production of at least 50%.
The farmers received twenty-two one-week old ducklings in November 1985. Three ponds were dug in February 1986. It is expected that the ducks will start laying in April 1986. Vegetables and fruit trees will be grown around the dike of farm ponds like in the other farm pond based systems.
Another six farmers in Phayao Province received twenty-two ducklings for laying. These farmers raise the ducks around the house and in the paddy fields. Crop-by-products will be supplemented as feeds. In March 1986 another 12 farmers will receive ducklings.
The first results of duck integration are promising the mortality of the ducklings during the first 4 months was low (<10%). The ducks are growing well. On five farms the average weights of the 16 week old ducks are as shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Average weight of 18 week old ducks
| Farmer | Average Weight (kg) |
| Luang | 1.53 |
| Bunpaan | 1.71 |
| Somchai | 1.75 |
| Ta | 1.61 |
| Mann | 1.82 |
| Control group in Station | 1.68 |
Native pasture was improved for cut and carry cattle feeding in Phattalung Province as reported before. This programme is mainly for cattle fattening. The Government encourages cattle fattening because the local demand for beef is growing faster than the production. In the South there is also a big potential for export to Malaysia. It is planned for this rainy season to improve pasture in the North. In Lampang and Phayao Province a survey will be organized in April to examine these possibilities. It is expected that in these areas draught is more important than cattle fattening.
Next to pasture other crops like Leaucaena, corn and legumes will be supplemented for cattle feeding.
