Replacing Imported Energy Feeds by Storage of Excess Breadfruit as Out-of-season Pig Feed

Project Overview

FW06-307
Project Type: Professional + Producer
Funds awarded in 2006: $16,712.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2008
Region: Western
State: Federated States of Micronesia
Principal Investigator:
Jim Currie
College of Micronesia-FSM

Commodities

  • Animals: swine

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage
  • Crop Production: agroforestry, nutrient cycling
  • Education and Training: extension, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research

    Proposal abstract:

    Farmers in the states of Pohnpei, Kosrae and Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia stimulated this project based on three main concerns: 1) imported pig feed is primarily energy feed based on corn and small grains, 2) imported feed is expensive and 3) high energy feeds like breadfruit, common to all islands, are often wasted during the growing season. The abundant breadfruit is often lost to disease and fruit fly infestations. This project will use a modified indigenous traditional storage system to preserve breadfruit during the harvest season for use as feed during the off season. One farmer each in Pohnpei, Kosrae and Chuuk will conduct trails. The farmers will select the pigs, maintain the facilities, collect the data, mix the feed rations, feed and weigh the pigs and collect anecdotal information and opinions from neighbors concerning the perceived viability of the breadfruit storage and feeding trials. The goal is to reduce by at least 25% the feed for growing the pigs using fermented breadfruit.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.