December 19, 2007

 

US pig producers count on flowering plant extract to cut ammonia

 

 

US pig industry professionals are counting on a flowering plant, the yucca schidigera extract, for moderation of ammonia and better waste management in their swine farms.

 

A study by the National University of Ireland in Galway in Ireland; and the University of Plymouth, in England found that the addition of yucca extract to swine diets decreases urine ammonia concentrations to 12 - 36 percent.

 

The research involved allocating 24 large white crossbred pigs (12 male and 12 female, 25-30 kilogramme) to three dietary treatments.

 

The treatments consisted of a control, control plus De-Odorase (Yucca schidigera extract). Each animal was measured for weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratios and dry matter intake in the course of six weeks.

 

The researchers gathered that the addition of 120 ppm Yucca extract to the diet increased daily liveweight gains by 52 gramme/day.

 

Serum urea and ammonia showed lower response to De-Odorase (120 ppm), with significant reductions in serum ammonia noted at the sixth week.

 

The study proves the plant's benefits to US pork producers who are seeking more effective ways on manure management techniques due to expansion of swine operations.

 

According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, the US has an inventory of more than 62 million pigs which reside in less than 100,000 operations.

 

What concerned large swine producers most was the 1.5 tonnes of waste produced by each pig at 250 pounds at the time it goes to market. The USDA said that waste material such as manure, urine and bedding is the single major source of environmental damage from enclosed animal production.

 

The problem of ammonia, as the research showed, could be remedied with the use nature-made products such as a yucca schidigera extract.