This paper describes the feeding and management system of smallholder pig production systems in Lao PDR and
discusses the main constraints of these systems. It also presents results of a survey of 30 pig producers who have
started to use the forage legume Stylosanthes guiananesis CIAT 184 (Stylo) as a supplement to existing feed
resources. The main benefits of including Stylo in the diet of village pigs were significant labour savings for
women, and improved growth rates of growing pigs.
Labour requirements were reduced from 195 minutes per day to 90-145 minutes per day for households that used
Stylo, which benefited mainly women. The main reason for the reduction in labour was that Stylo replaced
natural green feed which took a long time to collect, that it was readily available near the pig pens, and that it did
not require cooking before feeding. Households reported that the average time needed to grow a piglet from
weaning to sale weight of approximately 65kg was 18 months before the use of Stylo. With Stylo this period
was reduced to 8.7 months representing an increase in the daily growth rate from 107 to 207 g/day. While this is
still a relatively low daily growth rate, the improvement represents a very significant livelihood benefit to
households.
Stylo is a broadly adapted forage legume which grows well in most situations but is only of moderate quality
when compared to other legumes. Farmers are managing quality by cutting Stylo when it is still very young and
thus leafy and of high quality. The adoption of Stylo demonstrates the need for high-protein supplementary
feeds in village situations and the opportunity for the introduction other forage legumes. Apart from quality
considerations a new legume will need to fit well into the existing farming system. CIAT has recently started a
3-year research project (funded by ACIAR from May 2006 to December 2008) to investigate the reasons for the
beneficial effect of Stylo and to evaluate other legumes for use in smallholder pig production systems.