Effects of Alternative Cassava and Taro Feed on the Carcass and Meat Quality of Fattening Pigs Reared under Ecuadorian Backyard Systems

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Pork is currently the cheapest protein source in the world. In the traditional rearing of backyard pigs in regions of Ecuador, cassava and taro crops are frequently used as replacement alternatives to corn in pig feed formulations. In this study, the quality and characteristics of the carcass and the behavior of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of 30 fattening pigs reared under the backyard production system were analyzed. The animals were fed with a conventional or alternative diet based on the addition of cassava and taro in doses of 32% and 42%. The results showed a higher effect of the geographical location than the feed administered to the animals. The morphological traits were those with lower changes between groups than the gastrointestinal tract measurements. The proportions of alternatives used in the formulations must be optimized, since this directly increases the amount of protein in the meat and the weight of the GIT, decreasing the degree of fattening of the carcass. In the production of backyard pigs in Ecuador based on the use of by-products and agricultural waste, it is necessary to promote the standardization of the type of pig that is raised, taking into account geographical location and promoting the use of local genetic resources. ABSTRACT: Ecuadorian small producers use crossbred animals with a low level of genetic improvement, which are fed with alternative feeds to decrease production costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of geographical location and three diets according to the amount of cassava and taro incorporated into the feed (T1 conventional feed; T2 and T3 with 32% and 42% of cassava and taro, respectively) in pigs reared under the backyard system. The results did not show many differences between the treatments for morphological traits; however, between geographical locations, significant differences were evidenced. The fat content from the first rib was higher in the T1 group. The intramuscular fat percentage was higher in the T1 group, contrary to the protein levels, which were higher in the T3 group in Esmeraldas and the T2 group in Ro Chico. In the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and its attached organs, differences were found in the empty stomach weight, full and empty small intestine weight, liver weight, and total GIT weight, with the T2 and T3 groups having the largest and heaviest. Cassava and taro did not affect the morphometric behavior and quality of the carcass but increased the amount of protein in the meat and the weight of the GIT. Geographical location was also observed to have a significant effect.