Livestock Research Institute's research on replacing cornmeal with off-grade sweet potatoes succeeds, writing a brand-new page

(Taiwan TB News Network / Reporter Chen Mingzong) In recent years, due to the international pandemic and rising shipping costs, the prices of imported raw materials such as corn and soybeans have risen and supply has been unstable. Therefore, the Livestock Research Institute of the Council of Agriculture conducted research on replacing cornmeal with off-grade sweet potatoes to assist in the resource recycling and reuse of off-grade sweet potatoes. On the 18th, the results were published, and a contract was signed with Jinxiang Biotechnology, writing a brand-new page for the promotion of domestic circular agriculture.

The Livestock Research Institute stated that sweet potato is a high-starch energy raw material. In recent years, the production of diversified sweet potato products by enterprises has become increasingly vigorous. The planting area of sweet potatoes has steadily grown to 9,700 hectares, with an annual output of nearly 250,000 metric tons. Simply estimated at 24% off-grade products, the annual amount of off-grade sweet potatoes is nearly 60,000 metric tons, creating tremendous pressure on the industry to dispose of off-grade sweet potatoes. In practice, using off-grade sweet potatoes as feed may be more economically feasible.

The Livestock Research Institute began research two years ago on replacing cornmeal with off-grade sweet potatoes. Through silage preparation technology, they are converted into feed raw materials edible by lactating cows, effectively converting the residues into a source of high-quality animal nutrition for the people, while reducing production costs, enhancing industry competitiveness, and helping reduce environmental burden.

The Livestock Research Institute pointed out that feeding sweet potatoes to livestock and poultry requires attention to the appropriate amount. Feeding trials on lactating cows showed that sweet potato silage can serve as a feed raw material source for lactating cows, but replacing high amounts of cornmeal with sweet potato silage will significantly reduce milk yield and gross income. It is recommended to replace cornmeal at low to medium amounts, which can increase gross income by about 5%.

In September of this year, the Livestock Research Institute transferred this feed technology to Jinxiang Biotechnology, an affiliated enterprise of Guaguayuan Company, and jointly facilitated the launch of Hanji Cattle Fresh Milk, writing a brand-new page for the promotion of domestic circular agriculture.
               The Livestock Research Institute conducts research on replacing cornmeal with off-grade sweet potatoes with successful results