ECO-PIG - Development of an innovative feed mixture for outdoor finishing of males from local pig breeds, to benefit meat quality and production system sustainability

Cofinanciado por:
Acronym | ECO-PIG
Project title | ECO-PIG - Development of an innovative feed mixture for outdoor finishing of males from local pig breeds, to benefit meat quality and production system sustainability
Project Code | POCI-01-0247-FEDER-072226
Main objective | Reforçar a Investigação, o desenvolvimento tecnológico e a inovação

Region of intervention | Portugal

Beneficiary entity |
  • DIN – Desenvolvimento e Inovação, S.A.(líder)
  • Universidade de Évora(parceiro)

Approval date | 18-11-2020
Start date | 31-12-2020
Date of the conclusion | 30-06-2023

Total eligible cost | 1099356.76 €
European Union financial support | FEDER - 760610.06 €
National/regional public financial support | COMPETE
Apoio financeiro atribuído à Universidade de Évora | 288934.13 €

Summary

The experience acquired in the PIGS+CARE and TREASURE projects led to the recognition of the opportunity to study the finishing of entire male pigs of the two main Portuguese autochthonous swine breeds, Alentejana (AL) and Bísara (BI), proposing an innovative feed management that makes use of nutrients with the potential to reduce boar taint. The aim is to develop a new finishing model with a low-cost complete feed, which can contribute to the sustainability and preservation of local swine genetic resources, giving them new products and flexibility by providing alternatives for obtaining the finished product. As feed is the production factor with the highest cost in swine production systems, it is crucial for the profitability and survival of the farm. Thus, it is proposed, together with the compound feed and additives industry, an innovative solution for the production of a commercial feed mixture, meeting the needs of finishing animals whenever there is a shortage of feed from the cork oak forest or the forest-pastoral environment. The aim is thus to create a mixture that enhances the use of agro-industrial by-products, which, due to its composition in dietary fibre and other components, can give the meat properties similar to those obtained in swine finished in grazing. This feed proposal, to be tested in the natural habitat of the AL and BI pigs, also aims to provide a solution that promotes the circular economy, creating synergies between the agri-food industry and animal production. New product flows and valorisation of by-products can contribute for new dynamics of economic valuation of the territory, in the up-country.


Goals, activities and expected/achieved results

Pretende-se criar uma mistura que valorize a utilização de subprodutos da agroindústria, que possa conferir à carne propriedades aproximadas às que se conseguem com suínos Alentejanos e Bísaros acabados em pastoreio. Esta proposta alimentar visa também disponibilizar uma solução que promova a economia circular, com novos fluxos de produtos e valorização de subprodutos que podem contribuir para novas dinâmicas de valorização económica do território, no interior do País.

Actividades:

1          Especificações Técnicas.
1.1       Definição da origem e das propriedades bioquímicas das novas matérias primas.
1.2       Definição dos efeitos pretendidos (desempenho zootécnico e sustentabilidade ambiental) com os novos ingredientes a utilizar nos suplementos e nas novas misturas alimentares.
1.3       Definição das especificações dos métodos de produção para os suplementos e novas misturas alimentares.
1.4       Definição e especificações do sistema de produção e da genética animal em que se enquadra o uso das novas misturas alimentares
2          Desenvolvimento.
2.1       Formulação das novas misturas alimentares.
2.2       Ensaios de alimentação e desempenho.
2.3       Análise laboratorial de amostras biológicas dos ensaios realizados.
2.4       Seleção, constituição e treino do painel de avaliação sensorial.
3          Construção de Protótipos e Pré-Séries.
3.1       Scale-up da produção dos novos suplementos.
3.2       Scale-up da produção das misturas alimentares.
4          Testes e Ensaios.
4.1       Avaliação e controlo da qualidade dos novos suplementos, das novas misturas alimentares.
4.2       Análise de ciclo de vida para o produto obtido.
4.3       Caracterização sensorial da carne e gordura obtidas dos animais experimentais.
5          Disseminação, comunicação e exploração de resultados.

 

 

We aim to create a mixture that enhances the use of agro-industrial by-products, which can give the meat properties similar to those obtained in swine finished in grazing. This feed proposal also aims to provide a solution that promotes the circular economy, promoting new product flows and valorisation of by-products that can contribute for new dynamics of economic valuation of the territory, in the up-country.

Activities:

1 Technical Specifications.
1.1 Definition of the origin and biochemical properties of new raw materials.
1.2 Definition of the intended effects (animal performance and environmental sustainability) with the new ingredients to be used in supplements and in new feed mixtures.
1.3 Definition of specifications of production methods for supplements and new feed mixtures.
1.4 Definition and specifications of the production system and animal genetics in which the use of new feed mixtures is intended
2 Development.
2.1 Formulation of new feed mixtures.
2.2 Animal feeding and performance trials.
2.3 Laboratory analysis of biological samples obtained in the trials.
2.4 Selection, constitution and training of the sensory evaluation panel.
3 Construction of Prototypes and Pre-Series.
3.1 Scale-up of the production of new supplements and feed mixtures.
4 Tests and Trials.
4.1 Evaluation and quality control of new supplements, new feed mixtures.
4.2 Life cycle analysis for the product obtained.
4.3 Sensory characterization of meat and fat obtained from experimental animals.
5 Dissemination, communication and exploitation of results.

Attribute Type Value
id integer 4943