Replacement of soya bean meal with peas and faba beans in growing/finishing pig diets: Effect on performance, carcass composition and nutrient excretion

G. A. White*, L. A. Smith, J. G.M. Houdijk, D. Homer, I. Kyriazakis, J. Wiseman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is now an increasing debate about the viability of using temperate-grown legumes in pig diets as a potential replacement for imported soya bean meal (SBM) and this is due to food security, sustainability and environmental concerns. Two trials were designed to examine nitrogen (N) retention, growth performance and carcass quality of grower and finisher pigs when fed nutritionally balanced SBM-free diets formulated to contain peas or faba beans at 300 g/kg, compared to an SBM-containing, pulse-free control diet. Trial 1 evaluated N digestibility/retention in four iso-energetic diets, comparing the SBM control with one diet formulated with peas and two with faba bean cultivars; a tannin-containing and a tannin-free variety. This trial employed a four by four Latin Square design with four male pigs housed in metabolism crates, fed twice daily at 0.9 of assumed ad libitum intake over four time periods during grower (30-55 kg) and finisher (55-95 kg) phases. Quantitative faecal and urine collection allowed determination of N coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility, coefficient of apparent metabolisability, and N balance. Results revealed that dietary treatment did not affect these N parameters (P> 0.05) during either the grower or finisher phase. Trial 2 evaluated growth performance (feed intake, daily live weight gain and feed conversion ratio) and carcass quality parameters. Five diets (based on SBM, peas and one of three faba bean cultivars) balanced for standard ileal digestible amino acids and net energy were each fed to eight replicates of individually housed entire male pigs over the same growth phases as Trial 1. The inclusion of three faba bean varieties allowed comparison of animal responses between tannin/tannin-free and spring vs. winter bean cultivars. At ~95 kg, pigs were slaughtered and a comprehensive range of carcass measurements undertaken. Samples of shoulder backfat were also taken at slaughter to determine skatole and indole concentrations. As with N balance, feeding treatment did not affect performance data. Carcass parameters revealed pigs fed with the pea-based diet had a greater dressing percentage than those animals on faba bean-based diets. Pigs fed with the SBM or pea-based diets also had greater lean meat percentages than those on faba-bean diets. Mean skatole concentrations for all pigs were below the accepted maximum threshold level of 0.2 μg/g. In conclusion, it is suggested that peas and faba beans can be successfully fed in balanced pig diets throughout the grower/finisher periods as alternatives to SBM.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)202-210
JournalAnimal Feed Science and Technology
Volume209
Early online date01 Oct 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Nov 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Technical input from the Bio Support Unit (University of Nottingham) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors would like to thank Fran Whittington (University of Bristol, UK) for skatole/indole analyses and Jim Craigon (University of Nottingham) for statistical advice. Feeds were manufactured by Target Feeds, Whitchurch, Shropshire, UK. This research was carried out as part of the ‘Green Pig’ project, and was financially supported by BOCM Pauls (Ipswich, UK), BPEX , (Kenilworth, UK), Evonik Industries (Essen, Germany), Harbro (Turriff, UK), MPP (Burton on Trent, UK), PGRO (Peterborough, UK), Premier Nutrition (Rugeley, UK), QMS (Edinburgh, UK), Soil Association (Bristol, UK) and UNIP (Paris, France) with match funding from Defra, through the Sustainable Livestock Production LINK programme . SRUC receives support from Scottish Government (RESAS).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Carcass
  • Legumes
  • Nitrogen balance
  • Performance
  • Pigs
  • Soya bean meal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology

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