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

Houdijk, J.G.M.; White, G.A.; White, Gavin A.; Smith, L.A.; Houdijk, J.C.M.; Homer, D.; Kyriazakis, I.; Wiseman, J.

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.

Citation

Houdijk, J., White, G., White, G. A., Smith, L., Houdijk, J., Homer, D., …Wiseman, J. (2015). Replacement of soya bean meal with peas and faba beans in growing/finishing pig diets: Effect on performance, carcass composition and nutrient excretion. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 209, 202-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.08.005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 12, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Aug 14, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Deposit Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Journal: Animal Feed Science and Technology
• Print ISSN: 0377-8401
• Electronic ISSN: 0377-8401
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 209
• Pages: 202-210
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.08.005
• Keywords: Pigs; Legumes; Carcass; Nitrogen balance; Performance; Soya bean meal
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/758956
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377840115300031
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Replacement of soya bean meal with peas and faba beans in growing/finishing pig diets: Effect on performance, carcass composition and nutrient excretion; Journal Title: Animal Feed Science and Technology; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.08.005; Content Type: article; Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.