Growth Performance of Weaned Pigs Fed Raw, Cold-Pelleted, Steam-Pelleted, or Extruded Field Pea

摘要

Field pea is an alternative energy and protein source for swine, yet feeding raw field pea to weaned pigs reduced feed efficiency (G:F). Growth performance of weaned pigs fed field pea processed using heat and friction is unknown. To explore, off-grade field pea was ground (4.0-mm sieve), processed via cold-pelleting (70-75°C), steam-pelleting (80-85°C) or extrusion (115°C), then re-ground (3.2-mm sieve). Diets included (per kg) 400 g raw, cold-pelleted, steam-pelleted or extruded field pea replacing 300 g soybean meal (SBM) and 100 g wheat grain and were formulated to 10.0 MJ net energy/kg and 12.1 g standardized ileal digestible lysine/kg. In total, 236 pigs (day 0 body weight: 10 kg; weaned at 20 days of age) were housed in 60 pens in 4 roomsand fed 1 of 5 diets starting 2 weeks post-weaning for 3 weeks. Overall (day 0-21), average daily feed intake (869-878 g/day) of pigs fed raw, cold-pelleted or extruded field pea diets, but not steam-pelleted field pea diet (855 g/day; P > 0.05), was greater (P < 0.05) than pigs fed SBM diet (807 g/day). Average daily gain did not differ among diets. Thus, G:F (0.61-0.62) of pigs fed raw, cold-pelleted or extruded field pea diets, but not steam-pelleted field pea diet (0.63; P > 0.05), was lower (P < 0.05) than pigs fed SBM diet (0.67). Final body weight of pigs fed raw, cold-pelleted, steam-pelleted, extruded field pea, or SBM diets were 21.3, 21.2, 21.4, 21.5 and 21.5 kg respectively, and were not affected (P > 0.05) by feeding/processing of field pea. To conclude, weaned pigs fed 400 g field pea/kg maintained growth compared to pigs fed SBM. Greater ADFI for field pea diets than SBM diet suggested increasing diet nutrient density may help maintain G:F. Steam-pelleting may be best to utilize low-cost off-grade field pea in weaned pigs to replace 300 g SBM and 100 g wheat grain/kg diet.