COMPARISON OF 4 PEA VARIETIES IN PIG-FEEDING THROUGH DIGESTIBILITY AND GROWTH-PERFORMANCE RESULTS

Four pea (Pisum sativum hortense) batches corresponding to four varieties were selected according to their trypsin inhibiting activity (Solara, H 61, Laser and Frijaune with respectively 2.9, 2.4, 9.7 and 12.8 TUI/mg DM). Their fecal apparent energy and crude protein digestibility were measured with four castrated pigs between 35 and 80 kg. Their ileal apparent digestibility for crude protein and amino acids was determined with three castrated males between 40 and 60 kg fitted with a end to end ileo rectal anastomosis. Moreover a growth trial was carried out with 384 weaned piglets between 8 and 25 kg fed ad lib to compare diets containing 40% Solara, Laser or Frijaune and a control diet. Fecal digestible energy of pea do not differ from one to another variety (on an average 16.8 MJ/kg DM). Ileal digestibility of crude protein and amino acids seems negatively affected by the trypsin inhibiting activity and ADF content of the peas. In the growth trial, feed consumption is lower and feed conversion ratio higher with pea containing diets than with the control diet (respectively -2.4, -6.0 and -3.7% for consumption and 4.0, 7.0 and 6.3% for feed conversion with Solara, Laser and Frijaune). The differences in feed efficiency can be explained partly by the differences of intake in digestible nutrients. Other explanations are discussed.