Aim

To demonstrate whether peas and faba beans can replace SBM in grower and finisher pig diets under commercial conditions.

The commercial demonstration trial

• A large scale demonstration trial was conducted on a commercial farm using 1230 grower and finisher pigs (35-110kg) kept on slats or straw.
  
  
• Three types of pelleted feeds were tested:
  1. SBM diet (Control)
  2. 30% faba beans, no SBM (Beans)
  3. 30% peas, no SBM (Peas)
  
  
  
• Pig growth performance, health, cleanliness and carcass quality (P2 value and lean meat per cent) were measured.

Results

• Test diets resulted in similar body weight gain (Figure 1) and feed conversion ratio (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Body weight gain (g/pig/day) of pigs (35-110kg) fed control, bean and pea diets kept on slats or straw.

Figure 1: Body weight gain (g/pig/day) of pigs (35-110kg) fed control, bean and pea diets kept on slats or straw.

Figure 2: Feed conversion ratio of pigs (35-110kg) fed control, bean and pea diets kept on slats or straw.

• Pig health and cleanliness were similar between the test diets.
• Test diets resulted in similar P2 value or lean meat per cent. Mean P2 values obtained were all below the 12mm upper limit for premium carcass payment (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Back fat depth at the P2 position of pigs fed control, bean and pea diets kept on slats or straw.

Conclusions

• Peas and faba beans are a viable home-grown alternative to SBM in nutritionally balanced grower and finisher pig diets.