Methionine Content and Availability in Varieties and Breeding Lines of Peas for Chicks

Abstract

The methionine content of 44 breeding lines of green, yellow (Pisum sativum L.), and Austrian winter peas (Pisum sativum arvense L.) was determined chemically and each sample of peas was fed to chicks with and without supplemental methionine. The crude protein (N × 6.25) of peas varied from 19.6 to 25.5%. Three lines of peas had a much higher level of methionine as determined chemically than other lines, but those lines did not support chick growth any better than the lines with lower methionine content. Supplementation with .2% DL-methionine significantly improved growth and protein efficiency ratio (PER) in all the pea lines tested. With supplemental methionine, a small number of pea lines had a PER that was not significantly different from soybean meal. This would suggest that protein availability among the pea lines tested differs or that some lines contain factors that depress chick growth. None of the peas were autoclaved before feeding.