Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to determine whether faba bean could successfully be used in feeds for weaner pigs in the period 10 to 25 kg liveweight. An experiment was conducted using 48 weaner pigs (average weight 10 ± 0.42 kg) to determine the nutritive value of dehulled faba bean meal (Vicia faba cv. Fiord) in comparison with full-fat soy. Two basal feeds were formulated, the first containing no faba bean but with full-fat soy (FFS) as the protein source, while the second contained 300 g faba bean/kg feed (FB). These feeds were blended to produce a series of five feeds (T1 to T5) containing a range of faba bean contents. In addition, a choice feeding treatment was included in the experiment to determine whether pigs showed preferences for or against faba bean. The experimental feeds were: 1) 1.0 FFS; 2) 0.75 FFS + 0.25 FB; 3) 0.5 FFS + 0.5 FB; 4) 0.25 FFS + 0.75FB; 5) 1.0 FB and 6) choice between FFS and FB. Feeds were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (1998) nutrient requirements of weaner pigs. Diluting full-fat soya with dehulled faba bean meal had no effect on growth rate (ADG), feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion efficiency (FCE) or time taken to attain final weight. Male pigs had a numerically higher ADFI (1150 vs. 992 g/d) and ADG (553 vs. 539 g/d) than females, and reached the final liveweight on average 3 d before the females. When given a choice between the two basal feeds, no preference was shown for either feed. It may be concluded that a feed for weaner pigs may contain as much as 300 g dehulled faba bean/kg without causing any deleterious effects on performance as long as the quality of the faba beans is the same as that used in this trial.
Highlights
Faba beans (Vicia faba) may be considered a potential source of protein and energy in pig feeds, being rich in both and with an amino acid content similar to that of soybean except for a lower level of methionine (Bond et al, 1985)
The digestible energy (DE) content of the two feeds was calculated from the gross energy (GE) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) using the equation of Whittemore (1998)
The results suggest that the nutritional quality of the two basal feeds was sufficiently similar in all respects such that performance was the same on all experimental feeds, and neither of the feeds was chosen in preference to the other
Summary
Faba beans (Vicia faba) may be considered a potential source of protein and energy in pig feeds, being rich in both and with an amino acid content similar to that of soybean except for a lower level of methionine (Bond et al, 1985). The use of faba bean as an alternative energy and protein source in growing pig feeds has produced contradictory results due to the level of inclusion in the feeds and the presence in some cases of anti-nutritional factors, most especially tannins (Marquardt et al, 1974; Abbey et al, 1979; Moseley & Griffiths, 1979; Brand et al, 1995). Where performance has been reduced by the inclusion of faba beans this has been attributed to the content of condensed tannins and nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) in the seeds. The testa of the majority of the commonly grown commercial varieties of faba bean is known to contain appreciable amounts of condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins)
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