Soybean vs. Pea Bean in the Diet of Medium-Growing Broiler Chickens Raised under Semi-Intensive Conditions of Inner Mediterranean Areas: Growth Performance and Environmental Impact.

Antonella Fatica,Elisabetta Salimei,Francesco Fantuz,Giuseppe Maiorano,Siria Tavaniello,Mengjun Wu

doi:10.3390/ani12050649

Antonella Fatica, Elisabetta Salimei + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050649

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Abstract

Simple SummaryGrowth performance of medium-growing broiler chickens raised under semi-intensive conditions was evaluated comparing two different dietary treatments and two different genotypes. Starting from the dietary ingredients traditionally used, soybean was totally replaced by pea bean. The experimental diets were also compared from an environmental point of view simulating the annual global warming potential of the diets. Neither genotype nor dietary treatment affected feed consumption and growth performance, suggesting that the total replacement of soybean with pea bean can be a valuable feeding strategy, also from the economic point of view. A diet containing pea slightly reduced the total greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emitted on a yearly basis. The results of the present study suggest that replacing soybean with pea bean can be a sustainable feeding strategy in broiler chicken production of inner Mediterranean areas, from both economic and environmental perspectives.The effects of Glycine max L. (SOY) vs. Pisum sativum L. (PEA) in the diet were investigated on in vivo performance of two medium-growing broiler genotypes and on environmental impact. Sixty Kabir Red Plus and sixty New Red chickens were randomly allocated in 20 pens (n = 6 birds per pen). Each pen, i.e., experimental unit, received 1.18 kg dry matter (DM) including soybean (3.39%) in SOY, or pea bean (6.78%) in PEA groups. DM intake, DM refusals and bodyweight (BW) were recorded on pen basis, and average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were calculated. Data on in vivo performance were processed by ANOVA General Linear Model followed by Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc test. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were evaluated on a year basis by GLEAM-i software. The diet did not affect (p > 0.05) DM intake and DM refusals, BW, ADG and FCR. Diet x genotypes affected (p < 0.05) DM intake and DM refusals. PEA diet, cheaper than SOY diet, allowed the reduction in total GHG and CO2, and of meat emission intensity. However, an increase in total CH4 and N2O emissions was observed. The replacement of soybean with pea bean can represent a possible management strategy to reach trade-off between good farming practices and environmental protection on small-scale poultry farms of inner Mediterranean areas.

Highlights

Soybean (Glycine max L.), the most common protein source in the poultry diet, is mainly imported from non-European countries [1,2]
Dietary treatment as well as chicken genotype did not significantly affect dry matter intake and growing performance of broilers raised under semi-intensive conditions, a significant interaction between diet and genotype was observed
A diet including pea bean was cheaper than that including soybean in the investigated short–medium period

Summary

Introduction

Soybean (Glycine max L.), the most common protein source in the poultry diet, is mainly imported from non-European countries [1,2]. Of the broiler chicken production total expenses [4]. For these reasons, alternative protein and energy sources and agroindustry by-products locally available have been increasingly considered as cheaper choice for poultry dietary vegetal ingredients [5]. Because consumers increasingly consider ethical issues related to meat production besides safety and quality, the inclusion of pea bean or other legumes, i.e., faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and lupin seeds (Lupinus albus L.), appears more widespread in broiler diets in semi-intensive rearing systems [4]. Focusing on well-being and housing conditions, chicken meat production is more oriented towards less intensive systems, for which medium- and slow-growing broiler strains have been recommended [7]. Medium- and slow-growing chickens are more suitable for alternative production systems for their higher vitality, disease resistance, and adaptability to outdoor conditions than fast-growing chickens [8–11]

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