Utilization of white-flowered smooth-seeded spring peas ( Pisum sativum hortense, CV Amino) by the breeding sow

Abstract

Utilization of white-flowered smooth-seeded spring peas ( Pisum sativum hortense, CV Amino) in diets for sows was studied in an experiment with 536 litters from 137 individually-fed sows. Control sows were fed on diets based on cereal and soya-bean meal whereas for sows of the experimental group cereal and soya-bean meal were partly replaced by 16% pea meal in gestation diets and 24% pea meal in lactation diets. Diets with pea meal were well consumed. Changes of sow liveweight with successive parities were similar in control and experimental groups. On average, there was no difference in litter size between the two groups. Piglet birthweight, weaning weight and piglet mortality rate did not differ significantly between the control and experimental groups. Farrowing frequency was similar in the two groups and culling rate of sows was slightly less in the experimental group. It is concluded that white-flowered smooth-seeded spring peas can be widely used in diets for sows without any adverse effects.