Pea chips may be a good alternative to corn and soybean meal in swine diets

Producers who add pea chips to swine diets may be able to save money on feed without sacrificing pig growth or performance, according to researchers from North Dakota State University and the University of Illinois. In a paper published this October in the Journal of Animal Science, the researchers analyzed how diets with varying amounts of pea chips affected growth and meat traits in a group of young female pigs. Pea chips are inexpensive byproducts of field peas, and this study showed that pea chips might be a good substitute for traditional ingredients, like corn and soybean meal.

The researchers used 24 young female pigs from the North Dakota State University Swine Research Unit. Pigs in the control group were given a diet with 0% pea chips and 18% corn and soybean meal. The three experimental diets contained gradually increased amounts of pea chips and gradually reduced amounts of corn and soybean meal. Similar diets were given during a late-finishing period.

After the feed trials ended, the pigs were slaughtered and their carcasses were evaluated. Although overall growth and carcass weight were not affected by the pea chip diets, there were some differences in meat quality. Pigs fed pea chips may have pork chops that are less tender than pigs fed corn and soybean meal, and pigs fed pea chips will also have lighter-colored pork chops and hams. These traits are important for producers in the pork export industry because many countries buying U.S. pork have very strict color specifications. Livestock managers and processing plant managers may want to take that into consideration if they are involved in pork exports.

Despite these differences in tenderness and color, adding pea chips to swine diets could save producers money in the long run. Corn and grain prices have increased in recent years, but pea chips are available at a very competitive price in the livestock industry. The experimental diets had no negative effects on traits like pork juiciness, marbling or flavor, so pea chips may be a very cost-effective and nutritious alternative to corn and soybean meal.

This study is titled “Effects of pea chips on pig performance, carcass quality and composition, and palatability of pork.” It can be read in full at http://journalofanimalscience.org/

Media contact:

Madeline McCurry-Schmidt
ASAS Scientific Communications Associate
MadelineMS@asas.org / 217-689-2435