Growth performance and carcass and meat quality of broiler chickens fed diets containing micronized-dehulled peas (Pisum sativum cv. Spirale) as a substitute of soybean meal

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of diets containing peas on productive traits, carcass yields, and fatty acid profiles (breast and drumstick meat) of broiler chickens. Hubbard strain broiler chicks, divided into 2 groups, received from 14 d to slaughtering age (49 d) a wheat middlings-based diet containing soybean (190 g/kg) or micronized-dehulled peas (400 g/kg) as the main protein source. The inclusion of peas did not significantly change the growth performance of birds. The pea level had no effect on the dressing percentage, the percentage of breast or drumstick muscles, and abdominal fat. The muscles of birds fed the pea diet had significant (P < 0.05) lower L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness, drumstick muscle) values and fat content. Instead, total collagen and water-holding capacity values were higher in the pea treatment. The polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration in breast and drumstick muscles was significantly increased with the alternative protein source inclusion, whereas the saturated fatty acid was similar among treatments. The n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio of the broiler drumstick meat decreased significantly in the pea group. Dietary pea inclusion improved the saturation index of meat without altering atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes. It can be concluded that the pea treatment tested had a positive effect on the performance and meat quality of broiler chickens.

Effects of different amounts of field peas (Pissum sativumL.) in the diets for turkeys on meat qualities

“…Savage et al(1986) have reported that the differences for the content of abdominal fat between the male and female turkeys fed from 20% to 55% peas and the turkeys of the control groups were respectively 0.46-0.67% and 1.13-1.36%, but this difference was insignificant (P > 0.05). This, regarding the abdominal fats, is in agreement with the findings of Bekric et al (1990) and Laudadio and Tufarelli (2010) in their trials with chicken broilers fed, respectively, 27% and 40% peas. The breast muscle content of males in the trial groups was from 0.44% to 1.83% lower in comparison with the control group, but this difference was insignificant.…”

“…This is in agreement with the studies of Savage et al (1986), who conducted a similar trial with peas and obtained the same results, with the study of Christodoulou et al (2006) where turkeys were fed from 20% to 80% of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and also with the studies of Laudadio and Tufarelli (2010) and Nalle (2009), who conducted trials with chicken broilers (20-40% peas) and found no relationship between the breast and thigh muscle percentage and weight of internal organs in relation to the feed composition. Conversely to the studies of Savage et al (1986) and Christodoulou et al (2006) who found no correlation between the content of female abdominal fat and the content of peas or chickpeas in the diet or gender Table 2.…”

“…On the other hand, our results agree with those of Laudadio and Tufarelli (2010) who found that 40% peas in the diets of broiler chickens had significantly reduced the fat content in the muscles.…”

“…These findings are in agreement with the results of Savage et al (1986) who indicated that the carcass dressing difference between male turkeys fed compound feeds containing from 20% to 55% of peas and pea-free diets (control group) was only 0.09%, whereas correspondingly between female turkeys 0.36%, and the differences were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05; Savage et al 1986). Furthermore, Nalle (2009) and Laudadio and Tufarelli (2010) also found that the dressing percentage of broiler chickens were not affected (P > 0.05) by 20% and 40% pea treatments during the 35-day and 49-day grow-out period. The anatomic carcass dissection indicated that the content of shoulder muscles in the males of the control group was from 0.28% to 0.61% (P > 0.05-P < 0.05) higher than that of the trial groups (Groups 1-3) and conversely than was the case with females from Groups 2 and 3.…”

Effects of lupin seed supplementation on egg production performance, and qualitative egg traits in laying hens

“…However, increasing demand for soybean meal, associated with the increase in poultry production worldwide, has resulted in increased prices (Laudadio and Tufarelli 2010). Due to low protein content, amino acid imbalances, and the presence of anti-nutritional factors, few plant protein sources are suitable as replacements for soybean meal in poultry diets (Rubio et al 2003).…”