UK study reveals peas and beans value in poultry diet

Home-grown peas and beans show a valuable source of protein for poultry diets, according to Helen Masey O'Neill from Nottingham University.

Feed ingredients, fat content and biofuel by-products were all scrutinised at the recent World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) meeting in Belfast, UK.

A recent study involving Ross broilers had confirmed that legumes were a valuable source of protein to poultry and had sought to determine which varieties were most suitable.

The trial had looked at six varieties of beans and seven varieties of peas, all selected for having low levels of trypsin inhibitors - the naturally-occurring chemicals that interfere with efficient digestion in the bird, Dr O'Neill explained.

The research found that peas had a significantly better digestibility of crude protein and amino acids than beans. At the same time there was no difference in protein digestibility between the different varieties of peas, or the different varieties of beans.

"However, there is considerable variability in trypsin inhibitor activity between pea samples, so evaluating peas for this variable is essential for their use in diets for non-ruminants," she added.

Dr O'Neill also acknowledged that ensuring continuity of supply on a commercial scale was likely to be more of an impediment to widespread use of UK-grown legumes under current circumstances than purely economic considerations.

The work was funded through DEFRA, and stemmed from the UK feed industry being massively reliant on imported soy for dietary protein.