Fonti proteiche vegetali non convenzionali nell'alimentazione di suini idonei all'allevamento all'aperto: digeribilità e bilancio azotato

The study was carried out to evaluate on growing pigs kept in metabolism crates, either belonging to a “traditional” cross-breed (Duroc x Large White – DLW) or a local breed (Cinta Senese – CS), the digestibility and the nitrogen balance of non-conventional vegetable protein sources (i.e. common bean meal, grass pea meal and soybean cake) when compared to soybean meal. With respect to genetics, CS pigs showed a lower apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) for ether extract (46.41% vs 51.11%) and higher ADC for crude fibre (49.02% vs 39.95%), whilst Nitrogen balance was more favourable in DLW pigs (33.09% vs 23.06%). With respect to the protein source, the diet containing common bean showed the lowest ADC value for protein due to a reduced feed intake. The diet containing soybean cake had the highest ADC value for ether extract. Crude fibre digestibility was higher in diet containing grass pea. From our results it is concluded that grass pea and soybean cake but not bean meal can be considered as valuable non-conventional protein sources in swine nutrition.