Robertson: Evaluation of Live Performance, Carcass Composition and Meat Quality for Hogs Fed Diets with Various Combinations of Peas, Canola Meal and Soybean Meal with Wheat or Corn as the Cereal Base
Date: September 2000
Term: n/a
Status: Completed
Researcher(s): W. Robertson, M.E.R. Dugan, S.J. Landry and G. Clayton, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe AB, K. Erin and S. Jaikaran, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Edmonton AB
SaskCanola Investment: n/a
Total Project Cost: n/a
Funding Partners: Pulse Canada, CCC, ACPC, AAFC Matching Investment Initiative
Project Summary
Researchers initiated a study in 1999 in Alberta to compare live animal performance, carcass composition and meat quality of pigs fed wheat based or corn based diets supplemented with peas, canola meal and soybean meal either alone or in combination. Overall, the results of the study clearly demonstrate that swine grower and finisher diets incorporating canola meal and/or peas produce carcasses of similar yield and composition, and pork of equal quality compared to diets supplemented with soybean meal. Increased use of canola meal and peas for supplementing swine diets would reduce the reliance on imported soybean meal, while establishing stronger markets for pea and canola producers.
Figure 1. Carcass and Meat Quality of Pigs Fed Diets Containing Peas and Canola Meal. To view in full, scroll to Page 3. Although soybean meal was used as the chief source of vegetable protein in swine diets in Western Canada for many years, other locally grown feedstuffs such as canola meal and peas were being included for economic reasons. Researchers initiated a study in 1999 in Alberta to compare live animal performance, carcass composition and meat quality of pigs fed wheat based or corn based diets supplemented with peas, canola meal and soybean meal either alone or in combination.
The feeding trials were conducted in two phases at the Lacombe Research Centre over a four month period. Six dietary treatments (3 wheat, 3 corn) were evaluated. Wheat was fed with soybean meal, peas and peas/canola mixture, while corn was fed with soybean meal, soybean/peas and soybean/canola mixtures. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed NRC 1998 requirements. The trial included 144 pigs starting at 50 kg live weight in the growing phase, with a finishing diet change at 80 kg to 110 kg live weight. Feed disappearance and live weights were recorded weekly throughout the feeding trial to determine the effect of dietary treatment on feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency. Carcass and meat quality were evaluated, and sensory panel evaluations were also conducted.
The trial results showed that feed intake on both wheat and corn diets were excellent and exceeded 2 kg per day. Although the feed intake of the canola meal dietary treatments was slightly lower, the feed conversion was similar for all treatments. Daily gains followed the same pattern as feed intake for all dietary treatments.
For both the corn and wheat diets, the supplementation with peas, canola meal or soybean meal had no effect on carcass grade, lean yield, proportion of cuts, loin eye area and overall proportion of lean, fat and bone in the four lean cuts. The marbling score assigned to loins from pigs fed the wheat-pea diet were one-half a marbling grade lower than for loins from pigs fed the wheat-soy diet. However, this one-half grade reduction in marbling score would not be expected to impact palatability characteristics. The dietary treatment did not affect pork quality characteristics (color and water holding properties) or sensory attributes. The panel did not find any differences in any of the sensory attributes assessed, including tenderness, juiciness or flavor intensity.
Overall, the results of the study clearly demonstrate that swine grower and finisher diets incorporating canola meal and/or peas produce carcasses of similar yield and composition, and pork of equal quality compared to diets supplemented with soybean meal. Researchers also recommend that when it is necessary to add supplemental fat to diets containing corn and canola meal, tallow should be used to reduce the risk of producing carcasses with unacceptable soft fat. Increased use of canola meal and peas for supplementing swine diets would reduce the reliance on imported soybean meal, while establishing stronger markets for pea and canola producers.