Peas have become an essential feed ingredient in swine production, thanks to their high content in lysine and their good digestible (DE) and net energy (NE) content in pigs. The digestible energy (DE) content of pea varieties grown in the Prairies in 2005 and 2006 was measured in growing pigs (25 and 50 kg) and in gestating sows (200 kg). Based on the DE content and the chemical composition of the peas, the net energy (NE) content of the latter was also estimated. The DE contents ranged from 3232 to 4555 kcal DE/kg DM in growing pigs and from 3441 to 4052 kcal DE/kg DM in sows. The DE content was, on average, 208 kcal DE/kg DM higher in 50kg-pigs, as compared to the 20kg ones. No marked difference was observed between growing pigs and sows. The NE content was, on average, 69% that of DE. Peas grown in different conditions present different chemical compositions and DE contents. However, no relationship could be established between composition and energy content. On the other hand, the results confirm that large pigs better digest peas than weaned pigs and that it makes sense to consider different energy contents for weaned pigs and larger pigs.
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