Many studies have been performed to identify factors that reduce the utilization of peas; however, peas are essentially well-digested by poultry (Conan and Carre 1989 {86}). Peas are ideal for commercial and on-farm feed manufacture because they contain low levels of ANFs and excellent performance can be obtained without heat treatment prior to use in rations. However, steam pelleting reduced the difference in starch digestion between cultivars (Carre et al. 1991{57}), and potential benefits seen from processing feed peas may be due to both improved digestion and reduced variability.
Nutrient accessibility and ANFs may be two elements
which limit the nutrient availability of peas for poultry and
it is possible that each may be obscuring the antinutritional
impact of the other. Autoclaving significantly increases the
AMEn value of pea samples. In one study (Conan and Carre 1989{86}),
enhanced starch and protein digestibility was considered responsible
for 49.6 - 89.5 and 11.6 - 51.0% of the AMEn improvement, respectively.
Because improvements in starch digestibility had a larger net
impact on AMEn, it appeared that nutrient inaccessibility was
responsible for a greater part of the reduction in nutrient value.
However, in pelleted diets which had improved nutrient availability,
the relationship between TIA and protein digestibility became
apparent (Carre and Conan 1989{94}). Appreciation of ANF and
nutrient accessibility effects will be important in order to assess
improvements from processing and genetic selection.
Brown, M.D. 1991. Oligosaccharides in pea protein concentrate. Undergraduate thesis. University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, SK. Canada.
Weins, I. 1992. A study on the effects of oligosaccharides
in the diets of broiler chicks. Undergraduate thesis. University
of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, SK. Canada.