Peas provide considerable phosphorus (P) with higher availability of P (47%) than many plant sources. Bone bending moment of metacarpal bones (20 kg pigs) responded linearly to 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 g kg-1 P supplied either from monosodium phosphate (p<0.01) or peas (p<0.05) but not to diets containing SBM (Ketaren et al. 1980 {1390}). Pallauf et al. (1994 {1295}) reported that, in contrast to maize-SBM diets where all phytate P was indigestible, a diet based on faba beans, wheat, peas and barley showed 37% of phytate P to be digested. Supplementation of microbial phytase at 350 and 700U kg-1 kg increased P, Ca, Mg and Zn utilization in pigs (12 -16 kg).
High fibre levels have been implicated in interfering
with mineral absorption by pigs. Increasing pea hulls had no
effect on apparent absorption of calcium, phosphorus or magnesium
nor were these minerals available for absorption from the pea
hull. However apparent absorption of sodium and potassium was
significantly reduced (P<0.001) by pea hull addition. It was
suggested that some fibre components (other than cellulose) may
have a greater propensity to bind monovalent rather than polyvalent
cations since there was higher excretion of sodium and potassium
but not of calcium, phosphorus or magnesium (Stanogias et
al. 1994 {1299}).