Exocrine pancreatic secretions in young pigs fed diets containing faba beans (Vicia faba) and peas (Pisum sativum): concentrations and flows of total, protein-bound and free amino acids

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of feeding diets containing faba beans and peas on the concentration, flow and composition of total, protein-bound and free amino acids (AA) in pancreatic juice collected from young pigs fitted with a pancreatic pouch re-entrant cannula. In Experiment 1, eight barrows, with an average initial weight of 8.5 kg, were fed one of two semi-purified diets formulated to contain 200 g kg-1 crude protein (CP) according to a completely randomised design. In one of the diets, soya bean meal was the sole protein source; in the other diet, soya bean meal and faba beans (cv Fibro; dark-flowering) each supplied 50% of the dietary CP. In Experiment 2, five barrows, with an average initial weight of 18.1 kg, were fed one of two diets formulated to contain 150 g kg-1 CP with peas (cv Ascona or cv Radley) as the sole protein source. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of the diet, 8 h sampling period or experimental period on the concentration (mM), composition (% and g 16 g N-1) and flow (mmol 24 h-1) of total, protein-bound and free AA or on the percentage of protein-bound AA in pancreatic juice. The concentrations of total, protein-bound and free AA were higher in pancreatic juice collected from younger pigs in Experiment 1 than in pancreatic juice collected from older pigs in Experiment 2. However, the daily flows of total, protein-bound and free AA in pancreatic juice were similar in both experiments. The percentages of protein-bound AA in pancreatic juice were similar in both experiments. In conclusion, the concentrations, compositions and flows of total, protein-bound and free AA in pancreatic juice were not affected by diet, 8 h sampling period or experimental period.