G. Salvadori’s scientific contributions

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and Faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor) are valuable sources of protein and energy for monogastric animals, traditionally cultivated in the Mediterranean area. They can partially or even totally replace soybean meal, that is very expensive and often derived from GM plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate some immunological and metabolical parameters in fattening pigs fed diets containing pea or faba bean meal as partial substitution of soybean. The trial was carried out using 30 post-weaned female piglets divided into three dietary treatments formulated to be isoenergetic and isoproteic; one group received only soybean as protein source while the others received 20% of pea and 18% of faba bean as partial substitution of soybean. At the beginning (T0), in the intermediate stage (T1) and at the end of the trial (T2), blood samples were taken from the tail vein. The following parameters were investigated in serum: ALP, ALT, AST, total bilirubin, cholesterol, glucose, NEFA, total protein, triglycerides, GGT, albumin, bactericidal activity, haemolytic complement, lysozyme. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA including in the model the diet, the date of sampling and their interaction; the values at T0 were used as covariate. The different diets affected only NEFA while the date of sampling affected several parameters: cholesterol, triglycerides, bactericidal activity (p<0.05) and ALP, glucose and lysozyme (p<0.01). Some parameters resulted out of the normality range (AST, cholesterol, NEFA, triglycerides, albumin, bactericidal activity, haemolytic complement) independently from the diet and from the date of sampling with the exception of glucose, which in the second sample, returned in the normal range. From these results it can be observed that the tested diets did not result in changes in metabolic and immunological profile of pigs during fattening, then faba beans and peas could partially substitute soybean in fattening pigs diets.