Performance Results and Concentrations of Biochemical Indices and Mineral Elements in Blood Serum of Fatteners Fed Diets Containing Mixtures of Raw Seeds of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) or Blue Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of using pea and blue lupine seeds as replacers for genetically modified soybean meal (SBM-GM), traditionally used in pig feeding, on their production results, health and body homeostasis. The public is often opposed to the use of feed with GM materials in animal nutrition, which is why the search for alternative sources of feed protein that can be used in commercial production is underway. Despite the differences in the level of biochemical indices and mineral elements concentration in blood serum in pigs fed diets containing pea or blue lupine seeds, the study did not show their negative impact on the production parameters and body homeostasis. The results obtained indicate that legumes seeds—pea and blue lupin—can offer an alternative to SBM-GM. It has been shown that pea or blue lupine seeds in the diet of fattening pigs allows to achieve similar production results and do not adversely affect the homeostasis of the animal body. ABSTRACT: Two experiments were conducted with fatteners (♀ (Landrace × Yorkshire) × ♂ duroc), 50 animals each (10 pigs per group). The fatteners from the control group (C) were administered feed mixtures with genetically modified soybean meal (SBM-GM) used as the only protein source; whereas these from experimental groups (E1–E4) received feed mixtures in which the SBM-GM was replaced with increasing amounts of raw seeds of pea (Experiment I) or blue lupin (Experiment II): E1—5.0%, E2—10.0%, E3—15.0%, and E4—17.5%. Once the fattening period was completed, production results were determined, and selected blood serum indices were assayed to establish the effect of the nutritional factor on body homeostasis and health status of the animals. Pigs from all groups revealed a similar growth rate and meatiness (p > 0.05). In Experiment I serum analyses showed lower (p < 0.001) concentrations of: cholesterol in E1, E3 and E4; creatinine in E1 and E4 and urea in E3 and E4, compared to the C. In Experiment II, lower (p < 0.001) concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine-aminotransferase, total protein, and Mg were determined in the serum of fatteners from E1–E4 compared to the C. Even though values of all analyzed blood markers differed among the groups, in most cases they fitted within reference values for the species, which indicates the maintenance of body homeostasis. Study results show that there are no contraindications to the use of pea and blue lupin seeds as alternative feed materials to SBM-GM in pig fattening.