Peas (Pisum sativum L.) have 24% CP and could have the potential to partially replace soybean meal (SBM), which is the most used protein source in dairy diets in the USA. Sprouting can improve nutrient availability via enzymatic and structural modifications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of partially replacing soybean meal with sprouted peas or sprouted soybeans in dairy diets on ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and nutrient digestibility using a dual-flow continuous culture system. Six fermenters were used in a 3 × 3 duplicated Latin Square with 3 periods of 10 d each. The study evaluated 3 dietary treatments: a control diet containing 21.0% soybean meal (CON); a diet containing 16.2% soybean meal and 10.9% sprouted peas (SP); and a diet containing 15.0% soybean meal and 8.5% sprouted soybeans (SS) (DM basis). All diets had similar nutritional composition with 17% CP; 30% NDF; 41% NFC and 4.5% ether extract (DM basis) and they were fed twice daily to the fermenters, totaling 106 g/d of DM. The liquid and solid passage rate of the in vitro system was set to 11 and 5.5% per hour, respectively. Each experimental period had 7 d of adaptation, after that sample collection was done for 3 d to analyze ruminal fermentation at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h post-morning feeding from the fermenters. Composite samples were collected daily from the fermenter effluents to evaluate nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, and ruminal fermentation parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using the mixed procedure of SAS, data using time points were analyzed using repeated measures. The treatment effects were depicted using multiple comparisons and P values were adjusted using Tukey correction; significance was declared when P ≤ 0.05. There were no effects of treatment throughout the day for pH (LSM ± SEM: 6.04 ± 0.085); ammonia concentration (16.40 ± 0.606 mg/dL); total VFA concentration (83.31 ± 3.492 mM); nutrient digestibility, or nitrogen metabolism variables. These results indicate that partial replacement of soybean meal with sprouted peas or sprouted soybeans did not affect ruminal fermentation, supporting their potential use under the conditions evaluated.
Vicente et al. (Mon,) studied this question.