To investigate the effects of dietary pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) seed meal (PM) on growth performance in early life stage of pigs and whether the raw PM could be used as a plant protein resource, 32 piglets were randomly allotted into 0, 10, 20 and 30% dietary PM groups of 8 pigs (2 pigs attained to the final 30kg body weight. Then, the composition of basal diet was changed from piglet diet to growing pig (30-60kg) diet. In both experimental feeding periods, feed intake, body weight gain, feeding period (day) until respective final body weights and feed conversion ratio were measured. Up to 20% PM group in growing pigs, there was no definite difference in the feed intake between each group, but the body weight gain tended to insignificantly decrease with the increasing dietary PM level, resulting in the insignificant increase of the feeding period and feed conversion ratio. However, all parameters significantly changed (P<0.05) at 30% PM level in growing pigs except in the feed conversion ratio which showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between 10 and 30% PM levels.This suggests that as a plant protein source the PM could be incorporated beyond the 30% level for piglet diet (53.4% substitution rate of PM for soybean meal) and up to the 20% level for growing pig diet (76% substitution rate of PM for soybean meal) and that the effective utilization of PM enables to reduce the feed cost in pig production.

De-oiled perilla seed (Perilla frutescens L.), referred to as perilla meal, is rich in α-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3). The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of increasing levels of perilla meal in broiler diets to modify the fatty acid composition and other properties of meat quality. Two-hundred broilers were divided into five groups and fed diets with 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% perilla meal. The breast and thigh meat of the broilers, slaughtered at 42 days of age, were subjected to in-depth physicochemical and sensory analyses. The results showed that perilla meal efficiently modified the fatty acid compositions of the lipids of both muscles. Saturated fatty acids declined, especially C14:0 and C16:0, whereas monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased significantly in both muscle groups. The C14:1, C16:1, and C18:3 n-3 levels were found to be significantly different between treatment groups, in which the highest values were noticed in the perilla meal groups. Small increases in n-6 fatty acids resulted in commensurate decreases in n-6:n-3 ratios. Increased C18:3 n-3 proportions, as well as extended oxidative stability, were observed particularly in the 2% perilla meal inclusion. Perilla meal also increased protein content and water holding capacity (WHC), and decreased fat content and shear force; whereas the sensory evaluations were unchanged in both portions of meat.

There is an ongoing search for novel protein sources suitable to replace soybean meal. The present study aimed to investigate the utility of cold-pressed perilla seed meal for broiler diets. Perilla meal was included at dietary levels of 0, 4, and 8 %. In the first experiment, apparent digestibility and metabolisability of nutrients were performed with 24 Cobb 500 broilers. In the second experiment, growth performance and carcass quality were investigated in 120 Cobb 500 broilers. The inclusion of perilla meal into the diet in an iso-nitrogenous way increased feed intake and metabolisability of nitrogen but decreased the digestibility of fat and fiber as well as the metabolisability of energy. The highest proportion of perilla meal enhanced the growth performance. Carcass weight and dressing percentage did not differ among groups. Proportions of total retail cuts and, among them, breast meat and thighs, were elevated by using perilla meal, especially at a level of 8 %. The proportion of abdominal fat declined with increasing levels of perilla meal. In conclusion, perilla meal turned out to be a valuable protein source in broiler nutrition. It also showed that part of the soybean meal could be replaced without risking adverse effects on growth performance and carcass quality.