The energy and protein value of lupins for ruminants

Abstract

A substantial proportion of the protein needs of highly productive ruminants in the UK is met by imported protein sources notably soya bean meal (SBM). New determinate varieties of sweet lupin (DSL) (Lupinus albus) low in alkaloids offer the potential to be a useful source of protein as agronomic conditions favour their cultivation in temperate climates where other proteinaceous legumes fail. There are at present no data on the new determinate varieties developed and under agronomic test in the UK. The objective of the work was to determine the chemical composition and the rumen degradability of nitrogen (N) of two UK varieties of lupins and to determine the digestibility and energy value of one of these varieties.The digestibility and metabolisable energy content of one new variety (CH304/70) of UK grown DSL was determined in a hay based diet using wether sheep (n = 5). The diets were offered in a 4 x 4 latin square design at foragexoncentrate ratios of 1.0, 0.9, 0.8 and 0.6 (dry matter (DM) basis) at near to the maintenance level of feeding.