Lupins as a protein source in pig diets

To determine the potential use of sweet lupin seeds (Lupinus albus) as a protein source in nonruminant diets, the chemical composition and the protein quality of lupin seeds were estimated. The lupin seeds contained 30-35% crude protein. The NPR of lupins, supplemented with methionine was better than roasted soybeans and similar to SBM.

Pigs given the lupin, roasted soybean or SBM corn-based diet had a similar feed efficiency. Pigs given the lupin diet had lower feed intakes and reduced body weight due to a palatability problem. Pigs given the lupin corn-based diet had lower dressing percentages but had leaner carcasses with higher index values and backfat higher in unsaturated fatty acids than those given the roasted soybean or the SBM corn-based diet.

Including lupins at 20 or 32% of the barley-based diet resulted in reduced body weight gain of starter pigs, relative to pigs given the SBM-barley diet, as a result of reduced feed intake. Lupins included at 6% of a barley-based diet for starter pigs, 12% for grower pigs and 9% for finisher pigs, resulted in similar growth performance as those given the 0% lupin barley-based diet. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).