• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.861-882
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• 2000

The seed, or grain, of modern cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius, commonly known as Australian sweet lupins (ASL), is an established feed resource for the intensive animal industries of Australia, Japan, Korea and several other countries in Asia and Europe. Since the introduction of ASL to the world marketplace about 25 years ago, researchers in many countries have found them to be a valuable component of the diet of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, finfish and crustaceans. The seed of ASL contains ~32% crude protein (CP) (~35% DM basis) and 5% oil. The main storage carbohydrates in the seed are the ${\beta}$-galactans that comprise most of the cell-wall material of the kernel and the cellulose and hemicellulose of the thick seed coats. ASL seeds contain about 40% non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and a negligible amount of starch. This makes them an excellent ingredient for ruminant diets, as the risk of acidosis is very low. The seed of modern cultivars of domesticated Lupinus species contain negligible amounts of lectins and trypsin inhibitors so they do not require preheating before being used as an ingredient in feeds for monogastric species. They have a high digestibility coefficient for protein, >90% for most species, but a low energy digestibility, ~60%, which is mostly due to the high content of NSP. The low content of methionine (0.22%) and of lysine (1.46%) is typical of the legumes. The lysine availability for pigs is >70%. Lupin kernels contain ~39% CP (~42% DM basis), 6% oil and 30% NSP. They have a higher digestible energy for pigs and finfish and a higher metabolisable energy for poultry than whole seed. Commercial operations rarely achieve complete separation of kernel from hull and it is more likely that the kernel fraction, called splits or meats, will contain ~36% CP. The replacement of soybean meal or peas with ASL in cereal-based diets for most intensively reared animals, birds and fish is possible provided lysine, methionine and digestible energy levels are kept constant. This makes ASL economically competitive in many, but not all, circumstances.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2010

Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of replacing 30% (% in diet DM) of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) hay with citrus pulp in Merino ewe diets: i) an in vitro study which measured ruminal fermentation; and ii) an in vivo study in which twelve Merino ewes pre- and post-lambing were fed experimental diets in a cross-over design over 120 days to evaluate effects on ewe performance (i.e. DM intake, average daily gain (ADG) and wool growth). In both the in vitro and in vivo studies, the control treatment consisted of lucerne (91.3% in diet DM), lupins (8.3% in diet DM) and phosphate (0.42% in diet DM), while the citrus pulp treatment consisted of lucerne (57.7% in diet DM), lupins (9.5% in diet DM), phosphate (0.48% in diet DM) and fresh citrus pulp (32.3% in diet DM). Data were analysed using the mixed model procedure of SAS. In the in vitro study, gas production, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) yield, proportion of propionic acid to total VFA and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were higher (p<0.02) in the citrus pulp treatment compared to the control treatment. In contrast, in vitro ammonia production, pH and the acetate to propionate ratio were lower (p<0.03) for the citrus pulp treatment compared to the control treatment. In the in vivo study, DM intake of ewes fed the citrus pulp diet was lower than their control ewe counterparts throughout both the pre- and post-lambing periods (928.9 vs. 1,115.0 g/d pre-; 1,285.0 vs. 1,620.3 g/d post-lambing, p<0.01), however ADG was similar (p = 0.12). Wool growth parameters and lamb performance did not differ (p>0.32) between treatments. In summary, the in vitro study demonstrated that the replacement of 30% of a lucerne diet with fresh citrus pulp improved total VFA yield, increased total gas production and improved IVDMD, while decreasing the production of ammonia, acetic acid and rumen pH. In addition, the in vivo study demonstrated that the replacement of 30% of a lucerne diet with fresh citrus pulp pre- and post-lambing decreased intake but did not affect ewe performance in terms of ADG and wool growth. These findings, of course, would be of significant interest to sheep producers endeavouring to control cost of feed ingredients whilst maintaining productivity.