Lupinus spp.

Lupin

L. albus L.: White lupin; L. angustifolius L.: Blue lupin or narrow-leaved lupin; L. luteus L.: Yellow lupin.

These are the three most important species of cultivated lupin. They are annual upright plants with coarse stems and medium-sized fingerlike leaves. In thin stands they branch quite freely. They require cool weather for full development and grow best in sandy soils. All three exist in bitter and sweet varieties. The bitter varieties contain a toxic alkaloid and should not be fed to animals unless the alkaloid is removed by soaking in water. The sweet (alkaloid-free) varieties, which can be distinguished by taste and smaller growth, are palatable to stock. Because of their thick juicy stems they are not suitable for haymaking, but they can be used as fresh forage or ensiled with maize or other cereals. All three species have a similar chemical composition. The seeds make a valuable protein-rich concentrate that can be used with confidence in balanced mixtures for all stock. Seeds from the blue variety are generally less palatable than those from the yellow variety. Up to 20% ground seeds can be included in rations for monogastric animals. For sheep and cattle they can be the sole concentrated protein feed.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Fresh sweet lupin,

aerial part,

Thailand

11.7

26.6

19.1

13.9

2.6

37.8

1.28

0.25

56

Seeds, Germany

89.5

45.0

16.2

4.8

5.0

29.0

0.37

0.20

183

Digestibility (%)

Animal

CP

CF

EE

NFE

ME

Ref

Aerial part

Cattle

88.4

87.8

89.0

83.3

2.94

267

Aerial part

Pigs

88.3

27.7

51.8

90.8

2.88

"

Seeds

Pigs

90.0

81.0

88.0

83.0

3.86

183

Nylon bag degradability

a

b

c

12hr

48hr

Ref

(%)

(%)

(/hour)

(%)

(%)

Lupinus angus trifolus,

sweet grain, Portugal

DM

12.4

85.9

0.1031

97.8

627

Lupinus albus, straw,

Portugal

DM

11.7

39.8

0.0357

44.1

"

Lupinus luteus, straw,

Portugal

DM

5.9

44.5

0.0385

44.8

"

[P (rumen degradability at time t) = a+b*(1-exp(-c*t))]

Amino acid composition as % of crude protein

Yellow lupin seed

Ref

485

Arg

Cys

Gly

Hys

Ils

Leu

Lys

Met

Phe

Thr

Try

Tyr

Val

9.9

1.5

4.3

2.5

3.9

7.5

4.8

0.5

3.6

3.1

1.0

2.7

3.5