REPLACEMENT OF SOYBEAN-MEAL WITH DEHYDRATED LUPIN SEEDS IN PIG DIETS

One hundred and twenty pigs with an initial weight of 11.6 kg +/- 2.2 kg were given one of five isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets to evaluate lupin seeds as a protein supplement. The treatments replaced soyabean meal (SBM) with dehydrated lupin seeds (L. albus cultivar 'Ultra') at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the supplementary protein in barley-based d iets. Starter pigs (10-20 kg) given the 25% lupin diet (25% L) had sim ilar growth rates and consumed more feed (P<0.05), relative to those g iven the 0% lupin diet (0% L). However, there was a linear decrease in feed intake and weight gain of starter pigs with higher concentration s of lupins in the diet (P<0.05). This may have been due to the high f ibre levels in the lupin seeds. Increasing levels of lupin seeds adver sely affected the feed efficiency and bodyweight gain of grower pigs ( 21-50 kg) (P<0.05), but not feed intake. Finisher pigs (51-95 kg) give n the 100% L or 0% L had similar feed intakes and bodyweight gains; ho wever, increasing levels of dietary lupin seeds adversely affected fee d efficiency (P<0.05). Dressing percentage, lean yield class value and commercial grade index of pigs were not affected by the amount of lup in seeds in the diet. Lupin seeds included at 6% of the diet (25% L) f or starter pigs, 12% of the diet (75% L) for grower pigs and 9% (75% L ) for finisher pigs gave a growth performance similar to those obtaine d with the barley-based diet containing SBM as the sole source of supp lemental protein. Therefore, lupin seeds have potential as a protein s ource in diets for pigs, particularly grower and finisher pigs.